(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that, if necessary, the department assist owners of drycleaning facilities and wholesale supply facilities in obtaining third-party liability insurance coverage if such facilities or suppliers are regulated by and in compliance with the department’s rules relating to drycleaning facilities and wholesale supply facilities. In order to assist drycleaning facilities and wholesale supply facilities in obtaining such insurance coverage, the department may contract with an insurance company, a reinsurance company, or other insurance consultant to issue third-party liability policies. If such third-party insurance is not available, the department shall not provide such insurance from state funds.

(2)(a) Any owner or operator of a drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility may be eligible for third-party liability insurance coverage if the facility is registered with the department pursuant to s. 376.303(1)(d) and is otherwise in compliance with the department’s rules relating to drycleaning facilities or wholesale supply facilities.

(b) The following drycleaning facilities or wholesale supply facilities are not eligible for state-assisted third-party liability insurance:

1. Sites owned or operated by the state or Federal Government.

2. Sites where the owner or operator has denied the department site access or where the facility has been determined not to be in compliance with the department’s rules relating to drycleaning facilities or wholesale supply facilities.

(c) Third-party liability insurance coverage may not be provided by the state-contracted insurance carrier to cover third-party claims relating to damages caused by contamination that was discovered prior to the effective date of the insured’s policy.

(3) For purposes of this section and s. 376.3078, the term:

(a) “Third-party liability” means the insured’s liability, other than for site rehabilitation costs and property damage as applied to sites utilizing the provisions of s. 376.3078(3) and (11), for bodily injury caused by an incident of contamination related to the operation of a drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility.

(b) “Incident” means any sudden or gradual discharge of drycleaning solvents arising from the operation of a drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility that results in a need for site rehabilitation or results in bodily injury or property damage neither expected nor intended by the drycleaning facility owner or operator or wholesale supply facility.

(4)(a) The purchase of insurance services by the department is not subject to the provisions of chapter 287.

(b) The Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services Commission shall offer assistance as requested by the department to implement the program.

(c) Any insurance company, reinsurance company, or other entity contracted with by the department shall be subject to the same rules of the Office of Insurance Regulation applicable to other insurers, reinsurers, and other entities.

(5) It is the express intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this section shall not provide the basis for any claim against the department or the Water Quality Assurance Trust Fund for bodily injury or property damages caused by an incident of contamination related to the operation of a drycleaning facility or wholesale supply facility.

History.—s. 7, ch. 94-355; s. 4, ch. 95-239; s. 50, ch. 96-321; s. 396, ch. 2003-261; s. 4, ch. 2003-276; s. 65, ch. 2007-5.