Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, January 12

Jan 12, 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 2011 Regular Legislative Session

  • Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
  • Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar

 

9:00 a.m.–Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Public Rate Hearing: Southern Oak Insurance Company.   Southern Oak Insurance Company has requested a 19.1 percent overall rate increase for its dwelling fire line of coverage.  The proposed rate increase would be effective February 15, 2012 for new business and July 31, 2012 for renewal business. The requested rate increase is not uniform; some areas are subject to a higher rate increase.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

(CANCELED) 10:00 a.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office National Clearinghouse committee meeting.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.–Senate Committee on Judiciary.  To view the meeting packet, click here.

  • SB 378 relating to Expert Testimony by Senator Garrett Richter

11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.-House Economic Affairs Committee.  To view the meeting packet, click here.

  • HB 245 relating to Depopulation Programs of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by State Representative Jim Boyd
  • HB 307 relating to Workers’ Compensation Certificate-of-Exemption Process by State Representative Mack Bernard
  • HB 379 relating to Captive Insurance by State Representative Jeanette Nuñez
  • HB 4019 relating to Repeal of Workers’ Compensation Reporting Requirement by State Representative Bryan Nelson

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.–House State Affairs Committee.  To view the meeting packet, click here.

  •  HB 7019 relating to Open Government Sunset Review/Insurance Claim Data Exchange Information by the Florida House of Representatives’ Government Operations Subcommittee

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.–Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government AppropriationsTo view the meeting packet, click here.

  • SB 578 relating to Depopulation Programs of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by Senator Garrett Richter
  • SB 610 relating to Captive Insurance by Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla

2:00 p.m.–Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council meeting.  Obtain approval for the filing of a Notice of Proposed Rule for 19-8.029, F.A.C., entitled “Insurer Reporting Requirements” and 19-8.030, F.A.C., entitled “Insurer Responsibilities.”  Teleconference:  (888) 808-6959; conference code 4765251363.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

     

     

    Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012

     

    HB 7033 Relating to Open Government Sunset Review/Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability Insurance Policies by State Representative Doug Broxson

    HB 7033 would removes from scheduled repeal under Florida’s Open Government Sunset Review Act an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying information and policy numbers regarding Personal Injury Protection Insurance and property damage liability insurance policies.  Effective Date: October 1, 2012

     

     

    Daily Insurance-Related News

     

    Florida Senator files another bill to overhaul Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

    Governor Rick Scott and board members of Citizens Property Insurance are pushing for comprehensive changes to the state-backed insurer to reduce its size and coverage, and now they have a bill.

     

    House says goodbye to Personal Injury Protection

    A House subcommittee approves a bill that eliminates chiropractors and massage therapists from the system and directs drivers, passengers directly to hospitals. Governor Scott says he supports the approach.

     

    Florida House committee passes bill that mandates all accident victims go to emergency rooms

    A bill that would force all accident victims to go to emergency rooms instead of their family doctor — even for minor injuries — has cleared a House subcommittee.

     

    Florida Governor Scott Talks Insurance Fraud in State of State Speech

    In the annual State of the State address opening Florida legislative session, Governor Rick Scott highlighted automobile insurance while remaining mum on the future of the state’s property insurance underwriter, Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

     

    Florida Lawmakers File Bills to Address Auto Insurance Personal Injury Protection Fraud

    State Senator Joe Negron this week filed legislation designed to crack down on the fraud that leads to more expensive personal injury protection insurance required of all Florida drivers.

     

    State Representative Matt Hudson:  Governors proposed cuts to Medicaid reimbursement challenging   

    Represenative Matt Hudson, R-Naples, came out strongly Wednesday against the governor’s proposed changes to Medicaid reimbursements, which would gouge $1.85 billion from hospital income statewide.

     

    Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning resigning after primary

    Florida’s elections chief is resigning from his job after the state’s January 31 presidential primary.

     

    Florida House panel considers business lobby’s plan to reduce unemployment tax hike

    The House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee heard the outlines of a plan Wednesday from major business lobbying groups to reduce the planned increase in the unemployment compensation tax.

     

    Florida House advances bill increasing governor’s power to appoint judges

    The Florida House is advancing legislation that would increase the governor’s power over judicial appointments.

     

    Florida Senate panel OKs redistricting maps after partisan spat

    Set against the backdrop of a partisan skirmish, the Senate Redistricting Committee finished its work Wednesday, sending its Senate and congressional maps to the full Senate.

     

    Florida Legislators push new law to ban guns in public places

    Two Palm Beach County lawmakers are pushing for the Legislature to re-examine a law passed last year forcing local governments to strike county and city gun laws from the books, including those that prohibited gun owners from bringing their firearms into government buildings.

     

    Florida House setting its own pace on casino bill

    A proposal to bring destination casino resorts to Florida got through its first committee in the Senate Monday, but the House is not inclined to move as quickly as its counterpart.

     

    Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam to present energy bill ideas Thursday at House committee meeting

    Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says he will outline on Thursday his ideas for energy legislation in a presentation to the House Energy and Utilities Subcommittee.

     

    Florida bill would require public comment at meetings

    Governmental bodies would have to give citizens a chance to be heard before acting on public issues under a bill moving through the Florida Legislature.

     

    Florida Aims Anti-Racketeering Bill at Human Traffickers, Sex Trade

    Florida, a key cog in an expanding global human-trafficking network, is looking to crack down on the $32 billion industry, starting with a vote on anti-racketeering legislation Thursday.

     

    Efficiency Hotline Government Program Not So Efficient

    One tipster suggested the state cut heating bills by forcing government workers to wear more clothes.

     

    PolitiFact:  Governor Rick Scott says the state tax burden per citizen in New York is twice as high as in Florida

    Governor Rick Scott, Florida’s Chief Executive Officer in chief, often talks about making cold calls to companies in chilly cities as part of his effort to lure them here and create Florida jobs.

     

    Federal Insurance Office’s Michael McRaith:  150 Comments Received on Modernizing Insurance Regulation

    Speaking at an industry conference yesterday, the Federal Insurance Office’s top official gave an update on his department’s upcoming report on the U.S. insurance regulatory system.

     

    Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Rates Rise, Guy Carpenter Says

    In a report published on its website, Guy Carpenter & Co., the insurance broker owned by Marsh & McLennan Cos., says that property catastrophe reinsurance prices increased 9.5 percent globally for contracts renewed on January 1, following natural disasters that reached an historic high last year.

     

    Washington Post:  Banks Said to Face New York Inquiry Over Home Insurance

    Banks and insurers including Citigroup Inc. and Assurant Inc. are being investigated by New York’s insurance regulator over the prices charged to mortgage borrowers for home insurance, a person familiar with the matter said.

     

     

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