Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, April 20
Apr 20, 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
10:00 a.m.–Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies Board Meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
1:30 p.m.–House Finance and Tax Committee
- CS/HB 1227 relating to Surplus Lines by the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative Bill Hager
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said on Tuesday that he opposes huge property insurance rate hikes but his position on several measures allowing rate hikes is unclear.
FOX: Florida Lawmakers Consider Insurance ‘Bailout’ After Puzzling Spike in Sinkhole Claims
Hurricanes and other natural tempests make Florida a risky state for homeowners and insurers alike. But add sinkholes to the mix, and you’re looking at an actuary’s nightmare.
Profits grow for local insurer
Brown & Brown Inc. has gotten off to a good start in 2011. In the first quarter, the Daytona Beach-based Insurance agency, which has offices throughout the country, generated increases in both net profits and revenues compared with the same quarter last year.
Florida Association of Insurance Agents: Bills’ intent is to level insurance playing field
The Legislature is considering a proposal that would help restore health to Florida’s insurance market by reducing the number of policies in state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Eric Gobble named president, CEO at Prepared Insurance
Eric L. Gobble was appointed president and chief executive officer of Prepared Insurance Company in Tampa, following the resignation of Douglas Raucy on April 12.
Sinkhole politics: Who gets heard?
Midday on Friday, Governor Charlie Crist toured a citrus grove in Polk County, noted the “incredible damage” caused by days of freezing temperatures and signed a letter asking for federal disaster relief for Florida’s farmers.
Florida Insurance Report Card: Continue to Grade Insurers
Students, from elementary school to graduate programs, receive grades. Florida schools are graded, based on their students’ performance on standardized tests. Florida teachers are about to be graded, based in part on criteria that have yet to be devised.
Florida law requires condo associations to get insurance, but it’s limited
When it comes to protecting condominiums and homeowners communities from hurricanes, Florida law may not require as much property insurance as you may think – or need.
Great newspaper state of Florida snags another Pulitzer for exposing insurance racket
The Pulitzer citation commended St. John “for her examination of weaknesses in the murky property-insurance system vital to Florida homeowners, providing handy data to assess insurer reliability and stirring regulatory action.”
Blog: Busted! Representative Frank Artiles STILL doesn’t live in his district!?!
Former Herald reporter turned political blogger Elaine de Valle did the ole knock-knock on Representative Frank Artiles, R-wherethehelldoyoureallylive. And she found that the rumors were true: Artiles doesn’t live in his district.
Orange County, Florida approves same-sex benefits
Orange County is joining a list of other Florida municipalities that extend same-sex benefits to workers’ partners.
Boynton Beach man seeking cell phone insurance cash charged with filing false police report
A Boynton Beach man was charged on Tuesday with filing a false police report after claiming three men robbed him of his cell phone at knifepoint, according to Boynton Beach Police.
Florida won’t join oil spill suit against Transocean, instead will file claim against BP
Florida won’t join Alabama, Louisiana and more than 800 other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against Transocean, the operator of the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded in the gulf a year ago, the governor announced Tuesday.
2 Congressional Seats at Stake, Dean Cannon Fills Out House Redistricting Committees
Four candidates who have already filed for state Senate will help draw up the lines in their own races
House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Haven, named 50 representatives to the Redistricting Committee and its three subcommittees late Monday as the Legislature gets to work drawing up new district lines, including those of two new congressional seats.
- Blog: Speaker Cannon’s memo regarding the House Redistricting Committee and Subcommittees
- Parties squabble over who’s left off Florida redistricting panel
Plan for tackling pain killer abuse puts focus on Florida as No. 1 pill supplier
The Obama administration on Tuesday outlined a national plan for tackling prescription painkiller abuse, a move that intensified focus on Florida as the country’s No. 1 pill supplier.
Pelosi holds town hall meeting in Orlando, vows to fight Medicare 2011 changes
U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi – flanked by Reps. Corrine Brown (D-Orlando) and Kathy Castor (D-Tampa) – held a town hall meeting with about 60 Orlando senior citizens today and vowed to fight Republicans’ Medicare 2011 changes that would result in a voucher program.
Blog: Competitive Cabinet mulls seafood woes, goes fishing
Cabinet members heard some tough news about the state’s seafood industry during Tuesday’s meeting in Panama City.
Blog: LeMieux makes first campaign pitch in Tampa to GOP activists
In his first Tampa campaign appearance in the U.S. Senate race, George LeMieux sought to reaffirm his Republican credentials – and without mentioning it, his separation from former political patron Charlie Crist.
Florida House takes aim at growth control regulations
Legislation that would repeal some state regulations designed to control urban sprawl and loosen others is headed for a floor vote in the Florida House.
Could finger pointing and Public Service Commission controversy drown water legislation?
The largest private water company in Florida has become a source of controversy involving legislation that supporters say would help private water utilities upgrade their systems.
Florida’s home vacancy rates, No. 1 in nation, are drag on recovery
Florida has roughly half the population of California, but more vacant houses. In fact, Florida, has more vacant houses – 1,567,778, more than one out of every six – than any state in the country.
BP claims czar defends payouts of just $3.8 billion from $20 billion fund
The official responsible for doling out cash to people and businesses hurt by the BP oil spill isn’t worried his agency has paid out less than 20 percent of what the company set aside for claims.
Advocates Say Sunshine Law Under Attack
Florida’s landmark Government in the Sunshine Law is being attacked again, public records advocates say.
Financial Stability Oversight Council insurance expert named ‘soon’
An insurance expert should be named to the Financial Stability Oversight Council “quite soon,” a Treasury Department official said Tuesday.
Update: Lloyd’s Moves to Bolster US Presence with Atlanta Office
There will be a particular focus on diversifying from Lloyd’s predominant base of property exposure in this region of the US market.
Georgia Lawmakers Approve Insurance Sales Across State Lines
Legislation that would allow Georgians to purchase health insurance across state lines is on its way to Governor Nathan Deal.
Arizona Bans Accident Response Fees
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed a bill to stop local governments from charging accident response fees.
Illinois Rejects Workers’ Compensation Changes
A Republican plan to overhaul the Illinois workers’ compensation system failed in the state Senate.
Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Insurers Must File Safety Plans
All carriers licensed to offer workers’ compensation in Mississippi must file a summary or copy of any safety plans they offer their policyholders with state regulators under a new regulation.
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