Rick Scott Signs Bills on Insurance, Recycled Water Use, Public Record Exemptions

Gov. Rick Scott signed four bills Tuesday, expanding public records exemptions and local use of recycled water, cleaning up benefits of the divorced that hadnt updated their benefits, and allowing some Citizens Property Insurance customers to see reduced premiums.

HB 401

The bill voids the transfer of assets, such as insurance policy payments, from a dead person to their former spouse when the paperwork has yet to be updated.

HB 629

The bill exempts information about children and spouses from certain current and former employee public records, includes former judges for exemptions about personal information and location, and adds home phone numbers, personal cell phones, personal pagers and personal communications devices to the definition of exempt telephone numbers.

HB 639

The bill gives cities and counties more flexibility to use reclaimed, or irrigation quality, treated water in order to reduce the impact on drinking water supplies.The bill does not limit the Department of Environmental Protections authority to regulate water quality.

HB 1101

The bill may result in policyholders with Citizens Property Insurance receiving lower premiums. According to a state analysis, Citizens' policyholders who choose an HO-8 policy instead of an HO-3 policy, may have lower insurance rates and premiums. However, because Citizens coverage will be more limited, the policyholder will likely not receive as high a claims payment in the event of a loss or may not receive a claims payment at all for a loss, if the loss is not covered.

The bill also exempts salvage dealers from having to carry garage liability and personal injury protection insurance on certain vehicles.