Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, September 8
Sep 8, 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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Public Rate Hearing: Fidelity Fire and Casualty Company and First Protective Insurance Company. Proposed average statewide rate increases of 24.8 percent for the dwelling fire programs would be effective October 9, 2011 for new and renewal business. To view the hearing notice, click here.
(CANCELED) 10:00 a.m– Florida Surplus Lines Service Office National Clearinghouse Committee meeting. Agenda includes issues pertaining to the proposed national surplus lines tax clearinghouse. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:00 a.m.– Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (“FWCJUA”) Audit Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
1:00 p.m.–FWCJUA Rates and Forms Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
2:00 p.m.–Florida Department of Financial Services Money Service Workers’ Compensation Fraud Work Group meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Former lawmaker to head Citizens governing board
Former state Representative Carlos Lacasa of Miami is the pick to become the next chairman of the board that oversees the operations of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Approves Rate Hikes for Allstate Subsidiaries
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved residential property insurance rate hikes for Castle Key Insurance Co. and Castle Key Indemnity Co., both subsidiaries of Allstate.
HomeWise Preferred Ordered Into Receivership
Tampa-based HomeWise Preferred Insurance Co. was ordered into receivership on September 2 for purposes of rehabilitation by the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County.
Hundreds want out of Chinese drywall deal
Hundreds of Floridians potentially want to opt out of a proposed $55 million federal settlement over faulty Chinese drywall in hopes of pursuing individual lawsuits in state courts, the attorney for two families said Wednesday.
Red-light camera numbers slated to grow quickly in South Florida
The number of red light cameras in South Florida is about to expand exponentially.
Blog: State accepts ObamaCare money; Senators Gaetz, Negron vote no
The state Legislative Budget Commission is ordinarily a sleep-inducing group that rubber-stamps state agencies’ requests for mid-year spending authority.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Public Hospital Review Group Struggles With Goal
When Governor Rick Scott issued an executive order in March, the message seemed pretty clear: He was looking for changes in Florida’s public hospitals.
Florida ranks 44th for long-term care
A new national rating indicates that Florida’s elderly and disabled residents would be best off moving to Minnesota, Washington or Oregon, based on measurements of the quality and availability of help for people who need long-term care.
Governor Scott’s plan to limit HMOs coming under fire
Governor Rick Scott, who began his political career by criticizing the federal health care overhaul, has constantly said he opposes President Barack Obama’s plan because it is a “job killer” and would limit consumers’ health care choices.
Doctors’ pharmaceutical list: Doctors’ list reveals who’s getting big pharmaceutical money
Doctors in Florida have received more than $56 million from a dozen pharmaceutical companies since 2009, according to data released Wednesday by ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative news organization.
For weeks, Republican Senate Redistricting Chairman Don Gaetz has been making a magnanimous offer to Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich: On the first day of meetings of the Senate Redistricting Committee in September, she gets the first chance at presenting a districting map.
Florida economic forecast the best in five years, but still dark
Florida lawmakers Wednesday received their brightest economic forecast since the recession hit, with projected tax collections and spending in harmony and no budget shortfalls seen through 2015.
American Civil Liberties Union and Navy vet sue to stop state from drug-testing welfare recipients
Plaintiff Luis Lebron is a Navy veteran with a young son who was denied benefits because he refused to submit to a drug test, which he and American Civil Liberties Union attorneys liken to an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment.
Special election to replace Senator Tony Hill gets nasty
They’re back. A group calling itself Friends of Florida’s First Coast filled mailboxes Wednesday across the area with mail attacking state Senate candidate Terry Fields.
Public hearing set on water district’s austere budget plan
Thursday night, in what would be a routine meeting any other year, the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District will hold its first public hearing on its annual budget.
Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos: Florida is different
Right now, politicians in Washington, D.C., are grappling with an addiction to spending, record-high unemployment, skyrocketing foreclosure rates and the first downgrade from the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s since 1917.
Blog: Governor Rick Scott schedules work day at Naval Air base
Governor Rick Scott is once again revisiting his past with his third “Let’s Get to Work Day” set for Thursday.
Blog: Alex Sink to launch foundation
Alex Sink of Tampa, retired banker and long-time civic and Democratic political activist, will announce the launch of a new non-profit foundation Thursday.
Mississippi Senator Wicker Plans to Revive Wind-vs.-Water Debate With Flood Bill Amendment
A senator plans to revive the sensitive “wind-vs.-water” issue by introducing an amendment to the Senate bill reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program when it is marked up Thursday.
U.S. Medicare Strike Force Takes Down Approximately $295 Million in False Billings
Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Holder announce a takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in eight cities resulting in charges against 91 defendants for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $295 million in false billings, the highest amount in Strike Force History.
Park View Insurance Company is First Tennessee Captive Since Regulatory Update
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, says it has licensed its first captive insurance company since the revision of the state’s regulation of the captive industry earlier this year.
Nevada Appeals Risk Retention Group Decision
The National Risk Retention Association expressed dismay at the State of Nevada’s appeal of a federal court’s summary judgment in favor of a risk retention group.
Best’s Review: A.M. Best Ranks the Top 50 Global Reinsurance Groups
The September issue of Best’s Review reports A.M. Best Co.’s annual ranking of the top 50 global reinsurance groups based on gross premium written in 2010.
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