Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, March 31
Mar 31, 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
9:00 a.m.–Senate Committee on Budget
- SB 634 relating to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation/Prohibited Activities by Senator David Simmons
- SB 636 relating to the Repeal of Obsolete Insurance Provisions by Senator David Simmons
- SB 638 relating to (Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s) Residential Property and Evaluation Grant Program by Senator David Simmons
12:00 p.m.–House Economic Affairs Committee
- CS/HB 1007 relating to Insurer Insolvency by House Subcommittee on Insurance and Banking; State Representative Mack Bernard
2:00 p.m.–Florida Insurance Guaranty Association Finance and Audit Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
3:00 p.m.–House Session
- CS/CS/HB 99 relating to Commercial Insurance Rates by the House Committee on Economic Affairs, Subcommittee on Insurance and Banking; State Representative Brad Drake
Blog: Reform of Citizens Property Insurance marches on
The House Insurance and Banking subcommittee on Wednesday voted in support of a bill intended to shrink the state-run property insurer.
Representative Jim Boyd’s Citizens insurance reform bill advances
The House Insurance and Banking subcommittee on Wednesday voted in support of a bill intended to shrink the state-run property insurer.
Blog: Citizens insurance reports it’s doing more with less
State-backed Citizens Property Insurance, Florida’s largest home insurer, reported today that its administrative expenses and headcount stayed flat from 2009 to 2010 despite the fact that its number of policies grew by 25 percent.
Risk Management Solutions released a new hurricane model at the end of February.
Wall Street Journal: Plugging a Gap in Florida Sinkhole Coverage
As more Florida homeowners seek insurance payments for sinkhole problems, state lawmakers are considering measures to curb dubious claims and try to ensure that policy proceeds are used to repair properties.
Suspicious claims up 34% in Florida
The National Insurance Crime Bureaus 2010 questionable claims analysis for Florida shows the Sunshine State has had a 34 percent rise in claims since 2008.Over that time period, the top three cities for producing questionable claims included Tampa, Miami and Orlando.
Tarpon Springs commission approves money to prevent sinkhole under gym floor
Unsettled ground beneath the gymnasium at the Tarpon Springs Recreation Center forced the city to spend $58,000 to head off a sinkhole. Tuesday night, the City Commission unanimously ratified City Manager Mark LeCouris’ decision to stabilize the ground underneath the gym earlier this month.
Lake Placid still has shot at FEMA money
When the town turned the FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant in September 2010 by voting against building a community center/hurricane shelter, the money, rather than disappearing, was put on hold.Now the town has another opportunity to put it to use.
Broward, Palm Beach among healthiest counties in Florida
Broward and Palm Beach counties are the 10th and 11th healthiest among Florida’s 67 counties, with low rates of obesity and smoking, according to a new study issued Wednesday.
Senate targets family coverage
A new Senate proposal would force many state employees to pay thousands a dollars a year more for health insurance — or choose skimpier coverage.
Blog: Big deregulation bill gets thumbs-up from House Appropriations
After more than two hours of testimony and debate — more time than was spent on the House’s $66.5 billion budget — the House Appropriations committee on Wednesday voted 15-8 in favor of a bill that would deregulate 20 professions.
Blog: Budget passes House appropriations committee
The House Appropriations Committee approved its draft of the budget for the coming fiscal year, 15-8, over complaints from Democrats about the depth of the cuts in the measure and proposals paving the way for the privatization of prisons in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, reports the News Service of Florida.
Scott and legislators under fire from protesters
A large crowd of protesters gathered across from the Capitol to protest what they say are Gov. Rick Scott’s and legislators’ attempts to destroy public employee unions.
Florida Bar Lawyers Claim Victory in Court Reform Fight
Cannon denies that reforms are dead; continues push for greater transparency
With Medicaid Bill Set for House, Senate Moves Its Version
Senate take on Medicaid reform moves through first committee
After the House prepared the Medicaid reform bill for a final vote Tuesday, Wednesday was the Senate’s turn to start to move it through its chamber.
Cannon, Haridopolos seek ‘Fair Districts’ preclearance, append qualifications
Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos yesterday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to approve the two anti-gerrymandering amendments supported by Florida voters in last November’s election, appending a lengthy explanation of how they feel the so-called “Fair Districts” amendments should be interpreted.
Voucher organization wants corporate taxpayer information
With $140 million raised in less than six months, the organization that administers the state’s school voucher program for economically disadvantaged students had no trouble meeting its goal this year.
Bill to protect online travel companies stays alive
An attempt to shield online travel companies from paying additional tourism taxes on the hotel rooms they sell over the Internet was narrowly defeated by a House committee Wednesday.
Senator threatens to sue Scott to force release of $35 million for Jackson Memorial
Senator Nan Rich says “it’s time” to send Governor Rick Scott a message over his decision to hold back funding intended for the financially-ailing hospital.
North Carolina Researchers Track Risk from Rising Sea Level
Laid back beach communities, fragile wetlands perfect for canoeing or kayaking, and iconic lighthouses come to mind when picturing North Carolina’s coast.
RMS Explains Its Hurricane Model Revision
Risk Management Solutions released a new hurricane model at the end of February.
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