Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, March 29
Mar 29, 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
9:30 a.m.–House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee
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HB 535 Relating to Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program
11:00 a.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Consumer Services Committee meeting. Teleconference: 877-883-1197. To view the meeting notice, click here.
1:00 p.m.–Citizens Market Accountability Advisory Committee meeting. Teleconference: 877-883-1194. To view the meeting notice, click here.
1:00 p.m.–Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- SB 1930 Relating to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance by Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff
- SB 1826 Relating to Workers’ Compensation by Senator Alan Hays
- SB 1714 Relating to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by Senator Alan Hays
- SB 1694 Relating to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance by Senator Garrett Richter
- SB 1806 Relating to Motor Vehicle Insurance by Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
- SB 1500 Relating to Foster Care Providers by State Representative Latvala
2:00 p.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association Audit Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
2:30 p.m.–Citizens Audit Committee meeting. Teleconference: 877-865-3965. To view the meeting notice, click here.
3:15 p.m.–House Session
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CS/CS/HB 99 Relating to Commercial Insurance Rates by the House Economic Affairs Committee, Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative Brad Drake
4:00 p.m.–Citizens Finance and Investment Committee meeting. Teleconference: 877-866-3074. To view the meeting notice, click here.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation signed a Consent Order that allows the eleventh reinsurer, Alterra Bermuda Limited, to post reduced collateral and operate in Florida as an eligible reinsurer.
But grading property Insurance companies? That’s just silly, according to the Florida House of Representatives.
Reflective, colored collars to mark storm surge evacation zones in Charlotte County
Hurricane season is just over two months away and one local county is working to save lives if the next big storm hits southwest Florida and brings heavy storm surge.
Plant City officer helps pull woman from sinkhole
Carla Davis-Chapman walked to her backyard to collect a few fresh herbs Monday morning. But the picturesque moment turned deadly when the ground gave way and she fell into a sinkhole.
Florida Blue Cross Chief Executive Officer Lufrano to retire
Dr. Robert I. Lufrano, the chairman and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, will retire this year, according to a company press release.
Low-level Japan radiation detected in Florida, Carolinas
Low levels of radioactive iodine believed to be from Japan’s disaster-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been detected in the atmosphere in South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida, officials said on Monday.
- Florida utility reports radiation from Japan
- Florida Tech professors discuss risks to state’s nuclear power plants at forum tonight
‘Strike Force’ Formed to Fight Pill Mills
Governor Scott remains unconvinced of prescription drug database.
Florida Senate bill would allow doctors to ask about guns
Doctors would still be able to ask patients questions about whether they have guns under a measure approved by a Senate committee Monday, a result of a compromise between gun rights groups and the medical establishment.
Florida House beginning debate on Medicaid revamp
The Florida House is beginning floor action on legislation that would shift delivery of Medicaid services largely to private companies.
Public Service Commission commissioners clear Florida Senate committee
A Florida Senate committee has approved the state’s four public service commissioners who are up for reappointment.
Blog: Massive new prison outsourcing proposal surfaces
The proposed Senate and House budgets include at least one huge surprise: A requirement that the Department of Corrections privatize all of its operations in South Florida.
Senate panel OKs tougher standards for photo lineups
Ignoring the pleas of the state’s most powerful law-enforcement groups, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Monday approved a bill that would force police to adopt tough new standards for conducting photo lineups.
Florida poised to put growth control in local hands
Florida is poised to end a 26-year experiment in growth management, as economic concern and a free market philosophy have finally trumped longstanding worries about traffic congestion, environmental protection and overdevelopment.
Florida Governor Scott gives agency heads a big bump in their pay
Scott has named 10 new department heads with salaries of $140,000 compared to $120,000 for their predecessors, according to a web site database launched by the governor.
Disabled sue Florida in federal court over waiting list
Governor Rick Scott and two state agencies have been hit with a class-action lawsuit alleging Florida has failed to provide needed services to 19,000 disabled people who are stuck on a waiting list.
Bills would restrict Florida’s nursing-home watchdogs
In the weeks since Governor Rick Scott called for the ouster of Florida’s top nursing-home watchdog, Republican lawmakers have introduced more than a dozen bills that critics claim would further “neuter” the ombudsman program.
Lawmakers want to cap lawsuit damages against foster care agencies
With the specter of another horrifying child abuse case hanging over the state Capitol, lawmakers are expressing outrage and concern – but are moving to limit damages that can be claimed on behalf of foster care victims.
Over $3 billion budget gap between Florida House, Senate
The Florida Senate’s tentative budget would spend nearly $3.3 billion more than the House version.
With census done, eyes turn to legislative map
The looming shift in boundaries created by the mandatory redistricting process could produce a single congressional representative – there are four now – and possibly a local state senator.
New York budget accord would merge banking, insurance agencies
New York state legislative leaders have agreed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to merge the state banking and insurance departments into one new agency, the governor announced.
Employer liable under Jones Act for worker shot aboard drilling rig
Under the Jones Act, an employer is vicariously liable for the death of an employee killed aboard a drilling vessel when a co-worker’s gun discharged accidentally, a federal judge has ruled.
Cargo Insurance Requirement Lifted
For-hire motor common carriers that represent about 30 percent of the nation’s truckers no longer have to show they meet minimum cargo insurance limits.
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