Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, November 14

Nov 14, 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

 

10:00 a.m.–Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Proposed Rule Hearing.  The Rules below are proposed for repeal since they are duplicative of Rules 69O-166.021 and 69O-166.024, respectively.  To view the hearing notice, click here.

  • 69B-166.021:  Definitions
  • 69B-166.024:  Failure to Acknowledge Communications and Act Promptly as to Communications with Respect to Claims and to Implement Standards for the Prompt Investigation of Claims

10:00 a.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Board of Governors Workshop.  Agenda includes discussion of Citizens’ 2012 Budget.  Teleconference:  (888) 942-8686; conference code:  8419204389.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

    1:30 p.m.–Citizens Board of Governors meeting.  Teleconference:  888-942-8686; conference code:  8419204389.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

     

     

    Daily Insurance-Related News

     

    James Madison Institute:  Scale back catastrophe fund

    Re the Oct. 18 article Florida hurricane fund has $3.2B shortfall:

    As we approach the start of the 2012 legislative session, it’s important that this headline remain top of mind for Florida’s elected leaders because of the financial impact the fund could potentially have on Floridians.

     

    Florida Wildlife Federation:  Reform Citizens Property Insurance, Catastrophe Fund to prevent financial disaster

    Based on a request from Governor Scott, management from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is expected to submit a proposal to the Florida Cabinet with a plan to reduce Citizens’ size and risk.

     

    Another blow for Dolphin Tower

    The engineering firm studying vacant Dolphin Tower now says that much of the concrete supporting upper floors lacks strength, a problem that could nearly double the cost to repair the 15-story building.

     

    Grant clears way for $2.7 million Naples storm drainage project in Bayshore area                                            

    Between July 1985 and June 2007, the Bayshore Gateway Triangle had 59 flood Insurance claims and saw more than $500,000 paid in insurance costs, according to Sue Trone, manager for the stormwater project.

     

    Will Broward County residents still need flood insurance?

    Get ready to save money:  About half of Broward County property owners now required to have flood insurance would get a pass from the newest flood maps, based on an early analysis.

     

    What Options Do HomeWise Customers Have in Homeowners Choice Deal?

    Florida policyholders of HomeWise Insurance should not see dramatic changes in their renewal premium if their policies are taken over by Homeowners Choice, according to the company officials.

     

    Personal Injury Protection stands to change or die under new proposal

    Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system will be eliminated in four years unless the Legislature reviews and agrees to re-enact the law under a proposed committee substitute that will be “workshopped” by the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee next week.

     

    THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  Insurance issues resurface

    Confronting an industry costing motorists $1 billion a year in higher premiums, lawmakers this week will turn their attention to reining in costs for an increasingly controversial coverage that was supposed to save money by keeping people out of court.

     

    South Florida motorcycle riders urged to wear helmets 10 years after helmet law repealed

    More than 10 years have passed since Florida repealed its universal helmet law requiring all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.

     

    Seminole Tribe denounces casino bill, economists look at revenue impact

    Vowing to “vigorously fight” the gaming bills it considers to be an encroachment onto its casino territory, the tribe joins opponents to the plan to allow large-scale resort casinos into South Florida.

     

    Blog:  Florida job-creation accounting is even worse than reported

    Turns out that the record-keeping by the state of how it spent job-creation funds – and what the state got for its money – is even worse than we’re already reported.

     

    Florida Senator Mike Fasano wants Progress Energy to explain botched nuclear plant job

    State Senator Mike Fasano wants Progress Energy to explain to lawmakers and the public what went wrong at the broken Crystal River nuclear plant.

     

    Florida forgave $110.5 million in taxes, fines in Fiscal Year 2011

    For the second year in a row, Florida is giving up on collecting more than $100 million in taxes, fees and fines owed the state.

     

    Column:  Altamonte Springs race previews what’s in store for 2012 campaign

    So what do President Barack Obama, Governor Rick Scott, Tallahassee political consultants and the national debt have to do with a mayoral contest in Altamonte Springs?

     

    Texas struggled to assess hurricane contractor’s bills

    During the time that a private contractor was charging the state more than $1 million a month to administer hurricane disaster grants, state employees supervising the work were unable to gauge the reasonableness of the bills or even whether they were allowable expenses under the firm’s contract, auditors found.

     

     

     

     

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