Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, April 10

Apr 10, 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

 

Florida’s 2013 Regular Legislative Session

  • Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
  • Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar

 

 

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.–Florida House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee meeting.  To view the meeting notice, click here.  To view the meeting packet, click here.  Consideration of the following bills:

  • CS/HB 1107 relating to Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
  • CS/HB 1247 relating to Public Model for Hurricane Loss Projections

 

10:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Proposed Rule Hearing.  Proposed Rule 69L-6.012, entitled “Notice of Election to be Exempt,” would provide employers seeking exemptions from the coverage requirements found under Chapter 440, F.S., with an electronic method for submittal of Form DFS-F2-DWC-250 (Notice of Election to be Exempt).  To view the hearing notice, click here.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

The Florida Current:  Senator Simmons says Governor Scott calls for changes to Citizens Property Insurance bill

Senator David Simmons said Governor Rick Scott is asking for changes to SB 1770 to protect current customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

 

Palm Beach Post Op-Ed from Florida Association for Insurance Reform:  Ugly property insurance bill would cause Citizens’ Property Insurance rates to skyrocket

Sweeping property insurance legislation (Senate Bill 1770) is rapidly progressing through the Florida Senate and may be up for a final vote as early as today.

 

The Hill Op-Ed by Taxpayers for Common Sense, National Wildlife Federation:  Homeowner insurance bill hurts taxpayers

This month, Representative Albio Sires (D-N.Y.) reintroduced legislation that would create a federal backstop for disaster insurance, replacing private-sector insurance with the American taxpayer.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  Drive to Ditch No-Fault Insurance Slowed in Senate

A drive to scrap the state’s no-fault auto insurance system was shifted into neutral, for at least a week in the Senate.

 

Palm Beach Post:  Florida House, Senate may find common ground on medical malpractice

Florida lawmakers appear to be inching closer on changes to the state’s medical-malpractice system, with a House committee Tuesday scrapping proposals that likely would have run into opposition in the Senate.

 

Sunshine State News:  Pharmacy “Fair Audit” Scores First Legislative Victory

A bill that would add uniformity and consistency to auditing practices by private insurance companies finally received its first committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, winning the support of each member of the Florida Senate Health Policy Committee.

 

Tampa Bay Times:  Governor Scott to sign bill today that bans Internet cafes

For Rick Scott, the “jobs” governor, the bill he will sign today to ban Internet cafes is as awkward as it gets.

 

The Florida Current:  Elections bills set for Senate debate

Governor Rick Scott’s opposition to raising the $500 cap on political contributions to candidates will probably sink campaign-finance reform for the 2013 session, the Senate sponsor of a new elections package said Tuesday.

 

The Florida Current:  Senator Soto, housing advocates rail against foreclosure bill, settlement spending plans

Senator Darren Soto, R-Orlando, flanked at a press conference Monday by housing advocates and representatives of PICO United Florida, an advocacy group for low-income families, denounced a bill designed to expedite the foreclosure process and a plan to spend $200 million in foreclosure fraud settlement money.

 

Palm Beach Post:  Lucky few Floridians get $125,000 from foreclosure settlement, most to get $300

More than 1,100 homeowners nationwide will get the maximum payout of $125,000 in foreclosure reparations through a $3.6 billion federal settlement that critics call nonsensical and capricious.

 

The Florida Current:  Craft distilleries bill headed to House floor

A bill that would allow smaller craft distilleries and liquor manufacturers to sell alcohol on their premises is on its way to the House floor after sailing through the House Regulatory Affairs Committee on Tuesday, its final committee stop.

 

SaintPetersBlog.com  Pensacola City Councilman Larry Johnson Says He Won’t Run In Special Election For House District 2

Pensacola City Councilman Larry Johnson announced yesterday that he will not run in the special election for House District 2.  

 

LifeHealthPro.com:  NIMA offering associate membership to states at no cost

The Nonadmitted Insurance Multistate Agreement is now offering states an associate membership at no cost for one year, banking on the prospect that states will see that they have money on the table and join up.

 

PropertyCasualty360.com:  New York Offers Force-Placed Settlement as a Template for Reform

New York insurance regulators are urging other states to use its settlement agreement with Assurant, Inc. as a template for a national policy on the issue.

 

California’s Lake County News:  Chesbro amends legislation to create comprehensive disaster aid fund

Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D -North Coast) has amended AB 468 so that it would now establish a new Disaster Management, Preparedness and Assistance Fund to provide funding for multiple state emergency response agencies.

 

 

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