Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, February 7
Feb 7, 2012
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
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
- Daily Insurance-Related News
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
Florida’s 2012 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. to 10:30 a.m.–House Government Operations Subcommittee. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- PCB GVOPS 12-11 relating to Open Government Sunset Review/Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association, Inc. by the House Government Operations Subcommittee
(CANCELED) 10:00 a.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office National Clearinghouse Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.–Senate Session
- SB 140 relating to Repeal of a Workers’ Compensation Reporting Requirement by Senator Mike Bennett
12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.–“Put the Brakes on Accident Fraud” Media Conference Call. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is scheduled to discuss Personal Injury Protection insurance.
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.–Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- SB 1476 relating to Annuities by Senator Garrett Richter
- SB 1518 relating to Property and Casualty Insurance by Senator Alan Hays
2:00 p.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Actuarial and Underwriting Committee meeting. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; conference code: 8632017402. To view the meeting notice, click here.
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.–Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- CS/SB 1406 relating to Public Records/Title Insurance Data/Department of Financial Services by Senator Thad Altman
- SB 2082 relating to Open Government Sunset Review/Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association, Inc. by the Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.–Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- SB 1684 relating to Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program by Senator Hays
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
HB 7101 Relating to State Group Insurance Program by the House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 7101 provides for the application of definitions, deletes legislative intent and revises the duties of the Florida Department of Management Services (“DMS”) relating to the state group health insurance program. The legislation would require certain data to be reported to the DMS by health maintenance organizations. It also provides for a state contribution toward cost of health insurance plans in the state group insurance program for specified plan years and revises authorized benefits. Provisions of law authorizing the creation of the Florida State Employee Wellness Council and its duties, responsibilities and requirements would be deleted with the enaction of HB 7101. The DMS would also be directed to contract with an independent benefits consultant, for which the bill provides vendor qualifications and duties. The bill further provides for contract management and departmental duties for DMS relating to the state group insurance program. Effective Date: upon becoming a law
A big class-action lawsuit coming Tuesday accuses Citizens Insurance of dodging state law to create massive “back door” rate increases.
Brown & Brown President: ‘Dangerous Time’ for Agents and Brokers
It’s a dangerous time for retail agents and brokers, said J. Hyatt Brown, chairman and acting president of Brown & Brown Inc.
Florida, Other States, Prudential Settle National Death Master File Investigation for $17 million
Prudential Insurance Co. has entered into a $17 million settlement with seven states to help conclude an investigation into how the company uses the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to find life insurance policyholders who have died.
Massive overhaul of Department of Health approved by House panel
As many as 12,000 state employees could lose their jobs under a bill that revamps the Florida Department of Health that was approved by a House health care panel by a 7-4 vote on Monday.
New Autism Definition Could Exclude Many
Proposed changes to the definition of autism might make it much harder for a person to be diagnosed with the disorder.
Governor Rick Scott fills spot on 1st District Court of Appeal
Governor Rick Scott on Monday appointed a replacement for Judge Paul M. Hawkes on the 1st District Court of Appeal, according to a release from the governor’s press office.
Business tax exemption plan begins Senate trek
Legislation to increase the tangible personal property tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000, already on the move in the House, passed through its first review in the Senate Monday, with the Community Affairs Committee giving its stamp of approval.
Florida House Democrats warned about party fundraiser
The Florida Democratic Party is sticking by its plan to hold a “legislative appreciation party” fundraiser even though no legislators are expected to show up.
Florida Senate panel passes modest energy bill, refuses to repeal nuclear cost recovery
A Senate panel on Monday passed an energy bill after rejecting an amendment that would stop utilities charging customers for nuclear power projects that may not get built.
Senate panel kills fertilizer legislation while other bills are nearly killed
The Senate Committee on Community Affairs voted 4-3 to reject SB 604, which would have exempted certified lawn care workers from local fertilizer regulations.
Communications tax measure clears Senate panel, with some changes coming
A Senate panel on Monday unanimously cleared a set of communications services tax breaks as its sponsor hinted at changes to come.
Bill that supports unemployment benefits for domestic violence victims passes committee vote
The Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism committee has passed an unemployment compensation bill that would amend Florida law to allow victims of domestic violence to qualify for unemployment compensation.
Blog: Federal Drug Enforcement Administration says “pill mill” crackdown working in Florida
Florida’s recent crackdown on prescription drug abuse, including a law passed by the Legislature last year to combat “pill mills,” has led to a 97-percent decrease in the number of oxycodone pills prescribed by doctors in the state, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said.
Blog: Poll says Floridians don’t like Medicaid cuts to hospitals
A poll conducted by Hill+Knowlton Strategies on behalf of SafetyNet Hospitals says that 71 percent of Floridians believe that Medicaid must be maintained by the state.
Two recent legislative attempts signal a disturbing trend that has the potential to negatively impact Florida’s community associations.
Former Florida state senator plans to plead guilty in tax evasion case
Former state Senator Mandy Dawson plans to plead guilty in a federal case that accuses her of income tax evasion, according to court records filed Monday.
Blog: Chances for coastal insurance overhauls uncertain on eve of legislative session
Alabama has seen the election of a new governor pledging to address insurance problems, a dramatic switch in balance of power in the state Legislature and the creation of a special commission dedicated to property insurance issues.
Bank of America Dismissed from Allstate RMBS Lawsuit Against Countrywide
Bank of America cannot be held liable to Allstate Insurance Company over residential mortgage-backed securities purchased by Allstate from Countrywide Financial Corporation.
No Confidentiality for Carriers on Climate Survey
If insurers were hopeful that at the least their mandatory responses to the Climate Risk Survey required in three states would remain confidential they will be very disappointed to discover that won’t be the case.