Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, April 22
Apr 22, 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
Florida’s 2013 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.-Florida Senate Committee on Rules. To view the meeting packet, click here. Agenda includes:
- CS/SB 262 relating to the Delivery of Insurance Policies by Senator Chris Smith
- CS/SB 836 relating to Insurer Solvency by Senator David Simmons
- SB 1412 relating to Expert Testimony by Senator Garrett Richter
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association committee meetings. Tampa, Florida. To view the meeting notice, click here.
- 2:00 p.m.–Producer Review Committee meeting
- 3:00 p.m.–Ad Hoc Vendor Review Committee meeting
- 4:00 p.m.–Audit/Finance/Budget Committee meeting
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Regulators Allege Fraud in Case of Failed Domestic Property Insurer
Insurance Journal’s Michael Adams reports that Florida regulators are alleging that insurer Allianz and its companies contributed to the collapse of a Florida domestic property insurer by taking out more than $20 million in assets and rendering it unable to meet its financial obligations.
Sinkholes a continual problem for Ocala-area homeowners
Southwest Marion County residents Roy and Pat Meinson noticed cracks continually re-appearing in the home where they have lived for 19 years. Ocala Star-Banner’s Andy Fillmore reports on the ongoing problem for Marion County homeowners.
Letter to the Editor: Mutuals Could Solve Florida’s Property Insurance Crisis
A Sun-Sentinel reader writes that mutuals are some of the most highly rated and highly respected insurers in the country and there are many benefits to the mutual format.
Florida lawmakers looking to change motorists’ status quo
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Lloyd Dunkeberger writes that Lawmakers are working on an array of legislation that will impact motorists. They want to ban texting while driving. They want to tone down car stereos – again. They’re tinkering with the law on red-light cameras.
Patriot National Promotes Paul Halter to Underwriting and Marketing Executive Vice President
Workers’ compensation specialist Patriot National Insurance Group promoted Paul Halter to executive vice president of underwriting and marketing. He will relocate to Florida, the Insurance Journal reports.
Blog: Governor signs bill to allow optometrists prescription ability
Peter Schorsch of SaintPetersblog.com reports that Governor Rick Scott has signed a bill that will allow optometrists to prescribe oral medications, ending a long-running lobbying battle about the issue.
Governor’s agenda not faring well as Session hits pivotal stage
The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports that, with two weeks left in the 2013 session, Scott’s legislative priorities are in serious disarray. He hasn’t asked for much, and lawmakers aren’t placating him.
House Appropriations Passes No-Federal-Money Health Plan
SunshineStateNews.com‘s Dave Heller reports that the Florida House is moving ahead with a health care proposal that rejects billions of dollars in federal cash intended to extend health coverage to a million uninsured Floridians.
Conference Committees begin: What are the issues?
Decisions on expanded health care coverage, teacher and state worker raises, college tuition hikes, clerks of the court budgets and state agency information technology consolidation are some of the main issues likely to get “bumped” to the chairs of conference committees, and possibly, House and Senate leaders, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer writes.
House and Senate disagree over consolidation of regulatory agencies’ technology
The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports that the House and the Senate are squabbling over a vision of a new state department of information technology.
The Florida Current’s Policy Note: Expert Testimony
The Florida Current explains that new legislation would have Florida match most other states in how it handles scientific evidence in the courtroom. HB 7015, which would move expert testimony to the Daubert standard, passed through the House on April 18 with a vote of 75-42.
Blog: Florida alimony bill shaped by Senator Lee’s divorce
The Tampa Bay Times’ Bill Varian blogs that advocates for alimony reform are cheering legislative votes this week to end the awarding of lifetime payments by the bread-winning ex-spouse.
Democrats Could Stymie Florida Cabinet Re-elections
Jeff Henderson of SunshineStateNews.com writes that Democrats across the nation are already licking their chops over the possibility of defeating Gov. Rick Scott next year — but other statewide elected Republicans up for re-election in 2014 look safe for the moment.
House Hasn’t Yet Budged on Controversial Enterprise Florida Business “Tie”
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports that the Florida House of Representatives has yet to budge on its refusal to put any money toward the new branding logo from the state’s public-private economic development agency, which shows an orange men’s necktie as the “i” in “Florida.”
Louisiana Citizens Legislative Rate Approval Bill Advancing
The New Orleans Time-Picayune reports on a bill advancing through Louisiana’s Legislature that would require Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to get legislative approval to increase its rates in a parish by more than 25 percent a year. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Bret Allain, comes in response to massive increases the state-run insurer of last resort imposed on customers in coastal parishes last year.
Louisiana’s Senator Morrish may apply for Citizens Insurance top job
State Senator Dan “Blade” Morrish wants to know if there are any ethics impediments to him becoming executive director of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board, The Advocate reports.
Governor Jindal reappoints Berger to Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance board
Governor Bobby Jindal has reappointed Eric Berger of Metairie to the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board of directors, Drew Broach of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
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