Claims News Service, May 4, 4:03 p.m. EDT -- The Florida Legislature recently passed legislation that reenacts the PIP/no-fault law and gives it a new 2009 sunset date. The new legislation contains $1 million in additional funding for counteracting PIP fraud.

According to the Florida Insurance Council, omissions in the legislation that are certain to upset insurers include reforms like capped fees for doctors, chiropractors, and lawyers. Under the bill, crash reports must now contain information such as the date, time, and location of the crash; a description of the vehicles involved; the names and addresses of the parties involved as well as the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers in the vehicles involved; names and addresses of any witnesses; name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of the officer investigating the crash; and names of the insurance companies for the respective parties involved in a crash.

FIC says Gov. Jeb Bush has indicated that he might veto a bill that reenacts PIP without a medical fee schedule and attorneys' fee caps, which some large insurance companies also will support. They argue that consumers would be better off with a system directing most auto insurance accident claims to court than an expensive plan that fails to keep claims out of court. Even if Bush does veto, the issue can be revisited during the 2007 session.