Insurance Journal
April 4, 2005
Tough legislation to increase fraud penalties in Florida for filing fraudulent auto crash reports that can be used to bilk insurance companies, to strengthen consumers\’ rights to sue operators of unauthorized insurance entities and to enhance criminal charges for workers\’ compensation fraud have the support of Tom Gallagher, Florida\’s CFO and Rep. Dean Cannon.
Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, are sponsoring companion bills. Senate Bill 2330, is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, and House Bill 967 is expected to be heard Wednesday by the House Insurance Committee.
The proposed legislation would impose a two-year minimum mandatory prison sentence for filing any police report on a fabricated auto accident. It also would require medical clinics to post the department\’s Fraud Buster hotline number and reward program information.