Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, June 21

Jun 21, 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 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.

2:00 p.m.–National Association of Insurance Commissioners Property Risk-Based Capital Working Group.  To register for the teleconference, click here.

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

Florida Governor Signs Commercial Deregulation Bill

Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed into law a commercial rate deregulation bill that expands the types of commercial insurance exempt from the rate filing and approval process.

 

Some tile roofs aren’t getting insurance discounts

Many South Floridians think tile roofs are one of the strongest against hurricanes.

 

Blog:  Are South Florida policyholders helping pay sinkhole claims outside the region?

The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate’s office said the insurer is attempting to spread an unfair share of costs for sinkhole claims to policyholders outside of sinkhole prone regions north of Tampa.

 

Letter to the Editor:  Fraud in mitigation discounts harms Florida residents and insurance buyers

Mitigation discounts continue to be a hot-button issue in Florida, with fraudulent discounts costing insurers millions, bringing rates up for everyone.

 

Golf carts are leaving the fairway

Florida law addresses low-speed vehicles

Instead of driving his car to nearby stores, Ernie LaFrance, 84, of Sebring, saves on gas by hopping into his golf cart.

 

Personal Injury Protection Lawyer:  Are Medical Providers Leaving Personal Injury Protection Money On The Table?

In the face of declining reimbursements and rising costs, Personal Injury Protection payments offer a predictable revenue source.

 

State asks to extend Medicaid reform experiment for another month

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration signed paperwork for the federal government on Monday asking for a 30-day extension on its five-year Medicaid Reform experiment in five Florida counties.

 

Florida redistricting meetings start with many questions, few answers

Florida legislators were greeted with both hostility and distrust Monday as they opened the first of 26 redistricting hearings in the state’s capital, a company town where Republicans control government but Democratic voters are a majority.

 

Florida teachers union sues Governor Scott over pension contributions

Already faced with legal challenges over drug testing and election laws, Governor Rick Scott became the target on Monday of yet another lawsuit — this one led by the state teachers union, challenging a new mandate that public employees contribute 3 percent of their salary toward their pensions.

 

Governor Scott begins shakeup of administration

Governor Rick Scott on Wednesday began what is likely the first step in a shakeup of his administration.

 

Blog:  Governor Scott aide Prendergast is new Veterans’ Affairs chief

Governor Rick Scott’s chief of staff Mike Prendergast is headed to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, the governor’s office announced Monday.

 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection tells water management districts to cut staff, stop buying land 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is telling the state’s five water management districts to cut their regulatory staffs, reduce staff salaries and to stop buying land in a move that one critic describes as a “power grab” by Governor Rick Scott and Department of Environmental Protection.

 

South Florida water district’s management staff to be cut by 61 percent

In the midst of a record-breaking drought, the agency responsible for South Florida’s water supply also was hit last week by threats of deep cuts to its management force and drastic directives from top environmental officials in Tallahassee.

 

Blog:  Charlie Justice eyeing another run for state Senate

Among those keeping a close eye on the redistricting discussion is former state Senator Charlie Justice, a Democrat from St. Petersburg.

 

Gerard Robinson is Florida’s new commissioner of education

After a months-long search and a long afternoon of interviews, it took the Florida Board of Education less than ten minutes Tuesday morning to name its next commmissioner: Gerard Robinson.

 

Florida Public Service Commission executive director vacancy attracts 129 applicants

The application period for the executive director position at the Florida Public Service Commission closed Monday with 129 applications for the job.

 

Study Rips ‘Judicial Activism’ at Florida Supreme Court

A study criticizing a series of closely contested decisions by the Florida Supreme Court is boosting a campaign to oppose three high court justices in the 2012 election.

 

U.S. Supreme Court rejects global warming lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a global warming lawsuit against five big power companies, its most important environmental ruling since 2007 and a victory for the utilities and the Obama administration.

 

European Union may delay Solvency II deadlines

Britain’s insurance companies must prepare for new European Union capital rules due in January 2013, the country’s top markets regulator said, even as the European Union flagged a delay to some elements.

 

Texas House Approves Windstorm Insurance Changes

The Texas House approved widespread changes on June 15 to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the organization that insures people who live along the coast.

 

Texas Governor Vetoes Texting While Driving Bill

Texas Governor Rick Perry vetoed 23 bills on June 17, including legislation that would have outlawed sending or reading text messages while driving.

 

Insurance companies target world markets

Barely more than a decade ago, the international division of Des Moines-based Principal Financial Group was losing money.

 

 

 

 

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