Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, April 4
Apr 4, 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
2:15 p.m.–House Civil Justice Subcommittee
- HB 1187 relating to Civil Remedies Against Insurers by State Representative Dennis Baxley
3:15 p.m.–Senate Committee on Health Regulation
- SB 1590 relating to Medical Malpractice Actions by Senator Alan Hays
PHOTOS: Property insurance overhaul by Legislature aiding insurers or consumers?
One cracked kitchen tile didn’t worry Ryan Fullerton as he made a final walk-through of his Punta Gorda home before closing on it in May 2008.
Property insurance reform: What these Collier businesses say
Albert Doria, president of Gulf Coast Insurance, an independent insurer based in Naples, describes SB 408 as a good solid bill for everybody.He said it will benefit consumers and insurance companies alike.
Insurance ‘reform’ plan not what it seems
As one of only about 100 board-certified health care attorneys in Florida, I take exception to assertions in recently published commentaries that Florida attorneys earn a “bounty” by representing clients in claims against insurance companies.
State Senator Alan Hays intent on helping insurance, development industries
The state legislative session starts next week, and your elected officials are working like crazy – but not necessarily for you.
Florida League of Cities President Joy Cooper: Florida lives depend on red-light cameras
Envision losing your grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, friend or the unthinkable – a child – because a driver ran a red light.
Viewpoint: Legislature should let locals rule on cameras
Envision losing your grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, friend or the unthinkable – a child – because a driver ran a red light.
Independent pharmacists gather in Tampa to gear up for fight against prescription drug bill
A piece of legislation aimed at combatting Florida’s prescription drug epidemic would burden small businesses and make it harder for independent pharmacies to thrive, according to a group of pharmacists who convened Sunday.
Presidential candidates quietly court support in South Florida
Look twice. The man in the gray suit on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale or at the upscale Shoppes at Village Pointe in Boca Raton might be the next president of the United States.
House panel clears plan to give governor $400 million for economic development
A Florida House panel approved a pair of measures that would consolidate six state trust funds dedicated to areas ranging from affordable housing to Visit Florida into a giant pot of money worth $400 million-plus, to be used by Gov. Rick Scott for “economic development incentives.”
Scott slashes budget for Floridians with disabilities
Rather than waiting on legislative approval for his most recent budget cut push, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has issued an executive order slashing the state budget for social workers and group homes for the disabled.
How rule repeals could be expedited for Scott, cabinet
The amended version of House Bill 993 would give Governor Rick Scott and members of the state cabinet (Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater) authority to repeal rules under an expedited “summary process.”
Today in Tallahassee: Abortion laws targeted
Abortion will be front and center in the Legislature today.
Major Florida House elections bill emerges before committee vote
A sweeping rewrite of election laws, crafted in part by House Speaker Dean Cannon’s office, surfaced Friday and drew strong opposition from election supervisors, unions, grass roots advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers.
Senate panel diverts low-cost housing funds
A proposal that would permanently divert at least $194 million annually in real estate-related taxes from Florida’s affordable housing program to general state spending won approval Friday from the Senate Budget Committee.
Proposed cuts to courts could lead to delays
The budget ax being wielded in Tallahassee could have devastating effects on people who need to do business or seek help in the courts, local officials say.
Florida budget cuts will affect every town and tax bracket
Claiming a voter mandate to curtail a growing appetite for government services without raising taxes, Florida’s Republican-run Legislature is steaming toward passing one of the most austere and conservative budgets in modern times.
Legislature considering 30 immigration bills
The Florida Legislature’s attempts to weed out illegal aliens have sparked protests, but most of the bills are still alive.
Land-Recycling Scheme Buried in Budget Bill
Senate plan would funnel proceeds to Florida Forever — without appraisals
House Incumbents Gear Up to Run Again in 2012
101 representatives file to run for another term; only seven have opposition.
Lawmakers cuts Scott’s security detail
As lawmakers struggle to close a nearly $4 billion gap in the state budget, no program is going without scrutiny.
Federal judge raps state lawmakers for “discrimination” against Confederate license tag backers
An Orlando judge has declared Florida’s specialty tag law unconstitutional because it allows the Florida Legislature to engage in “dangerous viewpoint discrimination.”
Real knock-down, drag-out fight in Florida is over commercial interior design
The young woman stepped to the podium, eager for a chance to address Florida lawmakers.
Lawmakers may cut laws controlling telemarketers, charities, many others
In the name of creating jobs, Florida lawmakers could repeal laws that regulate telemarketers, keep charities from making false claims and force auto repair shops to give you estimates.
Asians flock to Southwest Florida
When Denny Sharma moved to Fort Myers 33 years ago, there were fewer than 10 families from southern Asia in the city.
No new trial for former State Representative Bob Allen
Former state representative Bob Allen will not get a new trial.
Mississippi wind pool rates to remain stable
The state wind pool’s 46,000 policyholders will see no rate increase for at least a year.
Texas insurers scored big profits in 2010
Texas home insurers had a banner year in 2010, benefiting from the lack of any weather catastrophes and from premiums that rank as the highest in the country.
The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program will stop accepting applications after May 5 as the $5 billion program’s funds are being depleted rapidly, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said.
Guy Carpenter: Reinsurers Seeing Strain
The reinsurance industry can financially withstand the losses from Japan’s Tohoku earthquake, but the compounding of losses from Australia and New Zealand is putting strain on reinsurers and having some price impact, according to a Guy Carpenter report.
Risk & Insurance Management Society establishes political action committee
The Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. has established a political action committee called RISK PAC, RIMS announced Friday.
‘Crash tax’ and other fees target out-of-towners
Out-of-towners would be wise to drive carefully when passing through Fraser, a suburb about 15 miles northeast of Detroit.
With Berkshire Hathaway unveiling a distribution agreement with Bajaj Allianz and Japan??
Workplace Bullying A Growing Concern to Liability Insurers
Recognizing victims is as important as recognizing abusers, expert says
“Status-blind harassment”-more commonly known as workplace bullying-is a growing concern to employers and their employment practices liability insurers.
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