Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, January 22
Jan 22, 2013
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
10:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Rule Development Workshop; Proposed amendments to Rule 69L-6.012, entitled “Notice of Election to be Exempt,” would implement applicable sections of HB 941, enacted in 2012. The proposed Rule provides for electronic submission of exemption applications (Form DFS-F2-DWC-250, “Notice of Election to be Exempt”) through the DWC’s system, along with streamlined reporting requirements. To view the Workshop notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Representative Mike Fasano calls for Citizens Property Insurance board to resign
State Representative Mike Fasano on Friday called for the immediate resignation of all seven board members of Citizens Property Insurance in the wake of a critical Florida Inspector General’s report on excessive travel costs at the state-run insurer.
Insurance Reform Group Argues for Citizens Property Insurance Board
With one of the top critics of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. calling for board members to fall on their swords because of a fault-finding report on travel expenses, the Florida Association for Insurance Reform says such a move would be a mistake.
Florida Looks to Restructure Its Hurricane Fund; Federal Option Proposed
Florida lawmakers are poised to consider restructuring the state-run property reinsurance facility by possibly lowering its mandatory annual capacity by billions due to concerns that one major storm could exhaust its resources and leave insurers without further coverage.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau today released a forecast analysis that examines the impact that organized crime groups have on insurance fraud. Covering the period from January 1, 2008, through June 30, 2012, analysts reviewed 13,014 questionable insurance claims.
Fort Lauderdale may add more red-light cameras
“Photo Enforced” signs are becoming more common at intersections as the city relies increasingly on cameras to catch drivers running red lights.
Florida Department of Revenue group to propose communications tax repeal, sales tax increase
A Department of Revenue working group will propose replacing the Communications Services Tax with an increase in the state sales tax.
Blog: Proposal to modify police and fire fighters pensions gets cool reception
A proposal that could help cities and counties pay down their massive liabilities for police and fire pensions is getting a cool reception from both the unions and from local governments.
Blog: Florida Senate President Don Gaetz — consider Internet sales tax, but not gun control
Senate President Don Gaetz said the Legislature should consider finding ways to collect the sales tax on online purchases, but all but ruled out taking up any gun control proposals in 2013.
Lineup of 2014 House candidates continues to grow
Another 10 House incumbents have filed paperwork during the past week to seek re-election in 2014, joining dozens of others who are already gearing up for the next campaign cycle, according to the state Division of Elections website.
Central Florida captures top share of state’s shrinking venture capital
Central Florida dominated the state’s dwindling pool of venture capital investment in late 2012 even as the Sunshine State fell to one of its lowest rankings nationwide in recent years, according to a new consultant’s survey.
U.S. watching as Cuba lifts curbs on exit visas
After more than 50 years, Cuba last week ended a restrictive and costly emigration procedure that required Cubans to apply for exit visas, a change that has provoked long lines at passport agencies of Cubans eager to get off the communist island.
Superstorm Sandy, one of the nation’s costliest natural disasters, is giving new urgency to an age-old debate about whether areas repeatedly damaged by storms should be rebuilt, or whether it might be cheaper in the long run to buy out vulnerable properties and let nature reclaim them.
Superstorm Sandy Challenges Definition of Basement in New Jersey
Irene Sobolov believes the first floor of her house in Hoboken, New Jersey, is just that.
Small Reform Groups Along U.S. Coast Take On Industry Goliaths
Six years ago, a group of church volunteers in Gulf Shores, Alabama, went door to door to “find out where the pain was,” said Michelle Kurtz, one of the leaders.
PCI Releases Report On U.S. Insurance Group Supervision
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America today released a white paper entitled, “Effective and Efficient Insurance Group Supervision in the U.S.: What More, if Anything is Needed?”
Insurers asking more North Carolina homeowners for permission to raise their rates
Monika F. Smith, a 49-year-old secretary who lives in Fayetteville, was flabbergasted recently when her homeowners insurance company asked her to agree to a new premium that would be 53 percent above the state-approved maximum rate.
According to third quarter 2012 reported financial information, risk retention groups continue to exhibit financial stability.
The Great Recession has triggered a rising tide of real estate and tax abuse centered around land trusts that is going ignored, the Internal Revenue Service, Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation and the Government Accountability Office have all warned.
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