Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, November 17
Nov 17, 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
10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Audit Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
(CANCELED) 10:00 a.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office National Clearinghouse Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:00 a.m.–Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies meeting. Orlando, Florida.
12:00 p.m.–Florida Self-Insurers Guaranty Association meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Drywall maker to reimburse home builders in Florida, Gulf States
A settlement outlined Wednesday between a major manufacturer of Chinese-made drywall and homebuilders who used the tainted product in Florida (including Manatee County), Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi could affect anywhere from 800 to 1,500 homes, attorneys said.
Unlicensed contracting scams a growing problem in Hernando County, say deputies
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office says unlicensed contractors scamming people out of money is a growing problem and they’re cracking down.
Florida among top fryer fire states
A report from State Farm Insurance puts Florida among the top 10 states for cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater seeks ban on accident lawyer referral services
Accident lawyer referral services should be banned in the state, says Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, the St. Petersburg Times reports.
Another Battle for Personal Injury Protection Reform Developing in Florida
Another legislative battle over Florida’s personal injury protection automobile insurance system is brewing, with the state’s governor and chief financial officer leading the charge.
Blog: Tough questions on auto insurance fraud legislation
Despite support from Florida’s top leaders for new laws to fight automobile insurance fraud, the proposals faced intense scrutiny at House and Senate insurance committee meetings today.
Blog: Lawmakers begin wrestling with Personal Injury Protection
A day after Governor Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater urged lawmakers to overhaul Florida’s personal injury protection auto insurance standard, House and Senate panels began Wednesday what is likely to prove months of wrestling with the issue.
Associated Industries: Gear up Florida–Put the brakes on accident Fraud
Florida’s no-fault system is creating problems for Florida’s businesses and consumers.
Workers’ compensation panel votes to limit drug, outpatient charges
A panel charged with keeping Florida’s workers’ compensation delivery system running smoothly wants the state to cap how much physicians can charge for dispensing prescriptions to injured workers.
Feds delay decision on new medical loss ratio requirements
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is told it may have to wait another 30 days to find out whether it’s exempt from tough new medical loss ratio requirements under federal law.
State appeals court rejects controversial ruling on Florida drug law
A state appeals court on Wednesday rejected a federal judge’s controversial ruling that Florida’s drug statute is unconstitutional.
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson to get hearing on restrictive election laws
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson will get his Senate committee hearing about whether new restrictive voting laws in Florida and other states are part of an orchestrated effort to suppress voter turnout in 2012, according to TBO.com.
1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes resigns
First District Court of Appeal Judge Paul M. Hawkes, who was involved with the construction of the $50 million DCA courthouse in Tallahassee often referred to as a “Taj Mahal,” is resigning from the court effective January 4, the St. Petersburg Times reports.
Casino builders betting big as bill gets fast-tracked in Florida Senate
Genting Group pledged to create 117,000 direct, indirect and “induced” jobs.
- Estimates on permitting South Florida casinos range from break even to $1.7 billion in new taxes
- Pari-Mutuels Want Restrictions Lifted, Taxes Lowered If Legislators OK 5-Star Casinos
- 1,050 slot machines arrive at Miami Jai Alai
Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Mike Joyner: Water issues could be state game changer
Florida’s agriculture industry has tremendous opportunities to provide nutritious school meals and grow crops for alternative energy, but water supply issues could create serious problems without the right solutions, said Mike Joyner, the state’s assistant commissioner of agriculture.
Blog: Governor Rick Scott – a new grandpa
First-year Florida Governor Rick Scott added another first this week.
Insurer Executive, Consumer Advocate Debate Dodd-Frank Provisions Before Congress
Dodd-Frank Act provisions should be “clarified” to ensure that federal regulators do not impose conflicting or duplicative regulatory requirements, an executive of a property and casualty insurer tells Congress today.
The states have “botched implementation” of the surplus-lines provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial services reform law, an insurance broker tells Congress today.
House repeals contractor withholding requirement
The House voted unanimously yesterday to repeal a tax law that would have required federal, state and local governments to withhold 3 percent of their payments to vendors, reports the Washington Business Journal.
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