Capitol to Courthouse Daily Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, February 24
Feb 24, 2011
To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below. Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2011
- Daily Insurance-Related News
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
- 9:00 a.m. — House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee
- HB 4099 relating to Repeal of Obsolete Insurance Provisions by State Representative Bryan Nelson
- HB 4115 relating to Powers of the Consumer Advocate by State Representative Scott Plakon
- HB 4129 relating to Residential Property Structural Soundness Evaluation Grant Program by State Representative Steve Crisafulli
- Presentations and discussion on issues relating to Florida financial institutions and Florida-based foreclosures
- 2:00 p.m. — National Association of Insurance Commissioners Surplus Lines Implementation Task Force Clearinghouse Plan of Operation Subgroup meeting. To register for the teleconference, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2011
HB 4181 Relating to Prohibited Activities of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by State Representative Daniel Davis
HB 4181 would repeal a statute relating to an obsolete prohibition against Citizens Property Insurance Corporation using certain amendments or transfers of funds for rate or assessment increase purposes. Effective date: July 1, 2011
SB 1330 Relating to Residential Property Insurance by Senator Alan Hays
SB 1330 would authorize an insurer to use a rate for residential property insurance that differs from its otherwise filed rate after a specified date under certain circumstances. The bill would also require insurance agents to obtain a signed acknowledgment from an applicant for coverage and certain policyholders relating to surcharges and assessments potentially being imposed under a Citizens Property Insurance Corporation policy. The bill specifies circumstances under which an insurer may offer or renew residential property insurance policies subject to the amendments to provisions contained in this act. Effective date: upon becoming law, except as otherwise provided
HB 947 relating to Property Insurance Appraisal Umpires and Property Insurance Appraisers by State Representative Frank Artiles
HB 947 would provide license application, issuance, biennial renewal or continuation fees for property insurance appraisal umpires and property insurance appraisers. For purposes of the Florida Licensing Procedures Law, the bill would define the terms “property insurance loss appraiser” and “property insurance appraisal umpire.” Should it become law, it also would provide that property insurance appraisal umpires and property insurance appraisers are subject to powers of the Florida Department of Financial Services (“DFS”), the Financial Services Commission and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Property insurance appraisal umpires and property insurance appraisers operating in Florida would be required to be licensed by DFS. Further, HB 947 would provide procedures for application, qualifications, and professional and educational requirements for licensure as both a property insurance appraisal umpire and property insurance appraiser. All applicants would be required to be fingerprinted by a law enforcement agency or other entity approved by the DFS at the time of application. Also, the bill would require the DFS to develop and maintain an updated list of licensed umpires and licensed property insurance appraisers. Property insurance appraisal umpire and property insurance appraiser course providers, instructors and courses also would be regulated by HB 947. Effective date: July 1, 2011
Adjusters warn of Florida sinkhole bill’s unintended consequences
While in support of a broad property insurance reform measure in Florida that addresses sinkholes, the industry continues to have concerns.
Sinkhole trouble for one Ocala community
Homeowners in the Fore Ranch community in Ocala can’t enjoy long walks around their lake like they use to.
Naples construction worker charged with insurance fraud
A Naples construction worker injured on the job was arrested on workers compensation fraud charges after an investigation determined he used bogus Social Security and Alien registration numbers.
News Release: Sunshine Auto Insurance Launches Web 3.0 Automobile Insurance Quote Portal
As a whole, according to the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America, Florida motorists pay the second highest auto liability insurance premiums in the whole nation and, and the latest Consumer Price Index indicates that motor vehicle insurance rates will not be exempt from the creeping inflation.
Jacksonville’s Main Street America Group Reports Strong 2010 Financial Results
The Main Street America Group in Jacksonville, Florida, announced today that its 2010 financial results included a 16.8 percent return on equity, 99.2 combined ratio, 9.1 percent net premium growth, net income of $83.5 million, and surplus growth of $78 million for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2010
Blog: Doctors, owners targeted by Feds in pill mill raids on Wednesday
Drug investigators were raiding pain clinics from Miami to West Palm Beach on Wednesday, saying they planned to arrest doctors and clinic owners in the biggest single strike at Florida’s pain pill industry.
Blog: “Crash” bill cruises through Senate panel
The Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday approved a measure (SB 142) to insulate car manufacturers from liability in crash cases by reversing a 2001 court ruling, reports the News Service of Florida
Legislature’s bid to gain power over court rules moves forward
Two measures pass a House panel that would take away rulemaking power from Florida Supreme Court and place it in hands of lawmakers.
Governor Scott asks Legislature to cut government
Cutting the size of Florida’s government was one of former Governor Jeb Bush’s goals.
Lawmakers backing away from Scott’s stringent pension-reform plans
Florida legislators are not embracing the sweeping employee pension reforms being advanced by Governor Rick Scott.
Legislators pushing ahead with major rewrite of growth management laws
Panelists at a House committee meeting on Wednesday struggled to define those resources deserving state protection.
Tea party to help kick off state legislative session
Those expecting a wild legislative session this year might not have to wait long.
Senate budget chief asks Governor Rick Scott to justify his ‘legal authority’ to sell state planes
Governor Rick Scott is on a political crash course with the Florida Senate’s powerful budget chief, J.D. Alexander, who wrote a letter Tuesday asking the governor to cite the “legal authority” for the way he sold two state planes.
Changes in teacher pay, tenure are coasting through Florida House
Despite pleas from teachers and Democratic lawmakers to hold off on bold reforms, plans to reinvent how Florida pays and evaluates its teachers soared through legislative committees Wednesday.
Florida Senate panel considers president’s ethics case
An ethics complaint against Senate President Mike Haridopolos is being considered by the chamber’s Rules Committee.
Juno Beach-based NextEra’s Chief executive officer named to Obama board
Lew Hay, chairman and chief executive officer of Juno Beach-based NextEra Energy has been appointed to the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
Florida’s tax burden slightly higher than other Southeastern states
Annual report by Tax Foundation found that the state was ranked 31st in state and local tax burden.
$1 billion-plus 2010 loss for Florida banks still an improvement
Financial institutions in Florida lost more than $1 billion in 2010, the third straight year of big losses but a sharp improvement over 2009.
U.S. Supreme Court allows lawsuits over seat belts
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal regulations setting vehicle safety standards do not bar lawsuits seeking damages from automakers for installing lap-only seat belts.
Deloitte: U.S. Insurers Must Also Prepare For Solvency II
With Solvency II scheduled to come into force Jan. 1, 2013, U.S. companies must prepare for changes in capital position, enterprise risk management, product strategy, resources, risk culture and technology, according to a Deloitte study.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to bellis@cftlaw.com.