Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, April 16
Apr 16, 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
11:30 a.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office (“FSLSO”) Audit Committee meeting. Tallahassee, Florida. To view the meeting notice, click here.
1:00 p.m.–FSLSO Board of Governors meeting. Tallahassee, Florida. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Florida Seeks to Delay Approval of $7.8 Billion BP Settlement
The Attorney General for the State of Florida has asked a federal court to delay granting preliminary approval of BP Plc’s $7.8 billion settlement with businesses and individuals suing over the massive 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Florida, FEMA Working on Deal to Prevent National Flood Insurance Program Suspension in State
A tenuous truce has been forged between federal and Florida emergency-management officials over a bill passed by the Florida legislature that could potentially leave 2.06 million property owners in the state without flood insurance just as the hurricane season nears its peak in July.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced that it will no longer allow insurance agents to offer rebates on amounts paid for flood insurance in Florida.
Why property-insurance rates are skyrocketing, how to fight back
Mike Costner’s home in Indian River County has withstood every hurricane to hit Florida since 1952.
Governor Rick Scott vetoes $1.4 million for motorcyclist injured in crash with Sumter school bus
Governor Rick Scott recently rejected a bill to award $1.4 million to a motorcyclist who lost a leg in an October 18, 2004, crash with a Sumter County school bus on County Road 470.
Brown & Brown buys insurance agency in Pennsylvania
Brown & Brown has acquired an Insurance agency near Philadelphia.
Florida redistricting shifts to courtrooms this week
The state’s redistricting discussions shift this week from the Florida Capitol to a pair of courtrooms in Tallahassee.
TaxWatch cites $150 million in ‘turkeys’
A fiscal watchdog group urged Governor Rick Scott Friday to veto $150 million in so-called “turkeys” approved by this Legislature this year, including more than $19 million in Central Florida projects ranging from redevelopment projects in Orlando’s Parramore and Pine Hills neighborhoods to a business incubator at the University of Central Florida and major league soccer training.
Santa Rosa banker Hunting Deutsch named new economic development chief
Hunting Deutsch, a banker from Santa Rosa with nearly 30 years of executive and management experience was named executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday by Governor Rick Scott.
Judge upholds Jacksonville’s Internet sweepstakes café ordinance
In a ruling issued Friday, Duval County Circuit Court Judge John Moran declared the City of Jacksonville’s ordinance regulating Internet sweepstakes cafes to be constitutional.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam releases report showing energy bill’s economic benefits
On the eve of the deadline for Governor Rick Scott to take action on the energy bill, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam released a consultant’s analysis showing that the bill would generate more tax revenue than the tax breaks it would provide and would support 3,350 new jobs by 2017.
Governor Rick Scott may slash state’s payment to workers’ retirement plan
Three days after a trial judge ruled the Legislature’s 2011 effort to make public employees pay part of their pension costs was unconstitutional, lawmakers passed another pension bill reducing government contributions to more than 100,000 public employees.
The former directors of Florida Community Bank, including its CEO and longtime president, face a multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., accusing them of being “grossly negligent” and “reckless” in operating the local bank.
Drilling off Cuba prompts disaster plan
South Florida prepares for potential spill from Cuban oil drilling.
Florida Governor Rick Scott addresses economic forum in South Florida
Governor Rick Scott is among the speakers addressing an economic forum in West Palm Beach.
Cellphone tax study to face tough choices
Faced with the choice of trimming local services or cutting Florida’s communications service tax rates, a state task force created to study the issue could put telecoms and local governments at odds.
Blog: Senate women find unexpected clout
On the final day of the 2012 legislative session, Senator Paula Dockery worked the Senate chamber, counting “no” votes on a bill to turn failing public schools into private charter schools.
North Carolina Auto Insurance Reform Postponed Until Next Year
North Carolina lawmakers have decided to postpone any major effort to reform the state’s automobile insurance market until next year citing the complexity of the subject and a lack of time due to a shorten legislative session.
Kentucky Governor Rips Roof Off Unscrupulous Contractors
The jig is up for opportunistic roofing contractors that prey on Kentucky homeowners after a storm or severe catastrophe.
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