Crane Training Companies

Please forward any recommendations/referrals for Crane Training – Certification companies. Looking for Crane Schools as well as Mobile Services that can train onsite.

Send to kelly.white@myfmca.org

Thank you,
Kelly White
Executive Director

Florida OIR approves an 8/4% Decrease in Work Comp Rates for 2023

OIR Approves an 8.4% Decrease in
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rates for 2023

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier issued a Final Order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall workers’ compensation insurance rate decrease of 8.4 percent. The rate decrease applies to both new and renewal workers’ compensation insurance policies effective in Florida as of January 1, 2023.

The Florida Division of Workers Compensation will hold a workshop Nov. 16 on proposed changes to rules that govern when and how corporate officers can exempt themselves from workers’ compensation coverage.

Current rules mandate that only those businesses organized under state law requirements will qualify as corporations that can issue certificates allowing officers to exempt themselves from comp requirements. The proposed rules, shown here, make a number of revisions, including deleting a section that allows regulators to deny exemptions from companies that are not eligible.

The new rules note that the exemption form will be returned if it is incomplete or inaccurate. An applicant has 90 days to correct deficiencies. The rules also would require that corporate officers requesting exemption must certify that they have completed online compliance tutorials. And an officer must provide a drivers’ license or a Florida identification card.

Other proposed changes address procedures after penalties have been assessed.
“If the employer was issued a stop-work order, then the employer will have twenty business days after service of the first amended order of penalty assessment to provide business records sufficient for the department to determine the employer’s payroll, and the employer’s penalty will be recalculated” in accordance with Florida statutes.

It’s unclear if the rule changes are related to an issue that has been simmering in the workers’ compensation kitchen for the past few years. Insurance Journal reported in August that some comp insurance carriers have routinely charged premium for corporate officers or subcontractors that have exempted themselves, as allowed by Florida law.

The National Council on Compensation Insurance in 2019 posted a reminder that officers of a corporation who elect to be exempt from comp insurance “must not be included in premium calculation.” Yet, some carriers have continued to charge unless complete documentation is provided, sources have said.

The workshop is set for Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. Stakeholders can join via the GoToMeeting platform https://meet.goto.com/866262381, or by phone. The call-in number is +1 (571) 317-3116; the access code is 866-262-381.

All About Docks – Equipment Auction

Online Auction Only
All About Docks Marine Construction, LLC

Lots close: Tues, October 25, 2022 at 10:00 A.M.

Pick-up | Removal Location: 1063 Bulkhead Road, Green Cove Springs, FL 32046.

Sale will consist of: 2005 Custom 20′ X 20′ Steel Barge, 2019 Sea Ark 24′ Aluminum Work/Push Boat, 2020 and 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty Work Trucks, 2010 Ford F-350 Flatbed Truck, 2001 Anderson 16′ Dump Trailer, Generators, Pumps, Chainsaws, Pressure Washer, Hand Tools, Air Compressors, Lifting Straps and much more.

Inspection | Preview date: Mon, October 24th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm by appointment (click on the button below to schedule an appointment).

https://moeckerauctions.com/2022/09/30/all-about-docks-marine-construction-llc/

FMCA EXPO & Annual Meeting Rescheduled to January 6th & 7th, 2023

FMCA EXPO & Annual Meeting has been Rescheduled to January 6th & 7th, 2023

The Shores Resort & Spa has refunded all reservation charges. A new registration link will be sent in a week or two to reregister for the hotel reservations for January 2023.

Your registration for the EXPO will transfer to the January 6th & 7th, 2023 unless you request a refund and at which time a full refund will be processed.

Please keep your eyes open for future emails and we look forward to seeing you in January 2023!!!

Regards,
Kelly White,
Executive Director

FMCA EXPO New Dates/GoFundMe/Tangible Donations

Dear Members,

We heard back from the hotel today with the new dates. We will be having the FMCA Expo on the weekend of January 6th through the 8th of 2023. We will put a formal advertisement out soon. I just wanted to get this message to everyone now for any planning that needs to happen right away. This was the only weekend available to us without affecting our rates. It is our plan to keep the format exactly as planned. Thank you again for your patience and working with us so that we can focus on our members in need.

Speaking of our members, we received 2 more calls today with members that were devastated by Hurricane Ian. I am sure that as the days pass, we will hear from more members. It really is sad! We want to do everything we can to assist all of them. I have set up a GoFundMe account with a goal of $100,000. I have pledged $1,000.00 to show my commitment to this organization including our membership. I am hoping that we can come close or exceed this goal so that we can make a meaningful impact for our members in need. See the process for collecting written in the GoFundMe App. Here is the link:

https://gofund.me/9e8a759c

We are also looking for tangible donations as we have had many members call and state that they have barges, floating platforms, gas cans, generators, paper goods, personal hygiene supplies, food and so on that they would like to loan or donate. If you have something that you feel could help, please reach out to me (John Loftis) at John@loftismarine.com or Kelly at kelly@kwhiteinsurance.com. We will connect you with the person in need to work out getting the item from you and into the hands of the member in need. If you do donate, please keep good record for tax purposes.

Last, I have created a Telegram Messaging Group for everyone to join that wants to get messages out right away. We have been using this tool for our company for years and it is very effective. First, you will need to download the Telegram Messaging App from your app store or at this link:

https://telegram.org/

Once you have done so, you can click on this link to add you to the group:

https://t.me/+wpVN0Yw2NgEzMzFh

I will be getting info out to the membership using this FMCA Telegram app as my primary.  

Thanks to ALL of you for your help!

Respectfully,

John Loftis
President of The Florida Marine Contractors Association