Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, January 18
Jan 18, 2013
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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association meeting. Lake Mary, Florida. Agenda includes review of claims provider performance in claims handling. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Following the release of an audit that called the travel expenses at state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. “ambiguous” and lacking internal control, Governor Rick Scott wants the company to follow state travel rules and cut out international trips.
Asked to come up with ways to reduce the number of homeowners covered by the state-supported insurer of last resort, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has compiled a list of options – many of them politically unpalatable — for shifting a large portion of the financial risk from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. back to the private market.
Judge Hears Arguments, but Again Dismisses Suit Seeking Block of Florida PIP Law
A Florida district-court judge again denied an injunction that would halt implementation of Florida’s personal injury protection reform law signed in May last year.
Pair say new medical system could save $16 billion annually
When Florida lawmakers arrived in Tallahassee for this week of committee meetings they were followed by two health care executives who say they have an idea to make a “real change” in the cost of health care. It’s one that could save Florida $16 billion annually, they say.
High court upholds pension fee for government workers
In a hotly contested case with major budget implications, the Florida Supreme Court gave Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican Legislature a major victory Thursday by upholding the 3 percent pension fee levied on about 600,000 state, county, city and school employees.
After outcry over election travails, Governor Scott urges early voting days be extended
Governor Rick Scott, who along with the Republican-controlled legislature was roundly criticized for electoral law changes that led to lines and chaos in last year’s general election, Thursday recommended that some of those changes be reversed.
Florida Governor Scott won’t propose any gun law changes
Governor Rick Scott–describing himself as supporter of the Second Amendment–said in a statement that while he will consider proposals to improve school safety, he is not proposing any changes to Florida’s gun laws.
Budget panel signs off on $60 million in foreclosure settlement funds
The Joint Legislative Budget Commission released the first tranche of funds from a deal between Attorney General Pam Bondi and legislative leaders over spending $334 million that was part of a foreclosure settlement with major banks.
Blog: Judge Rejects Legislature’s Request To Dismiss Challenge To Senate Redistricting Plan
A Leon County judge has rejected a request from the Legislature to dismiss a challenge to a Senate redistricting plan approved last year, the first ruling in what could be a precedent-setting case under the new Fair Districts standards.
Florida Senate panel searches for solutions to dwindling transportation revenue
Florida’s reliance on fuel taxes to pay for transportation is unsustainable as vehicle fleets become more fuel efficient, cars travel farther with less gas and the state reaps less revenue.
Blog: Florida TaxWatch to Legislators — Enforce Internet Sales Tax, Privatize State Lands
The Sunshine State’s premier tax watchdog group published 25 recommendations Thursday which it says, if implemented, would save the state’s taxpayers over $1 billion.
Blog: Florida senators skeptical of transparency 2.0
Senators looking into the state’s efforts to make budget information available online are expressing skepticism about Transparency 2.0, a site developed under a $5.5 million no-bid contract that is nonetheless endorsed by some ethics advocates.
Port Everglades Lands $13 Million for Extra Dock Space
As ground was ceremonially broken for the new rail project at Port Everglades on Thursday, Governor Rick Scott made his second funding commitment this week to bulk up one of Florida’s seaports.
Michigan Governor Proposes New Department of Insurance and Finance
Michigan Governor Rick Synder has proposed the creation of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services.
After Sandy, New York Assembly Advances Homeowners Bill of Rights Legislation
A leading New York lawmaker introduced two pieces of legislation this month to help homeowners better understand their insurance coverages and to tighten the timeframe requirements for insurers when responding to claims following catastrophes.
New Jersey Lawmaker Aims to Classify Reverse Rate Evasion as Insurance Fraud
The New Jersey Assembly’s financial institutions and insurance committee advanced a bill that would include “reverse rate evasion” as a form of insurance fraud.
The Montana Captive Insurance Association Inc. reported 34 new captive insurance company licenses were issued in the state during the past year, bringing the total number of licensed captives in the domicile to 114.
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