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6 <br />Ty GF StY ti A <br />City of Sunny Isles Beach <br />18070 Collins Avenue <br />Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 <br />(305) 947-0606 City Hall <br />(305) 949-3113 Fax <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners <br />FROM: Jeniffer Viscarra, Commissioner <br />DATE: February 15, 2024 <br />RE: Expressing Opposition for Florida Senate Bill 472 and Florida House Bill 56! <br />Relating to Sovereign Immunity <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />This Resolution is presented for your consideration. <br />REASONS: <br />Florida Senate Bill 472, and its companion Florida House Bill 569, seek to increase caps on liability fo <br />tort claims against the state, its agencies, and subdivisions, including cities, from $200,000 per person <br />and $300,000 per incident to $400,000 per person and $600,000 per incident. This could potentially <br />result in significantly higher insurance premiums for the City, as insurers adjust to the increased risk of <br />higher payouts. This could necessitate increased taxes or reallocation of funds from essential services <br />to cover these costs, adversely affecting the City's financial stability and its ability to serve its <br />residents. <br />The bills also propose significant revisions to current practices by allowing a subdivision of the state to <br />settle a claim above the statutory limits without the need for a claims bill, narrowing the statute of <br />limitations on negligence claims against government entities from four years to two years, and <br />abolishing the common law doctrine of "home venue privilege". This could lead to an increase in <br />litigation against the City and impose additional financial burdens. <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />Resolution <br />Senate Bill 472 <br />House Bill 569 <br />Item Number: 10.P <br />350 <br />