Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, November 1
Nov 1, 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
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
- Daily Insurance-Related News
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
9:00 a.m.–Florida Cabinet meeting. To view the complete agenda, click here.
- State Board of Administration
- Appoint person(s) to serve on the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council
- Financial Services Commission
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
- Approval for the OIR to Contract with Examination Resources, LLC, to conduct the Workers’ Compensation Peer Review
- Presentations
- Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott
- Discussion of Florida’s no-fault insurance system; update on findings and recommendations of the Personal Injury Protection Working Group
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) President Scott Wallace
- Update on Citizens
- Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
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.
10:30 a.m.–Senate Committee on Transportation
- SB 196 relating to Child Safety Devices in Motor Vehicles by Senator Thad Altman
- SB 244 relating to Motor Vehicles by Senator Mike Bennett
- SB 286 relating to Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Personal Injury by Senator Mike Fasano
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
HB 523 relating to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance by State Representative Ritch Workman
HB 523 would revise criteria relating to whether motor vehicle crash reports must be submitted to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicls by investigating law enforcement officers and provide a related penalty for noncompliance. Crash report content also would be revised. Under the provisions of the bill, investigating officers would be authorized to testify at a trial or provide an affidavit about information in the crash report. Reinstatement fees after licensure suspension for not having insurance would be increased. Clinic licensure applications would be revised to include a statement regarding insurance fraud. HB 523 also would impose a licensing fee for health care clinics authorized to submit claims for payment under Personal Injury Protection insurance policies. A portion of revenue derived from licensing fees would be directed to the operation of an Automobile Insurance Fraud Strike Force. Further, the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud (“Division”) would be required to establish a direct-support organization for purpose of prosecuting, investigating and preventing motor vehicle insurance fraud. The bill provides for the requirements of such an organization and its contract the Division, as well as for a board of directors. Under HB 523, the organization would be authorized to use the Division’s property and facilities, subject to requirements. It would also authorize insurers to make contributions, provides that moneys received by the organization would be held in a separate depository account in the organization’s name. Finally, the bill would revise provisions relating to claims and attorney fees. If an entity or practitioner is found guilty of insurance fraud, the bill also provides for loss of licensure. Effective Date: July 1, 2012
South Florida may have to repay millions in federal Hurricane Wilma aid
Six years after Hurricane Wilma swept through South Florida, local governments may be on the hook to repay millions of dollars they received in federal disaster recovery funds.
Florida Governor Rick Scott, Cabinet to be briefed on personal injury protection insurance coverage
Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are receiving a briefing on the controversial personal injury protection insurance frequently called personal injury protection.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and the Florida Insurance Council also have called for changes to the system.
Florida appeals prison privatization ruling at Legislature’s request
At the Legislature’s request, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has appealed a court ruling that halted an effort to privatize 29 South Florida prisons.
Florida state regulators okay Jai-Alai permit that could endanger Seminole gambling compact
Miami could be home to South Florida’s eighth slots-and-poker casino long before any destination gambling resort breaks ground, under a permit quietly sought by the owners of Flagler Dog Track and Magic City Casino and approved by state regulators.
State set to buy SunRail tracks for $150 million
The much-delayed SunRail project could reach another milestone this week when the state buys 61 miles of track from the CSX railroad company for $150 million.
Florida senator wants to end secrecy on tax incentives for businesses
A Republican state senator wants to end secrecy surrounding deals that use tax dollars to lure companies to Florida or that keep existing businesses from leaving.
Florida Representative Denise Grimsley tops in fundraising
The House member from Sebring has raised nearly $1 million, the most of any member of the Legislature according to state campaign finance reports.
Blog: South Florida Senator Jeremy Ring recovering from heart surgery
State Senator Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, has had open heart surgery.
St. Petersburg Times changing its name to Tampa Bay Times
Since I started here as a reporter in 1978, I have answered my phone with some version of “St. Pete Times.” I will need to learn a new habit.
Mississippi Insurance Chief Race Draws 2 Opponents for incumbent Mike Chaney
Louis Fondren, a Democrat from Gautier, and Barbara Dale Washer, the Reform Party candidate from Hattiesburg, seek to dislodge incumbent Mike Chaney as Mississippi insurance commissioner.
Flood-zone insurance discounts increase
Gulfport and Pascagoula residents eligible
The cities of Pascagoula and Gulfport have recently been notified that property owners in flood zones are eligible for additional discounts for flood insurance.
Indian Insurance: Rogue Agents
Though no longer out of control, the market still looks pretty odd
At the peak of India’s strange insurance hysteria a few years ago there were almost 3 million people flogging life-insurance policies.
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