Florida's chief financial officer has written the governor and legislative leaders urging them to enact a transition measure if they plan to let the state's no-fault auto insurance law expire in two weeks.

Without some legislation to bridge the changeover, the state will be left with a law that “will protect cars, but not people,” wrote CFO Alex Sink.

Her message delivered yesterday said that a special legislative session set for Oct. 3, two days after the no-fault law is due to sunset, “gives us the opportunity to fix two significant problems.”

Without the personal injury protection insurance provided by no-fault, Ms. Sink wrote, “Floridians injured in an automobile accident through no fault of their own may have to pay for their own medical treatment or face the prospects of taking legal action (and a prolonged resolution) to cover their medical bills.”

As it now stands, when no-fault expires, motorists registering a vehicle will only be required to prove they have property liability insurance, and according to Ms. Sink, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will not be able to require drivers to keep that insurance in force once they have their registration.

Ms. Sink said the first priority should be to reform the current no-fault law, “but if we must return to a tort-based system, I urge you to add legislation to the call of the upcoming special session to require mandatory medical benefits insurance and restore enforcement powers to the DHSMV and our law enforcement officials…”

In terms of no-fault law reforms, Ms. Sink said she supports, at a minimum, increasing anti-fraud enforcement efforts and instituting cost controls–such as an injury fee schedule and treatment utilization limits.

Special Reports /

Florida CFO Urges No-Fault Law Bridge

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