CS for CS for SB 842 - South Florida Regional Transportation Authority

• Creates section 343.545 establishing the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority's power to assume indemnification and insurance obligations for commuter rail service operations on rail corridors, with comprehensive definitions of terms including "commuter rail service," "rail corridor invitee," and various rail service types.

• Requires the authority to purchase $295 million per occurrence railroad liability insurance with a $5 million self-insurance retention account, naming FECR and AAF as insureds at no cost and including coverage for punitive damages, Federal Employers Liability Act claims, terrorism, pollution, and evacuation expenses.

• Allocates liability among SFRTA, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), and All Aboard Florida (AAF) based on incident type and parties involved, with SFRTA assuming responsibility for its passengers and invitees while shared responsibility applies to joint infrastructure and third parties outside the rail corridor.

• Requires Department of Transportation prior written approval for any authority contracts or agreements funded with state funds and establishes written agreement requirements between the department and authority governing fund use, review, approval, and audit of expenditures.

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume indemnification and insurance obligations for freight rail, intercity passenger rail, and commuter rail service on department-owned or controlled rail corridors without waiving sovereign immunity protections.