Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, March 7
Mar 7, 2013
(Credit: TCPalm.com, Jeff Parker; Florida Today)
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. to 10:00 a.m.–Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Toni Jennings Committee Room, 110 Senate Office Building, Tallahassee, Florida. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- SPB 7018 relating to Property Insurance
9:00 a.m.–Florida Cabinet meeting. To view the complete agenda, click here.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
- For publicatiion
- Proposed amendments to Rule 69O-137.001would adopt the 2012 National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Annual Statement Instructions Manual. To view the Workshop notice, click here.
- Proposed amendments to Rule 69O-138.001 would adopt the 2013 NAIC Financial Condition Examiners Handbook. To view the Workshop notice, click here.
2:00 p.m.–Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology meeting; Discussion of a report on Risk Management Solutions’ notification of an error in its RiskLink 11.0.SP2 Computer Model. Teleconference: (888) 670-3525; conference code 7135858151. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
House panel passes bills to shrink Citizens Property Insurance
The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee began its efforts to reduce the risk of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Wednesday, passing a series of bills to reduce coverage of high-end homes and set up a clearinghouse to funnel customers away from the state-backed insurer.
Bill would require Keys seat on Citizens’ Property Insurance board
State Representative Holly Raschein says she intends to be a House co-sponsor of a Senate bill that calls for a permanent Monroe County appointee to the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board of directors.
Property Insurance on Agenda as Florida Legislature Opens
New leadership now controls Florida’s Republican-led Legislature, where the loquacious Don Gaetz presides in the Senate and 33-year-old Will Weatherford steps into the biggest test of his political career as speaker of the 120-member House of Representatives.
Florida Senate Advances Bill Banning Texting While Driving
A statewide texting-while-driving ban that has eluded passage for several years is again moving through the Florida Legislature.
Man accused of posing as chiropractor in Orlando clinic
A man who allegedly posed as a chiropractor at an Orlando clinic performed more than 80 treatments on patients, and the doctor allowed it to happen, authorities said.
Blog: Florida businesses, attorneys react to workers compensation ruling
Businesses and attorneys are weighing the impact of Thursday’s ruling by the Florida First District Court of Appeals that a St. Petersburg firefighter who was injured on the job should have been granted longer workers comp coverage.
Bill would equalize insurance payouts on oral, IV meds
Cancer patients, survivors and their supporters gathered Wednesday just outside Senate chambers to demonstrate support for a proposal mandating that insurance companies equalize coverage of oral medicine with IV-administered medicine.
Optometrists bill advances with caution
A Senate panel voted 10-3 on Wednesday to approve a bill granting more prescription authority to optometrists.
Alternatives to Medicaid expansion could be more costly
With the Florida House presently unwilling to support Medicaid expansion, legislators are finding inspiration from other states as they try to come up with an alternative solution.
Will Weatherford Clarifies Safety Net Story
House Speaker Will Weatherford said Wednesday that his brother Peter had cancer treatment as a child covered by the state’s Medically Needy program for people who can’t afford care, but that it reinforced his belief that an expansion of Medicaid isn’t needed.
Blog: Mica boosts modeling/simulation industry in U.S. House bill
One of Central Florida’s biggest industries – the military modeling and simulation sector – got a small boost in legislation that passed the U.S. House today thanks to a four-sentence provision inserted by U.S. Representative John Mica, R-Winter Park.
Blog: Democrats Seek To Close Gun Show Loophole
Background checks of purchasers would be required on all gun sales in Florida under a bill two Democratic lawmakers have filed in an effort to close the so-called “gun show loophole.”
Bills dealing with controversial oil and gas fracking to be heard Thursday
Concerns have been raised about groundwater contamination and air pollution from hydraulic fracturing.
With the 2013 legislative session underway, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that one of her top priorities is a bill that will enhance Florida’s False Claims Act and better protect taxpayers from false or fraudulent claims seeking money from the State of Florida.
Blog: More economic-development bills making inroads
A House panel advanced bills Wednesday intended to continue streamlining growth-regulation and offer more targeted tax-incentives for development in polluted or impoverished areas.
As lawmakers move for vote on Dolphins stadium tax, poll says it’s unpopular
About 73 percent of likely Miami-Dade voters oppose a Miami Dolphins tax-break plan for stadium improvements, according to a new poll obtained by the Miami Herald that indicates the issue is politically damaging for lawmakers.
Blog: Governor Taps Former Florida Department of Transportation Official For Children’s Services
David Dees, who spent four years as director of law enforcement for the Florida Department of Transportation was one of five appointees named by Governor Rick Scott to the Children’s Services Council of Martin County.
North Carolina Approves 7 percent Home Insurance Rate Increase
North Carolina’s top state insurance regulator has signed an agreement allowing companies to raise homeowner’s insurance policies by a statewide average of 7 percent a year starting in July.
New Jersey Finds 124 Unregistered Post-Sandy Contractors
New Jersey inspectors have found 124 unregistered contractors doing work on homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy since January.
Will Wind/Hail Cosmetic Damage Exclusion Endorsements Become the Norm?
Cosmetic damage from wind and hail to homeowner and commercial properties may no longer be covered if insurers opt to use new endorsements, one for homeowners and another for commercial roofs, that are becoming available.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass& Webb on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.