Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, January 23
Jan 23, 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
Florida’s 2012 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
1:00 p.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office (“FSLSO”) Board of Governors Quarterly Business Meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
4:00 p.m.–FSLSO Audit Committee meeting. Agenda includes discussion of the FSLSO 2011 Financial Audit. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
Agencies May Get Citizens’ Policies
Move by Legislature would limit insurer’s liability after major hurricane
They operate outside the safety net that pays claims when insurers fail, are not subject to prompt payment rules and have no limits on rate increases, but surplus lines insurance companies could soon seize tens of thousands of policies from state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. under a bill moving quickly through the Florida Legislature.
Citizens will now use outside appraisals in home replacement evaluations
State-run Citizens Property Insurance is changing how it will estimate the cost of rebuilding homes damaged by a hurricane. It will now accept a range of alternatives, including outside appraisals, after public consternation and investigative reporting forced Citizens to move away from a plan to use a software program to calculate home replacement costs, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
BARREAU v. PEACHTREE CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
This is an appeal and cross-appeal of a final judgment awarding attorney’s fees in the amount of $1,430, in connection with a claim made under an automobile insurance policy.
New York Times: GOP Ventures Into Florida, a State Harder to Pigeonhole
After three bruising contests that each produced different winners, the Republican nominating contest has moved to a state that is much more like the rest of America in its diversity, its multiplicity of media markets and its voter base, which is less likely to be swayed by the family values issues that played a dominant role in prior contests in Iowa and South Carolina.
Florida Governor Scott not worried about revisions in jobless estimates
Governor Rick Scott – who has billed himself as Florida’s jobs governor – says repeatedly that he receives a new grade every month when Florida’s unemployment rates are released.
State funding forecast looks bright for ports
Last legislative session, Florida’s ports won some big battles: a record $117 million in the state budget, a multiyear feud with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and better overtures from Gov. Rick Scott than they had ever received from his predecessor.
Powerful duo in state Capitol wary of dangers
They’re a generation apart and not widely known outside the corridors of the Capitol. But Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Will Weatherford share a tight grip on the political future of Florida.
Hillsborough court system prepares for the worst during GOP convention
Hillsborough County’s court system is bracing for a deluge of traffic, police cordons and security fencing when the Republican National Convention hits town in August.
Louisiana High Court Refuses to Overturn Citizens Ruling
The Louisiana Supreme Court says it won’t reconsider a $92.7 million judgment against Louisiana’s state-backed insurer of last resort for handling claims too slowly after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
Bermuda Reports 50% Jump in New Insurance Registrations
The Bermuda Monetary Authority reports a 50 percent year-on-year increase in new insurance registrations for Bermuda in 2011, with 54 new insurers recorded compared to 36 by the end of December 2010.
Texas’ new insurance chief being closely watched by consumers, lawmakers and industry
Five months on the job as Texas’ top insurance regulator, Houston native and former insurance executive Eleanor Kitzman is under close scrutiny by consumer groups, lawmakers and insurers as she deals with the first major rate filings of her tenure.
New York Times: Hazard Insurance With Its Own Perils
One of the richest and most secretive sources of profit in the mortgage business is coming under scrutiny.
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