Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, February 3

Feb 3, 2012

 

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

 

Florida’s 2012 Regular Legislative Session

  • Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
  • Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar

 

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.–House Rulemaking and Regulation Subcommittee.  To view the meeting packet, click here.

  • HB 643 relating to Title Insurance by State Representative by State Representative George Moraitis Jr.

1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.–House Session

  • CS/CS/HB 245 relating to Depopulation Programs of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by the House Economic Affairs Committee; the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative Jim Boyd
  • HB 4149 relating to Preferred Worker Program by State Representative Jim Boyd
  • HB 4061 relating to Uniform Home Grading Scale by State Representative Mack Bernard
  • HB 4059 relating to Property and Casualty Insurance by State Representative Larry Metz
  • HB 4087 relating to Repeal of a Workers’ Compensation Independent Actuarial Peer Review Requirement by State Representative Ben Albritton

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

Bill for surplus lines’ takeout of Citizens Property Insurance policies ready for House vote

Out-of-state, unregulated property insurers known as surplus lines carriers could have an easier time taking over policies from state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. under a bill set for a vote Friday in the House.

 

Florida leads nation in hurricane landfalls 

Florida’s Severe Weather Awareness Week continues through Friday.

 

Florida Senate Personal Injury Protection reforms get warm reception 

The Florida Senate’s plan to reform the no-fault auto insurance program has already achieved what its counterpart in the House has not:  Unanimous approval from a committee.

 

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Announces a Multi-Agency, Multi-Million Dollar Agreement with Prudential for Life Claims Settlements

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation along with the Department of Financial Services and the Office of the Attorney General  today announced a multi-million dollar settlement agreement with Prudential Insurance Company of America and its affiliates.  

 

Florida Senate reduces health care cuts by more than half

The amount of general revenue reductions the Senate will make to its budget has been cut by more than  half. 

 

Florida House pushing again to change state worker health insurance program

Florida lawmakers may push a sweeping transformation of the state’s health insurance plan for state workers, although the changes would not take effect for another two years.

 

Florida House tees up Governor Rick Scott’s workforce board, unemployment compensation bills

Florida House members prepped two key economic development bills Thursday that are coveted by Governor Rick Scott, in advance of a final vote as soon as Friday.

 

Blog:  Florida House readies for committee show-down over casino bill

It’s D-Day on Friday for casino gambling in Florida.

 

Blog:  Tribe to Legislature–You regulate Internet Cafes, you lose our cash

As the bill to bring resort casinos to Florida appears doomed, the legislative battle shifts to the debate over whether legislators should regulate or outlaw the slot-machine look alikes operated by the so-called Internet Cafes under a loophole in the state’s sweepstake’s law.

 

Florida attorney general’s attempt to subpoena foreclosure mills stalls  

Florida’s once-heralded foreclosure mill investigations have fizzled as the attorney general’s office has failed to find the right strategy to continue its pursuit and three law firms call for the cases to be dismissed.

 

Internet sales tax bill moving in Senate after committee assignment intrigue

Legislation to prompt the collection of sales taxes for goods purchased over the Internet is moving through the Senate, with one bill passing through the Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax and another passing through the Commerce and Tourism Committee on Thursday.

 

Food and Drug Administration reports low levels of illegal fungicide in Florida orange juice

An investigation into trace amounts of arsenic found in bottled juice has prompted advocacy group Consumers Union to urge the Food and Drug Administration to lower its standards for arsenic levels in juice drinks.

 

Republican National Convention will affect air space over Tampa

Airspace over some of Tampa could be closed at times during the Republican National Convention and other restrictions on flights could be in effect throughout the August 27-30 event, local officials said Thursday.

 

Musical chairs in South Florida congressional districts

Former U.S Senate candidate Adam Hasner announced Wednesday he will run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the district currently represented by Representative Allen West, who earlier announced that he will run for Rep. Tom Rooney’s seat, who in turn will run for reelection in another district.

 

Federal Insurance Office Says Overdue Regulation Report Still Weeks Away

The Treasury Department’s Federal Insurance Office was expected to complete and send its highly anticipated report on modernization of insurance regulation to Congress in January.

 

U.S. Supreme Court Declines Louisiana Citizens’  Property  Insurance Request for Stay in Class Action

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to delay the execution of a judgment against Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. while the last-resort insurer prepares an application for the high court to hear the case.

 

Insurer Reaches Settlement Over Death Benefits

Prudential Financial, the second-largest life insurer in the United States, has reached a $17 million multi-state settlement on death benefits that resolves a controversy over unpaid insurance claims.

 

 

Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)

 

 

 

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