Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, May 6
May 6, 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
Florida’s 2011 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.–Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Rule Development Workshop. Proposed amendments to Rule 19-8.029, “Insurer Reporting Requirements,” and Rule 19-8.030, “Insurer Responsibilities” for the 2011/2012 FHCF Contract Year. To view the hearing notice, click here.
Property insurance reform dodges last-minute amendments to pass Senate
With his property insurance reform bill strapped to his back, Sen. Garrett Richter successfully maneuvered through a minefield of last-minute amendments designed to derail the controversial legislation Thursday night.
‘Diluted’ insurance bill will allow rate increases
A “diluted” property insurance bill that still opens the door for rate increases and greater industry profits with less coverage to homeowners has cleared the Legislature and now heads to a friendly reception from Gov. Rick Scott.
Lawmakers cut time to file hurricane-related claims
Lawmakers passed a major property insurance bill that limits the time to file a hurricane-related claim to three years, down from five years, and allows insurers to pay only part of a claim up front, rather than requiring payment all at once.
Florida Power & Light spent about $180 million last year to prepare the electrical grid for hurricanes, including trimming trees along 13,381 miles of power lines, inspecting 141,000 utility poles and upgrading equipment near highways crossings, pharmacies and other critical areas.
Lawmakers to vote on Medicaid overhaul Friday
Lawmakers on Friday will consider a massive overhaul of Medicaid, Florida’s health care safety-net for 3 million poor and disabled residents, that would turn over their care to HMOs and other managed-care organizations.
Letter to the Editor: Many Voter-Approved Insurance Mandates Being Undone by Those in Office
People who voted for (King) Rick Scott (no doubt the same ones who voted for Sunshine Charlie’s Amendment 1) had best review: a.) their homeowner’s insurance policies, and, b.) their hurricane coverage.
America Relax Center owner, therapist charged in PIP fraud
A state probe into fraudulent personal injury protection insurance claims led to two arrests.
Pill mill legislation in doubt as House, Senate can’t agree with 1 day to go
With just a day left in the 2011 legislative session, Republican leaders Thursday were in standoff on legislation that would help Florida law enforcement increase its crackdown on pill mills.
Blog: Deputy crash bill would help officer, knock $12 million hole in BSO and Broward budget
The state Senate is considering right now a claims bill for deputy crash victim Eric Brody of Sunrise.
Bill cutting early voting hours heads to governor
The Legislature has passed and sent to Gov. Rick Scott an election overhaul that makes it harder for citizens to register fellow voters and get constitutional amendments on the ballot, while tweaking early voting hours.
Welfare drug testing bill goes to Governor Scott
Florida lawmakers on Thursday sent Gov. Rick Scott a bill to require drug testing of welfare applicants, an issue that’s been a top priority for the governor.
Corporate tax reduction goes to Scott
Most of some 30,000 businesses that pay Florida’s corporate income tax would get a relatively small $1,100 per year reduction from legislation that on Thursday went to Gov. Rick Scott, who had sought a much bigger cut.
Florida House GOP votes to undo a key environmental-protection law
The Republican-dominated House voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to reverse a fundamental concept that has guided Florida environmental law for the past 30 years.
Senate to vote on state funding of church-backed social services
The Florida Senate advanced a constitutional amendment Thursday that would allow state funds to be used by church-related groups for social services.
More controls in Capitol for state watchdog
Florida’s Republican-led Legislature has greatly curtailed the independence of one of the watchdogs meant to keep tabs on taxpayer money and whether government programs work.
Bill would reverse ban on spraying sewage on farmland
Every year, more than 90 companies across Florida pump the waste from about 100,000 septic tanks. Where does it all end up?
Budget deal gives nursing homes lower staffing mandates
Florida nursing homes serving Medicaid patients are taking significant reimbursement cuts to the tune of $187 million in the $69.6 billion budget that lawmakers are preparing to pass on Friday.
Florida would be only state to tie unemployment benefits to jobless rate
If Florida’s Legislature approves the unemployment benefit bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday, Florida will be the only state that varies an unemployed worker’s weekly benefit with the jobless rate.
Sweeping tax and spending votes to mark Legislature’s final day
Florida lawmakers are entering the final day of a riveting, divisive two-month legislative session with sweeping tax and spending decisions to make, and the fate of a mammoth overhaul of Florida’s budget-busting Medicaid program to decide.
Lawmakers finally pass droopy pants bill
State Sen. Gary Siplin has pushed for years to make school kids keep their pants pulled up.
Anti-bestiality law finally passed by Florida Legislature
Florida lawmakers have finally approved a law against bestiality after years of inaction.
The owner of a now-defunct roofing company that ripped off Denver and Colorado Springs homeowners for roofing repairs that were never done has been ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution and more than $4.2 million in civil penalties.
Federal Funding Leading To Gains In Storm-Surge Modeling
Funding from the federal government is “paving a path toward revolutionizing the modeling of storm surge,” a Texas University scientist told members of a Senate committee at a hearing held Monday.
Vermont approves changes to captive insurance law
The Vermont Senate has joined the state’s House in passing a bill that includes several changes to the state’s captive insurance law.
Labor Department proposes allowing Verizon to reinsure life benefits through captive
The Labor Department has proposed allowing Verizon Communications Inc. to use its Vermont captive insurance company to reinsure group term life insurance benefits.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to bellis@cftlaw.com.