Capitol to Courthouse Daily Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, March 2
Mar 2, 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
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2011
SB 1468 relating to Title Insurance by Senator Thad Altman
SB 1468 would assign the Florida Division of Title Insurance (“Division”) to the Florida Department of Financial Services and deem that references in the Florida Insurance Code pertaining to title insurance refer to the Division. The bill would require any person who holds a license as a title agent to complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education courses every two years in Florida-specific title insurance and escrow management courses approved by the Division. Requires each title insurance agency to have a separate agent in charge at every agency location. Effective date: July 1, 2011
SB 1462 relating to Powers of the (Florida Insurance) Consumer Advocate by Senator Alan Hays
SB 1462 would delete a power of the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate relating to the preparation of an annual report card grading personal residential property insurers. Effective date: July 1, 2011
HB 1087 relating to Persons Designated To Receive Insurer Notifications by State Representative Doug Holder
HB 1087 would change the designated person or persons who must be notified by insurer from “insured” to “first-named insured” in situations involving nonrenewal, renewal premium, cancellation or termination of workers’ compensation, employer liability or certain property and casualty insurance coverage. The bill would make a conforming change to specify the “first-named insured” as a person who is to receive notification of renewal premium. It also would change the designated person or persons who must be notified by an insurer from “insured” to “first-named insured” in certain situations involving cancellation or nonrenewal of motor vehicle insurance coverage. Further, HB 1087 would make a conforming change to specify the “first-named insured’s insurance agent” as a person who is to receive certain notifications relating to motor vehicle insurance coverage, as well as make a conforming change that specifies the “first-named insured” as a person who is to receive notification of the cancellation of motor vehicle insurance coverage. Effective date: July 1, 2011
Four Florida insurance executives charged in $20 Million Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund fraud
A federal grand jury has indicted four former insurance company executives on charges of defrauding $20 million from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.
Tower Hill President: Royal Palm Acquisition Will Boost Company’s Florida Market Share
Florida homeowners insurer Tower Hill Insurance Group LLC said it has bought Royal Palm Insurance Co., another Florida homeowners insurer.
Senator Garrett Richter: Senate bill strengthens insurance market
You would think with the absence of a major hurricane catastrophe for the past five years, insurance companies would be able to build surpluses for claims. Not the case.
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Submits Annual Report on Freedom to Travel Law
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today submitted the 2011 Freedom to Travel Report to legislative leaders detailing the Office of Insurance Regulation’s efforts to implement the “Freedom to Travel Act.”
Blog: David Halstead retained as assistant division director of Emergency Management
Former Division of Emergency Management Director David Halstead remains with the agency in a deputy director’s position after being passed over by Governor Rick Scott for reappointment.
Blog: Braynon defeats Celestin, heads to state Senate
Democrat Oscar Braynon II handily won a seat to the Florida Senate Tuesday, defeating Republican Joe Celestin in a rout in a special legislative election.
Two senators sue Scott over high-speed rail
Senators Thad Altman, a Melbourne Republican, and Arthenia Joyner, a Tampa Democrat, have filed a lawsuit against Governor Rick Scott over his rejection of $2.4 billion from the federal government for a high-speed rail project.
- Supreme Court fast-tracks Florida senators’ suit to stop Scott from refusing federal rail money
- Washington Post: Florida Governor Scott’s response to rail lawsuit pending
- Editorial: Diverting rail cash to ports needs planning Scott hasn’t considered
Blog: Strange bedfellows — Obama teams with Jeb on Florida visit
President Barack Obama will visit a Miami school along with Jeb Bush and education Secretary Arne Duncan when he comes to Florida Friday.
Florida jumps into fray over online hotel taxes
Two years ago Florida joined dozens of other states and municipalities in suing online travel companies for a bigger chunk of local hotel taxes.
State Representative Rob Schenck plans to release drug database alternative next week
Rob Schenck isn’t yet ready to divulge details of his proposed alternative to a state-run prescription drug database.
Florida Department of Health plan cuts 1,600 jobs
Under fire from lawmakers, the Florida Department of Health has proposed a sweeping plan to reorganize — and shrink — its operations.
Hospitals seek $100 million from Sarasota County
Three private hospitals in Sarasota County are seizing on obscure language in a 1959 state law to file a lawsuit that could force the county to pay them $100 million in reimbursement for medical care provided to the indigent.
Rehwinkel Vasilinda files bill to abolish state’s death penalty
State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda wants to abolish Florida’s death penalty. She knows her bill won’t pass. But the second-term Democrat, a lawyer who teaches law at Tallahassee Community College, thinks a cost-benefit discussion of capital punishment would be timely and useful.
Free Market Florida prepares to do battle with environmentalists
A new group claiming that California-style regulation and litigation are crippling Florida’s economy has launched to “take the fight to” environmental groups and other “special interests.”
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner: Rebates, Incentives Available to Homeowners
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon wants property insurance policyholders in his state to claim a possible rebate for the assessment from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., and homeowners to take advantage of available tax deductions and insurance premium discounts.
U.S. Supreme Court: Employer liable for discriminatory adviser in firing
Employers can be held liable for discriminatory conduct even if the person making the decision was not discriminatory but relied in part on those who were, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
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