Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, April 12
Apr 12, 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
8:00 a.m.–House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
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CS/CS/CS/HB 479 relating to Medical Malpractice by the House Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee and Civil Justice Subcommittee; State Representative Mike Horner
9:15 a.m.–Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- SB 1930 relating to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance by Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff
- SB 1694 relating to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance by Senator Garrett Richter
- SB 1590 relating to Medical Malpractice Actions by Senator Alan Hays
Blog: Office of Insurance Regulation reports PIP claims and costs rise, especially in South Florida
The Office of Insurance Regulation released a report today that shows an increase in personal injury protection claims and payments over the last five years, especially in South Florida.
Florida Insurance Commissioner blasted for hiring attorney
Senate President Mike Haridopolos criticized state Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty for hiring an outside attorney to defend him in a lawsuit.
Insurance commissioner Kevin McCarty has hired a $715-an-hour attorney to defend him in a lawsuit filed by a Texas-based insurance company, an expense that outrages Senate President Mike Haridopolos.
Halfway Through Session, Private Insurance Companies Still Hopeful of Reforms
Bills to rein in Citizens, close sinkhole requirement still in process
Private insurers began the 2011 legislative session with high hopes for a slate of bills to move through the lawmaking process, but while the Legislature has moved relatively quickly on the budget process and a merit pay bill for teachers, insurance reform measures have yet to see a floor vote.
Audobon: Time to reform Florida’s hurricane insurance
As the Director of Advocacy for the Audubon of Florida, I read with great interest the opinion piece “Manley Fuller: End Florida’s hurricane insurance subsidies” (March 8). The Audubon of Florida is a wildlife conservation organization that works tirelessly to protect the water and wildlife habitat throughout our great state.
Low-profile, big-ticket issue resurfaces: Workers’ comp drugs
Less than a year after former Governor Charlie Crist vetoed a similar proposal, the Florida Senate has approved a bill that would limit how much doctors can charge for dispensing drugs to workers-compensation patients.
Workers’ Comp TV Show Pilot Begins Filming in Florida
Hollywood thinks workers’ compensation can be funny.
Lee County man awarded $3 million in State Farm lawsuit
A Buckingham man successfully sued his car insurance company after it didn’t pay him the full amount of coverage he had for underinsured motorists.
Floridians for Fair Insurance: PIP ‘Reforms’ Disguise Insurance Industry Profit Grab
Proposed legislation writes loopholes into the law to help insurers
Recently, I read a commentary on your site from yet another special-interest group funded by the powerful insurance industry, with a name that sounds as if they are looking out for the interests of Florida’s consumers.
Blog: Poll finds overwhelming support for reforms to Florida’s PIP laws
More than nine of 10 Floridians support cracking down on automobile insurance fraud, reveals a statewide poll released today by the Sunshine Alliance to Erase Fraud.
Tampa woman accused of staging accidents for cash
A year-long investigation led to the arrest of a woman accused of staging an accident and Insurance fraud.
Red-light camera opponents plan protests today; bills to kill stall
Opponents of red-light cameras plan to demonstrate in Tampa and around the state today as the clock ticks on legislation that would ban the devices.
Florida House Panel Approves Medical Liability Bill
A bill that would further reform medical malpractice suits in Florida has been approved by a House panel.
Blog: Senators feel snubbed by no-show Ken Feinberg
Senators are not happy with Kenneth Feinberg, the Gulf Coast Claims Facility administrator who oversees a $20 billion fund for oil-spill relief.
BP gives millions for Florida tourism
The seven Northwest Florida counties deemed to have been hit the worst by last year’s oil spill will get $30 million from oil company BP to fund marketing campaigns to tourists, Governor Rick Scott said Monday.
Today in Tallahassee: Hundreds of bills under consideration
The House and Senate will consider hundreds of bills and confirm more of Governor Rick Scott’s appointees in committee meetings today as they work ahead of the holidays next week. T
Speaker: Florida Chief Executive Officers not seeking corporate tax cut
No Florida CEOs that House Speaker Dean Cannon said he has talked to have asked for the corporate income tax cuts Governor Rick Scott has been pushing as part of his job-creation agenda.
Florida lawmakers may redo federal budget amendment
Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos wants a do-over for a resolution seeking a constitutional convention to pass an amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget.
Federal agency agrees to have outside party review cost of new Florida water rules
The Environmental Protection Agency says new standards are needed to reduce algae in waterways and toxic red tide along the coast.
Ethics complaint filed against Scott
A Clearwater activist has filed an ethics complaint accusing Governor Rick Scott of using his office to benefit the chain of walk-in clinics he founded.
Blog: Governor Scott to headline St. Augustine Tea Party rally
The rally at St. Johns County Fairgrounds on Saturday will also feature speeches from Florida CFO Jeff Atwater, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and former state Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher.
Florida bills on eyewitness ID change, advance
Legislative bills establishing procedures for eyewitness identification – the leading cause of wrongful convictions – are moving through state House and Senate subcommittees on their way to potentially becoming law.
Lawmaker: Some gift restrictions impractical, illogical and should be undone
The longest serving member of the Florida Legislature said Monday that it’s time for lawmakers to turn back the clock and lift a six-year-old prohibition on lawmakers accepting free meals, gifts and other handouts.
Birth Control Day too controversial for Florida House
A week after the word uterus became an issue at the Capitol, a Democratic lawmaker is being told his proposed “Birth Control Matters Day” is too controversial.
Alabama Insurance Pool Grows As Private Market Shrinks
More Alabama homeowners are seeking their insurance coverage through the state’s windpool as the trend of private insurers shedding their wind policies continues.
Texas judge affirms $350 million State Farm refund order
A state judge in Austin ruled Monday that State Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin was within his authority when he ordered State Farm Insurance to refund about $350 million to ratepayers for excessive premiums charged as early as 2003.
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