Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, March 3
Mar 3, 2014
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
10:00 a.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation (“DWC”) Proposed Rule Hearing; 10:00 a.m. Proposed Rule Chapter 69L-3 would be amended to clarify that the filing of paper documents, when approved by the DWC, does not supersede the requirements for electronic submittal of claims information, as specified under Rule Chapter 69L-56. The Rulemaking also updates terminology and contact information, deletes an obsolete form and related language, and makes additional technical changes. To view the Hearing notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Bills call for stricter penalties on hitting designated “vulnerable road users”
Bills filed this week in the Florida Legislature seek to create new “vulnerable road user” designations to pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, skateboarders and people handling horse-drawn carriages, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Feds to fine Florida over limit on Medicaid patients’ emergency room visits
Florida has been limiting Medicaid patients to six emergency room visits a year even though federal officials consider such a cap illegal, Tampa Bay Times’ Tia Mitchell and Jodi Tillman report via the Miami Herald.
Naples at heart of state debate over local police, fire pension reform
Senate Bill 246, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, and Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, changes state laws affecting local pension systems, particularly police and fire pensions, Naples Daily News’ Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster reports.
Daughter’s Facebook boast costs former Miami headmaster $80,000 discrimination settlement
A court tosses a Gulliver headmaster’s confidential settlement with school after his daughter boasts about it in post, Yahoo.com notes on a Miami Herald report.
Governor will use speech to stress tax cuts
Florida Governor Rick Scott will kick off the 2014 legislative session by asking legislators to approve his tax cut package and by asking to keep tuition rates low, Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via the Tampa Tribune.
- Rick Scott Pares Down Ambitions For Election-Year Legislative Session
- Legislators ready for Scott’s half-billion dollar tax cut challenge
A viewers’ guide to the 2014 Florida Legislative Session
The 2014 session of the Florida Legislature opens Tuesday with the usual upbeat tone, but it won’t last, predicts Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet.
- Legislative agenda packed for upcoming session
- Divergent local needs will be brought to state leaders
Lawmakers Look to Pass Far-Flung Gun Bills
What do Pop-Tarts and property insurance have in common? Via SunshineStateNews.com, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam examines gun-related legislation filed for the 2014 Florida Legislative Session.
Lakeland’s Seth McKeel Looks to His Last Legislative Session
Although Florida Governor Rick Scott has largely released his budget proposals to the Legislature, State Representative Seth McKeel, noted for his expertise in policy and finance, will be paying attention to any nuances of policy, especially anyone getting carried away with the extra money, Lakeland Ledger’s Bill Rufty reports.
Kathleen Peters Has Competition from Left and Right
Things are getting tougher for Kathleen Peters as she runs to keep her Florida House seat after losing the Republican congressional primary to David Jolly last month, Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Texas Seeks Comments on Rule Extending Time to File Windstorm Claims
The Texas Department of Insurance is seeking informal comments on a draft rule outlining how a policyholder with the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association may request additional time for filing a claim with the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, Insurance Journal reports.
Texan Republican an obstacle to flood insurance fix
A flood insurance fix bill that was suddenly derailed last week in the U.S. House is having trouble thanks partly to a high-ranking Texan in Congress who just will not budge on the issue, Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Jeremy Wallace reports.
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