TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: April 7, 2021
Title
RESOLUTION - OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 1129 AND SENATE BILL 1678, INCREASING THE STATUTORY LIMITS ON LIABILITY FOR TORT CLAIMS AGAINST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND: Florida Representative Juan Alfonso Fernandez- Barquin filed House Bill 1129, and Florida Senator Manny Diaz, Jr., filed companion Senate Bill 1678, which would increase the statutory maximum amount that a local government is liable to pay for a claim or judgment by any one person from $200,000 to $500,000, and the total amount a local government may be liable to pay in aggregate for all claims arising from the same incident or occurrence from $300,000 to $1 million, and providing for annual increases in those amounts for inflation. These bills would require the City to pay higher premiums and would likely increase the number of lawsuits and higher settlements or judgments.
RECOMMENDATION: For approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: Indeterminable increased costs to the City if this legislation is approved.
CONTACT PERSON: Cale Curtis, City Manager