Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, September 30
Sep 30, 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
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Citizens Property Insurance roof rule may cost man his home
Jeff Zilinski says he can’t afford to replace his roof until he gets his income tax return next year.
Opinion: Florida needs protection from Personal Injury Protection fraud
The recent meeting of the Florida Cabinet brought the bright light of truth to a huge financial burden on Florida drivers: The uncontrolled rise in expenses for personal injury protection automobile insurance.
New gun law victim: Sarasota County shooting range
Florida lawmakers thought they were making life easier for gun enthusiasts when they cracked down on local firearm regulations this spring.
Marathon to pay $3 million settlement over bridge removal
The City of Marathon has agreed to pay $3 million in a settlement over the removal of Boot Key bridge.
Blog: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration asks for ANOTHER extension in pilot talks
Amid uncertainty about a critical funding program, the state Agency for Health Care Administration asked Thursday for another extension in talks with the federal government about Florida’s Medicaid managed-care pilot program.
New Smyrna hospital to pay nearly $1 million in legal fees for Sunshine Law case
Litigation involving what some have called the biggest Sunshine Law violation in Florida came to an end Thursday night as Bert Fish Medical Center board members approved a settlement to pay the lawyers who sued them nearly $1 million in legal fees.
Florida Hospital privacy breach: Workers accessed Emergency Room patient information
Florida Hospital has admitted – in a newspaper advertisement – that its employees improperly accessed patient information at emergency departments in three Central Florida counties during a 20-month period ending in August.
Protest planned at Florida Board of Medicine
Usually, prescription drug-abuse picketing is aimed at “pill mills.”
Host of new Florida laws take effect Saturday
There are 29 bills signed into law by Governor Rick Scott with effective dates on October 1.
House to join appeal of Amendment 6 ruling on fair districts
House Speaker Dean Cannon bemoans “factual inaccuracies” in the lower court ruling that favors the amendment approved by voters last that would prevent the Legislature from drawing congressional districts that favor or disfavor incumbents and racial or language minorities.
Florida’s courts hammered yet again with budget shortfall
The state supreme court’s chief justice asks for $45.6 million to keep the state’s court system functioning, the second such request this year.
Judge says she’s prepared to rule on prison privatization case
A Leon County circuit judge said today she expects to rule before the end of the week on a case challenging proviso language calling for the privatization of South Florida prisons.
Florida Supreme Court asked to rule on drug-law challenges that could affect thousands of cases
A state appeals court is asking the Florida Supreme Court to immediately rule on challenges of Florida’s criminal drug law that have arisen after a federal district court judge declared it unconstitutional two months ago.
Immigration reform gets little traction among Florida GOP lawmakers
Can Florida legislators turn their backs on immigration reform?
No Florida recession, Fed index says
Florida should avoid a recession through the start of 2012, even as some state economies show signs of shrinking, according to a Federal Reserve index.
New Florida agency to attack economic development
A former Marine officer is approaching his job as head of a new state agency created to promote economic development with military fervor.
State Senator Mike Fasano’s request for public records draws $10,750.13 invoice
When state Senator Mike Fasano requested records about a $125 million pension fund investment, the head of the State Board of Administration sent him a three-page invoice for $10,750.13.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Says Florida Needs Governor Rick Scott for Eight Years
Speaking to Sunshine State News on Thursday, Atwater praised Scott’s “bias for action” in downsizing state government and boosting private-sector jobs.
Friday snail tour aimed at halting invasive spread in Miami-Dade
Agriculture officials are meeting in Miami to discuss ways to stop the spread of an invasive species – the giant African land snail.
Louisiana Insurance Department reviews State Farm rate proposal
The Louisiana Insurance Department is reviewing State Farm Fire and Casualty Company’s request for a statewide average 8.5 percent increase in its homeowners insurance rates.
Big insurers may not face same capital rules as banks
Insurance companies judged too big to fail are likely to face different rules to their banking counterparts who were told this week that they will be subject capital surcharges, insurance industry standard setters said on Friday.
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