Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, February 7
Feb 7, 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
- 9:00 a.m.–Florida Cabinet meeting. To view the complete agenda, click here.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
- For final adoption
- Proposed amendments to Rule 69O-170.0155 would update and revise Form OIR-B1-1809, “Health Care Provider Certification of Eligibility,” for Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) benefits to reflect statutory revisions as the result of HB 119. The changes are technical in nature. To view the hearing notice, click here.
- Proposed amendments to Rule 69O-176.013 would finalize Emergency Rule changes to Form OIR-B1-1149, “Notification of Personal Injury Protection Benefits,” in accordance with statutory revisions resulting from HB 119. Form OIR-B1-1149 now reflects that PIP benefits are allocated for emergency medical treatment and a flat $5,000 death benefit. The Form was also amended to incorporate technical edits regarding fraud reporting and billing disclosures. To view the hearing notice, click here.
- For final adoption
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Senate panel unveils draft bill overhauling property insurance market
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee released the rough sketches of a bill imposing massive changes on the property insurance market Wednesday, attempting to move as much of the state’s risk into the private sector as possible.
Citizens Property Insurance reform plan could cost property owners more money
Property insurance rates across the state could shoot up much faster beginning next year under a massive new proposal being drafted in the Florida Legislature.
Representative Mike Fasano was denied the opportunity to sit on the House’s Insurance and Banking committee, but the outspoken consumer advocate is still finding a way to get involved in the debate over property insurance.
Florida officials want watchdog on state-run property insurance
Fed up with the tales of waste, fraud and abuse, two state lawmakers want to create a new position for an independent inspector general who would keep tabs on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state-subsidized property insurer of last resort.
U.S. Representatives Rooney, Deutch, Grimm, Pascrell introduce Homeowner Catastrophe Protection Act
Today, Representatives Tom Rooney (R-FL), Theodore Deutch (D-FL), Michael G. Grimm (R-NY), and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced the Homeowner Catastrophe Protection Act of 2013.
WLRN To Host February 25 Online Chat With Citizens Property Insurance and Miami Herald Reporter
WLRN Radio and The Miami Herald will be hosting a Town Hall with state legislative leaders on Monday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. Reserve your seat now.
St. Petersburg’s Universal Health Care faces liquidation hearing
Universal Health Care’s bid to remain afloat took a serious hit Wednesday.
Hospitals say they had no input on Medicaid payment plan
Implementation of a new Medicaid payment method to hospitals may have been slowed by complaints from the state’s 200-plus hospitals.
Illinois officials warn about Florida home warranty scam
The Illinois Department of Insurance is warning consumers that a Florida-based company is illegally marketing home warranty services to Illinois residents.
Florida Nuclear Plant Being Shuttered Following Insurance Settlement
The largest U.S. electricity company is permanently closing a Florida nuclear power plant after botched repairs and refunding consumers $835 million from an insurance settlement.
Patriot National Insurance Group adds 170 jobs in 2012
Patriot National Insurance Group has announced it added 170 jobs to its company locations in 2012.
Senators question Florida Governor Scott budget on reserves, university funding, pensions
After the House’s first look at Governor Rick Scott’s budget recommendations, the Senate got its first crack at the $74.2 billion spending plan Wednesday, with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Senators look to revamp local pension plans
A panel of Florida lawmakers on Wednesday debated how best to revamp 492 municipal pension plans across the state.
First Approval For Internet Sales Tax “Reform”
An annual effort to collect taxes on Internet sales began again in the Legislature on Tuesday, with a Senate committee agreeing to offset any new money collected with other tax breaks in a bid to appease anti-tax lawmakers.
Bills filed to fix glitch caused by 2012 growth management “glitch bill”
Bills have been filed in response to a circuit court ruling in Palm Beach County last October dealing with voter approval of proposed developments.
Lawmakers and police continued to wrangle Wednesday over when law enforcement should be allowed to use unmanned drones, trying to settle on where the tipping point is on the balance scale of liberty and public safety, reports Margie Menzel of the News Service of Florida.
Blog: Florida Senator Jack Latvala’s Ethics Reform Bill Passes Second Committee
Today, the Senate Committees on Community Affairs, chaired by Senator Wilton Simpson, and on Government Oversight and Accountability, chaired by Senator Jeremy Ring, passed Senate Bills 2 and 4 respectively.
Former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is weighing in on the state’s new proposal to rebrand itself for business, calling it “terrible” and joining a growing list of critics who are slamming the orange-tie imagery as sexist.
Government Suit Against Standard and Poor’s Could Embolden Other Investors to Sue
Lawyers for Standard and Poor’s, responding to a U.S. government probe, have tried for months to show it did nothing wrong in rating exotic securities in the run-up to the financial crisis.
New Jersey Announces New Captive Insurer; 8 Captives Approved Since 2011
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance announced Wednesday that the department approved Lumerica Insurance Company, a subsidiary of BASF Americas Corporation, to operate as a captive insurer in New Jersey.
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