Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, October 4
Oct 4, 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.–Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- SB 140 relating to Repeal of a Workers’ Compensation Reporting Requirement by Senator Mike Bennett
- Issue Brief 2012-226: Citizens Property Insurance
- Presentation by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
- Issue Brief 2012-203: Personal Injury Protection
- Presentation by Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Florida Commercial Lines Deregulation Law Takes Effect
Commercial insurers in Florida will no longer have to seek prior approval from state regulators before changing some of the rates they charge under a new law that took effect October 1.
A.M. Best Upgrades Ratings of United Automobile Insurance Company
A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to C++ from C and the issuer credit rating to “b” from “ccc” of United Automobile Insurance Company.
Brown & Brown acquires Texas tax company
Brown & Brown Inc. has agreed to acquire the assets of a Texas-based property tax consulting company.
Chuck Grimsley: Uncontrolled Personal Injury Protection fraud
The recent meeting of the Florida Cabinet brought the bright light of truth to a huge financial burden on Florida drivers: The uncontrolled rise in expenses for personal injury protection automobile insurance.
Personal injury lawyers blamed for our high insurance rates
Florida has a reputation for high automobile Insurance rates due to the racket that the personal injury lawyers have created.
Lakeland to Settle in Red-Light Camera Lawsuit
City commissioners agree to pay $667,965 to motorists who were cited.
Lakeland city commissioners voted unanimously Monday to pay $667,965 to settle a class action lawsuit over the city’s controversial red-light cameras.
Medical malpractice market is healthy, state regulators say
An annual report from the Office of Insurance Regulation points out that the average approved rate change in 2010 for physicians and surgeons dropped 2.6 percent in 2010.
Senate probes “interference” into nursing home watchdog program
A Florida Senate committee is investigating allegations that the state’s Department of Elder Affairs illegally interfered with a watchdog program that is supposed to protect the rights of residents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
Department of Economic Opportunity debuts, combining three departments
A blue tarp covered the sign outside the new department’s headquarters at the Caldwell Building on Monday, and the department’s website experienced some glitches earlier in the day.
Blog: Report Says Scores of Floridians could be affected by new voting law
As many as 5 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands in Florida, could be affected by new voting laws pushed through by Republicans, according to a a study by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Feisty Senator Mike Fasano calls for subpoena of State Board of Administration records
Balking at a $10,000 bill for public records, Fasano asks Senate President Haridopolos to make the State Board of Administration cough up documents related to a $125 investment of state workers’ pension money.
Capital outlay forecasts take dive; outlook grim for higher education
Forecasts for their main funding source were revised downward by nearly two-thirds on Monday as taxes levied on electrical utilities and wired telecommunications plummet.
Manatee County developers not happy with “home rule” growth decision
Supporters of sweeping growth management law revisions called HB 7207 a “home rule” bill that would put local governments back in charge of growth decisions.
Report: Legislature cut “safety nets” in Florida as poverty soared
While the number of Floridians in poverty surpassed 3 million in 2010, the Florida Legislature cut state programs aimed at helping those facing unemployment and poverty, a new report finds.
Federal judge rules for cleaner water in the Everglades
A federal judge has ruled that water coming from state-operated Stormwater Treatment Areas, and running south into the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, has been exceeding pollution limits designed to protect the Florida Everglades.
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection to hold workshop on water regulations Tuesday
- One GOP lawmaker’s push for a moratorium on commercial water permits
Blog: State Representative Glorioso to run for Hillsborough election supervisor
As expected, state Representative Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, has entered the race for Hillsborough County’s next election supervisor.
“Occupy Wall Street” Heads for Florida as the Anti-Tea Party
Frustrated by Wall Street bailouts and inspired by seemingly spontaneous demonstrations in New York City, protesters plan to take to the streets in Florida this week.
National Flood Insurance Program Again Finds Itself on Brink of Lapse
Once again, the National Flood Insurance Program finds itself in danger of lapsing, as the House must act Tuesday to keep the program going.
Louisiana Supreme Court: Homeowners Can Be Made Whole Once
A recent decision in Louisiana Supreme Court prevents a homeowner from collecting for the same damage twice.
Allstate to License Some Progressive Patents
Auto insurers Progressive Corp and Allstate Corp have settled a patent dispute over technology that lets insurance companies charge drivers based on how, where and how much they drive.
Marsh: No Overall Change to Insurance Rates in Q3
While catastrophe-exposed risks experienced tough insurance market conditions, pricing decreases in other lines of business fostered a stable rate environment over the last three months, according to Marsh’s Insurance Market Update Third Quarter 2011.
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