Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, March 28
Mar 28, 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
8:00 a.m.–Florida House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee meeting; To view the agenda, click here. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- HB 433 relating to Agency Inspectors General
- HB 493 relating to Security of Protected Consumer Information
- HB 605 relating to Workers’ Compensation
- HB 1107 relating to Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
- HB 1247 relating to Hurricane Mitigation
- HB 1329 relating to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
- HB 1157 relating to Health Flex Plans
- HB 581 relating to Dentists
- CS/HB 833 relating to General Assignments
- PCS for HB 157 relating to Delivery of Insurance Policies
- PCS for HB 909 relating to Property Insurance
- PCS for HB 971 relating to Florida Fire Prevention Code
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
FBI raids Universal Healthcare’s St. Petersburg office
The FBI raided the downtown St. Petersburg office of Universal Healthcare Thursday.
Florida Regulators Allege Fraud by Allianz in Case of Failed Insurer
Florida regulators are alleging that insurer Allianz and its companies contributed to the collapse of a Florida domestic property insurer by taking out more than $20 million in assets and rendering it unable to meet its financial obligations.
Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Reduces Risk of Emergency Assessments
Florida’s state-backed property insurer announced that it has reduced the size of any possible emergency assessments on policyholders due to its depopulation efforts and by transferring part of its risk to private capital markets.
Florida 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.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Trial Lawyers vs. Business Groups–Bad Faith Changes Take First Step
Amid a renewed lobbying fight between business groups and trial lawyers, a House panel Wednesday narrowly approved a bill that could help shield insurers from big-money lawsuits in disputes about settling claims.
Repeal of controversial international drivers law sent to Governor Rick Scott
Florida’s mea culpa to Canada was sent to Governor Rick Scott on Wednesday, with lawmakers hoping to end an international controversy that threatened one of the mainstays of the state’s tourism industry.
Blog: Jim Greer Sentenced To 18 Months Prison Time
Jim Greer was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by one year of probation, for five crimes he committed against the Florida GOP while serving as its chairman.
FAA set to close Boca, Stuart airport towers May 5
The Federal Aviation Administration will close air traffic control towers at the Boca Raton Airport and Martin County’s Witham Field on May 5 as a result of the federal budget cuts, known as the sequester.
House panel passes bill to arm Florida teachers
Gun debates tend to be impassioned. School safety discussions, too.
Senate creates task force to review budget transparency
The Legislature remains a long way from offering the public real-time access to budget data.
House, Senate differ in approach to foreclosure settlement money
Members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development unveiled their plan to spend $200 million from a multi-state foreclosure fraud settlement on Wednesday, revealing a significant departure for the House.
Blog: Bill Nelson Blames Florida Governor Rick Scott For Low Rate Of Helping “Hardest Hit” Mortgages
Senator Bill Nelson said Wednesday that Governor Rick Scott is to blame for the state’s poor performance in helping homeowners who lost their jobs or part of their incomes during the recession, reports Margie Menzel of the News Service of Florida.
Nuclear cost recovery law shifts risk to customers, critic says, as legislation remains in question
A 2006 law that allows utilities to charge customers for nuclear plants that may never be built actually shifts the risk to utility customers and away from investors and stockholders, a former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission member has told a House panel.
House less stingy than Senate with incentive funds
The House budget would give Governor Rick Scott more business incentives than initial Senate recommendations, but not as much as he would like.
House, Senate budget proposals include money for land-buying, beach restoration
Proposed Senate and House versions of the 2013-14 budget for agriculture and environmental agencies closely track Governor Rick Scott’s budget request on some major funding issues, but not others.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Seeks Changes In Lender-Placed Insurance Remuneration
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has filed a notice that is designed to put an end to fees and commissions associated with lender-placed insurance.
Supreme Court Deals Another Blow to Class Actions with Comcast Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of Comcast Corp. in an antitrust case over how much it charged cable TV subscribers, further curtailing the ability of people to pursue class action lawsuits.
Insurance Agent Takes Stand on Gay Marriage in Supreme Court Case
Today David Kosar can be considered one of the nation’s most outspoken insurance agents on the issue of gay marriage.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Will Not Seek Re-Election
Senator Tim Johnson, D-S.D., chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has announced he will not run for re-election.
North Carolina’s “Other” Auto Insurance Market
I’ve already covered in these pages some of the things the editorial pages of North Carolina’s leading newspapers are getting wrong about S.B. 154, legislation to modernize the state’s system of setting auto insurance rates.
Tennessee Official Expects Insurance to Cover Relocating School Threatened by Sinkhole
Unicoi County (Tennessee) Schools Director Denise Brown said she’s confident the cost of relocating an elementary school threatened by a sinkhole is covered by insurance.
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