Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, March 24
Mar 24, 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
Florida’s 2011 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
8:30 a.m.–House Economic Affairs Committee
- HB 5005 Relating to Deregulation of Professions and Occupations by the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee and State Representative Esteban Bovo
- HB 5007 Relating to Reducing and Streamlining Regulations by the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee and State Representative Esteban Bovo
2:45 p.m.–House Session
- HJR 7103 Relating to Agriculture/HB 7103 New Effective Date by the House Rules and Calendar Committee and State Representative Steve Crisafulli (would override Governor Crist’s 2010 veto and provide for a new effective date; HB 7103 contains reinsurance provisions)
- HB 4115 Relating to Powers of the (Florida Insurance) Consumer Advocate by State Representative Scott Plakon
- HB 4081 Relating to the Repeal of Obsolete Insurance Provisions by State Representative Mike Horner
- CS/HB 4099 Relating to the Repeal of Obsolete Insurance Provisions by the House Subcommittee on Insurance and Banking and State Representative Bryan Nelson
- HB 4129 relating to (Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s) Residential Property Structural Soundness Evaluation Grant Program by State Representative Steve Crisafulli
- HB 4181 Relating to Prohibited Activities of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by State Representative Daniel Davis
- HB 4083 relating to Workers’ Compensation by State Representative Ben Albritton
Blog: Broad bill aimed at fighting staged accidents OKed
A bill that aims to reduce staged car crashes and inflated claims for personal injury protection insurance was approved Wednesday by a panel of lawmakers.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: ‘PIP fraud’ legislation moves forward
After a tense debate, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday approved a bill that would try to crack down on auto-insurance fraud by limiting attorneys’ fees in personal-injury protection lawsuits, reports the News Service of Florida.
Florida Lawmakers Take Two-Pronged Approach to Insurance Reform
Tort reform and fraud have become the two big targets as Florida lawmakers are finally gearing up to tackle the state’s no-fault auto insurance law.
Insurance broker moves into state
The Houston-based insurance broker Bowen, Miclette & Britt Inc. has expanded into the Florida market — and Sarasota — with the purchase of Huckleberry Sibley & Harvey Insurance & Bonds Inc.
Republicans across the country have contended that one alternative to the controversial federal health care reform plan is to let Americans buy health insurance across state lines.
State Representative Esteban “Steve” Bovo Resigns from the Florida House
Florida State Representative Esteban Bovo sent a letter this morning, March 24, 2011, to House Speaker Dean Cannon in which he stated that he is officially resigning from his seat in the Florida House to become a candidate for the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Today in Tallahassee: Erasing more of Charlie Crist’s vetoes
Former Governor Charlie Crist’s legacy will get tattered a little more in the Legislature today when the Senate joins the House in overriding two of his vetoes.
Scott names lawyer to head Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Governor Rick Scott has named a former federal prosecutor as secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Blog: Harkening to his days at HCA, Scott wants to look at abolishing public hospitals
Governor Rick Scott, a former executive of corporate hospitals, on Wednesday ordered a yearlong study of whether Florida could do away with government-owned hospitals such as the nine in Broward County and financially ailing Jackson Memorial in Miami.
Blog: State Board of Education chairman quits over Scott’s handling of commissioner’s resignation
T. Willard Fair, chairman of the state Board of Education, has resigned over Governor Rick Scott’s handling of the resignation of education commissioner Eric Smith, who announced he was stepping down on Monday.
Ruling gets state off hook for Glades reservoir
A Miami federal judge has removed an $800 million gorilla from the back of state water managers a massive reservoir that loomed as a major legal and financial hurdle to plans to clean up Everglades pollution.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Governor Scott to sign merit pay bill Thursday in Jacksonville
Governor Rick Scott will sign the teacher merit pay bill on Thursday at a charter school in Jacksonville, reports the News Service of Florida.
Blog: Third time’s the charm — Haridopolos fixes disclosures again, wants new ethics law
Senate President Mike Haridopolos plans to push a new law that would require the states ethics commission to review each legislators financial disclosure forms to spot troubles.
Editorial: Lawmakers overreach on deregulation
Florida’s Realtors don’t want it. Neither do the representatives of auto mechanics, geologists, mobile home owners, travel agents and scores of other professional groups.
Blog: After much debate, House advances fertilizer bill
A controversial proposal to prohibit local governments from establishing stricter fertilizer ordinances than the state allows passed the House Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee in an 8-7 vote on Wednesday after over an hour of debate, reports the News Service of Florida.
Governor Rick Scott calls random drug testing the “right thing to do”
Scott issued an executive order where he demands drug testing of existing state workers and those applying for jobs.
Biomedical research eliminated in House health care budget
The House rolls out its health care budget, and Medically Needy and MEDS AD are funded as is planning for a new children’s hospital. Rep. Matt Hudson defends the biomedical cuts in order to avoid further cuts in Medicaid.
Marco Rubio health insurance legacy could be expanded by Legislature
Former House Speaker Marco Rubio’s idea to help businesses obtain health insurance could be expanded.
House plan would sweep $300 million out of the state’s road building fund
State Representative Mike Horner calls the sweep of the transportation trust fund “a big deal,” while DOT official says $500 million – $900 million in projects will be put on hold.
Crist testifies in Sansom trial
Ex-Governor Charlie Crist told jurors Wednesday he would have vetoed a $6-million Destin airport project if he had suspected it was a political favor to a wealthy Republican campaign donor.
British ambassador visiting lawmakers, governor in Florida
Strengthening already significant ties with an old friend and trading partner could help Florida pick up the pace of a painfully slow economic recovery, British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald told the Florida Senate on Wednesday
Ad Blast at Republicans Stirs Tea Party
A group vows to widen campaign against backsliding lawmakers
A hard-hitting tea party ad is calling out Republican state Senator Thad Altman and Representative John Tobia — and generating a bit of notoriety itself.
Supreme Court Makes It Easier to Sue Businesses
The Supreme Court made it easier to haul businesses into court, ruling this week that investors can sue them for purposefully withholding damaging information about a product and that employees can sue them for retaliation without having to make a written complaint.
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