Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, June 14

Jun 14, 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

 

7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.–Florida Office of Insurance Regulation 2012 Industry Conference, Tallahassee.  “Successful Strategies for Business Development.”  For more information, click here.

     

     

    Daily Insurance-Related News

     

    Maryland insurance executive tapped to head Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

    Barry Gilway was named president of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation on Wednesday, but it is unclear when he will start work.

     

    PolitiFact:  Florida Governor Rick Scott said Citizens Property Insurance has $500 billion in risk exposure but less than $10 billion in cash   

    It’s become Governor Rick Scott’s favorite talking point in the escalating debate over raising rates at Citizens Property Insurance:  The state-run insurer has a whopping $500 billion in risk exposure, and a paltry $6 billion in surplus, or cash-on-hand.

     

    Lexon Buys Florida’s Peninsular Surety

    Lexon Insurance Co. in Hermitage, Tennessee, has agreed to a acquire all shares of Peninsular Surety Company in Naples, Florida.

     

    Florida Not Among 10 Most Dangerous Driving States According to Non-Profit Group

    Mississippi Is Number One

    Motor vehicle crashes kill more people between the ages of five and 34 than any other cause, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

     

    Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi settles with MedVance in for-profit health care training school investigation

    The for-profit MedVance Institute has agreed to offer free retraining for former students and $600,000 in scholarships as part of a settlement with the Florida Attorney’s General Office.

     

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:  Florida’s Everglades Plan Meets Federal Approval

    Federal environmental officials on Wednesday told Florida that a revised state plan to improve water quality in the Everglades meets with Washington’s approval, and said it may meet a federal judge’s order to clean up the ecosystem.

     

    Florida losing dedicated technology agency

    A bill creating a new Office of State Technology to replace the agency that deals with technology throughout state government was vetoed by Governor Rick Scott.

     

    Texting cash to candidates seen as boon to local campaigns, citizen involvement

    Cell phones have become the latest campaign fundraising tool since the Federal Elections Commission ruled Monday that citizens may text message donations to political campaigns.

     

    However Tempting, Florida Likely Won’t Try to Eliminate Property Taxes

    In a ballot initiative that caught the attention of Florida tea party conservatives and low-tax advocates the country over, North Dakota voters on Tuesday said “no” to making their state the first in the nation to end property taxes.

     

    Ex-justice writes state brief in Florida pension case

    The Legislature’s power of the purse trumps public employees’ state constitutional right to collective bargaining, a former Florida Supreme Court justice argues in papers filed with his colleagues.

     

    Blog:  Collateral Reform Passes Connecticut; California Up Next

    Connecticut is the latest state to liberalize collateral requirements for foreign-based reinsurers, and California could be next on the list, after a similar bill passed that state’s Senate.

     

    Alabama governor promotes homeowner’s insurance laws

    Alabama’s governor visited the Gulf coast Wednesday to promote new laws designed to make homeowner’s insurance more affordable after hurricanes drove up prices.

     

    New York Orders “Force-Placed” Insurers to Submit New Lower Rate Proposals

    New York regulators said they have ordered three major insurers offering ‘force-placed’ homeowners insurance in New York to submit proposals for new premium rates.

     

    Study:  Regulated industries’ spending on political donations, lobbying pays off

    A new study shows that heavy spending on political activity often yields a negative return on investment for large companies.

     

    Who Will Control Domain .insurance?

    Two financial associations are competing with Progressive for rights to the domain address .insurance.

     

     

    Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)

     

     

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