Crist rejects appeals for PIP session

By TOM ZUCCO, Times Staff Writer
Published September 7, 2007

---

The postponement of a special legislative session scheduled for later this month to address the state's budget crisis would seem to spell the end of no-fault auto insurance in Florida, a law that has been on the books for 37 years. That's because lawmakers aren't scheduled to meet again until after Oct. 1, the date the no-fault law is set to expire.

But that didn't stop lawmakers from both parties from making last-minute appeals Thursday to Gov. Charlie Crist, asking for a one-day special session before the Oct. 1 deadline to extend no-fault one more year.

"All we need is one person to call a special session," Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, wrote to Crist, "and one day to pass it." Reps. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, sent similar letters to the governor.

Kriseman said he and Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, have prepared a bill that would extend no-fault for a year so lawmakers can debate its merits during the 2008 legislative session. Kriseman said Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Delray Beach, intends to sponsor a companion bill in the Senate.

Crist said Thursday that he'd like to see the law extended, but the idea of another special session just for no-fault was impractical.

"The window seems to be closing on that," Crist said, "and the CFO and I, and the lieutenant governor, feel very strongly that extending it is important.

"But it doesn't look like there is a consensus on it, so we're not going to call people here to just spend taxpayer money and just do nothing."

If no-fault ends, drivers will no longer be required to carry a minimum of $10,000 of personal injury protection, also known as PIP, that covers medical expenses for a driver and passengers no matter who is at fault. To register a vehicle in Florida, drivers must still carry a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Staff writer Jennifer Liberto contributed to this report.