Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, March 21
Mar 21, 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
Florida’s 2013 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Audit Committee meeting. Orlando, Florida. Teleconference: 866-361-7525; conference ID: 3877541849#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (“FHCF”) Advisory Council meeting. Obtain approval for the 2013 FHCF Contract Year Premium Formula, and to file Rule 19-8.028, “Reimbursement Premium Formula,” for publication. An additional meeting will be held March 28 if deemed necessary. Teleconference: (888) 670-3525; conference code: 7135858151. To view the meeting notice, click here.
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.–Citizens Market Accountability Advisory Committee meeting. Orlando, Florida. Teleconference: 866-361-7525; conference ID: 7849939192#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
(CANCELED) 4:00 p.m.–Citizens Finance and Investment Committee meeting; Orlando, Florida. Teleconference: 866-361-7525; conference ID: 2478401990#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Part of Florida auto insurance reform temporarily blocked by state court
A Leon County judge has approved a temporary ban on part of the landmark auto insurance overhaul passed last year by the Florida Legislature.
Citizens Property Insurance CEO: Give insurance consumers more choice
The CEO of Florida’s largest property insurer, Citizens, said a change he wants could help as many as 30 percent of new customers find coverage outside the state-run carrier, while another panelist at a roundtable Wednesday called for state action to address problems spotlighted by reporting in the The Palm Beach Post.
Florida Governor and Cabinet to Review Plans for Citizens Property Insurance
Florida Governor Rick Scott and members of the Cabinet are being asked to approve a plan to hand over some duties of the state’s largest insurer to private vendors.
Regulators seek input on improving home-claims process
Florida’s insurance-consumer advocate, Robin Smith Westcott, and the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services are offering Florida homeowners a chance to share their claim-handling experiences starting with a forum Thursday evening in Orlando.
Customers protest tactics at state’s biggest private property insurer
Universal says using credit history to deny claims is fair, state advocate calls it “abusive”
Profits are up more than 50 percent at Florida’s largest private property insurer, but a business practice characterized as “abusive and inappropriate” by a state advocate is infuriating homeowners like Michael and Barbara Wyman.
Insurer Lawsuit Contends Thieves in $80 Million Eli Lilly Heist Aided By Warehouse Schematics
When thieves cut their way into an Enfield warehouse in 2010 and carried out — unnoticed — the biggest pharmaceutical theft in U.S. history, they might have been armed with schematics of the warehouse security system.
Florida Senate Medical Malpractice Bill Advances
A bill that would make it even harder to pursue medical malpractice claims in Florida has cleared a Senate panel.
Medical leave task force grows
A Senate committee voted Thursday voted to add two additional members to task force that will study medical leave policies and recommend a statewide policy for sick leave. SB 726 would pre-empt medical leave ordinances passed by local governments.
University of Florida may require proof of health insurance
The University of Florida may start requiring new students to show proof of health insurance.
Feds Would Set Florida Health Insurance Rates Under Senate Bill
A state Senate health committee recommended this week that the state suspend the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s power to set rates for insurers under the Affordable Care Act and instead let the federal government handle that responsibility.
Threats Posted on Facebook Are Crimes, Florida Court Rules
In an apparent first in Florida law, a state appeals court ruled this week that posting threats on one’s personal Facebook page can be prosecuted under state law.
Senate panel votes for more controls, less money for Governor Rick Scott’s business incentives
Governor Rick Scott would get a fraction of the money he wants to use to lure business to relocate or expand in Florida if the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development’s budget recommendations prevail in overall budget talks.
Blog: Florida lawmakers approve plan for $200 million in mortgage settlement funds
Florida lawmakers announced plans Wednesday for more than $200 million in housing aid from a national mortgage settlement that has languished for nearly a year.
Deal with feds on water quality rules wins quick approval from House committee
Setting up a likely quick passage through the House, the State Affairs Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to introduce a proposed committee bill to approve a plan with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on setting water quality standards in Florida.
Florida Senator Bill Galvano releases education budget recommendation
The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee said he hopes to finalize an education budget recommendation at a March 27 committee meeting.
Blog: Who Might Succeed Clay Ford?
The phones have been ringing about who will run for State Representative Clay Ford’s seat. Several hopefuls trekked to Tallahassee to meet with Republican and Democratic party officials.
Blog: Legislators may again urge congressional term limits
Legislators haven’t set a limit on how often they can urge Congress to limit their own terms.
New York Regulators Identify 10 Banks With Worst Sandy Aid Statistics
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state’s Department of Financial Services announced the “bottom 10″ banks with the worst statistics for paying out insurance claims to Superstorm Sandy victims.
Arson convictions challenged over fire science
Ed Graf was given life in prison 25 years ago for killing his two stepsons by locking them in a backyard shed and setting it on fire. Two investigators used photos of the shed’s remains to persuade jurors that Graf had started the fire intentionally.
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