(AP)  Governor Rick Scott has signed bills that will cut Florida unemployment compensation benefits and make it
harder for patients to win medical malpractice lawsuits. 

Scott on Monday also vetoed three bills including one (HB 4045) that would have scaled back state regulation of assisted living facilities.

The unemployment bill (HB 7005) is intended to cut taxes paid by employers. It will reduce maximum state benefits for jobless workers from 26 to 23 weeks.

The cap would drop even lower if Florida's unemployment rate is below 10.5 percent.

The medical malpractice law (HB 479) was the Florida Medical Association's top legislative priority this year.

It includes provisions designed to curtail testimony by out-of-state experts. The law also provides immunity to doctors who
volunteer their services to college and prep sports teams.