Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, February 8
Feb 8, 2012
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 2012 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.–House Economic Affairs Committee. To access the meeting packets, click here.
- CS/HB 643 relating to Title Insurance by State Representative by House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative George Moraitis Jr.
- CS/CS/HB 645 relating to relating to Public Records/Title Insurance/Department of Financial Services by House Government Operations Subcommittee; House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee; State Representative George Moraitis Jr.
- HB 1127 relating to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by State Representative Ben Albritton
- HB 4169 relating to Insurance Company Excess Profits by State Representative Daniel Davis
- HB 4181 relating to Workers’ Compensation by State Representative Matt Caldwell
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.–House Judiciary Committee. To view the meeting packet, click here.
- HB 243 relating to Expert Testimony by State Representative Larry Metz
- CS/HB 313 relating to Premises Liability by House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee; State Representative Leonard Bembry
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.–Senate Session
- SB 140 relating to Repeal of a Workers’ Compensation Reporting Requirement by Senator Mike Bennett
11:00 a.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Information Systems Advisory Committee meeting. Teleconference: (888) 273-3658; conference code: 3976057. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Suit Filed Against Citizens Property Insurance For Handling of Replacement Values
An 82-year-old woman from the Tampa Bay area trying to survive on a meager social security check is among customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. suing the insurer for the way it calculates replacement values.
Blog: Who will pay to restore decaying communities?
While much attention has been focused on HB 319 and its “safe harbor” amendment that clarifies the rights and obligations of a unit first mortgagee foreclosing on a unit, little thought has been given to the larger issue, one which has the potential of causing serious financial harm to millions of Floridians living in shared ownership communities, namely, where will funds come from to restore decaying communities which have significantly curtailed necessary maintenance programs as a result of the cash shortfall caused by unit owner delinquencies?
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty: Florida at ‘Critical Crossroads’ on Road to PIP Reform
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty says that if the Florida legislature does nothing to reform the state’s no-fault, personal injury protection auto insurance system, rates will simply continue to increase and lawmakers could be forced to repeal the law.
Personal injury protection insurance fraud law reworked
A Hillsborough County ordinance aimed at curbing the growing problem of staged-accident fraud is being reworked in the face of a lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality.
Agents Raid 2 Florida CVS Stores in Prescription Drug Abuse Probe
Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided two CVS pharmacies in Florida as part of an effort to curb the abuse of prescription painkillers and other potentially addictive substances.
Governor opposes House health care overhaul
Governor Rick Scott on Tuesday made clear he isn’t a fan of a House proposal that would make Florida’s 67 counties responsible for county health departments.
Pared-back ‘super exemption’ property tax cut dies in House committee
An amendment intended to blunt its fiscal impact was not enough to save a property tax cut proposal in the House.
Move afoot to put state utility watchdog under governor, Cabinet control
While some lawmakers say the move would give the independent consumer watchdog over state utility regulators a higher profile, others contend it would make the office more politicized.
Senate economic development budget proposal questioned by appropriations panel
Republican Senators Mike Fasano and Don Gaetz questioned a proposal to bring the privately run Florida Housing Finance Corp. into the state budget.
Blog: Senate trumps House’s $1 billion school boost with more cash for classrooms
The deep, $1.3 billion budget cut imposed last year on Florida public schools would be largely offset with a similarly sized increase in classroom dollars proposed Tuesday by the Florida Senate.
Florida Senator Don Gaetz critical of lieutenant governor’s role with military task force
There is worry that Eglin Air Force Base’s 46th Test Wing could be moved to California’s Edwards Air Force Base and Senator Don Gaetz says Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll hasn’t played an effective advocacy role.
Senate Panel Rejects Proposed Slot Restrictions
An effort to prevent the introduction of next-generation slot machines — which look more like casino games — at racetracks around the state was shot down in a Senate committee Tuesday, despite fears from regulators that allowing them may put the state at odds with the Seminole Tribe.
Blog: Senate President Mike Haridopolos unsure of when, if prisons will come to a vote
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Tuesday that the 40-member Senate is split 20-20 on a controversial prison privatization vote.
Blog: New Florida legislative seats draw old names: Gus Barreiro and Renier Diaz de la Portilla
A pair of familiar faces are looking to get back in the Florida Legislature this fall under newly redrawn districts. Two former Miami Republican state representatives, Gus Barreiro and Renier Diaz de la Portilla, have submitted paperwork to the state Division of Elections to run again for the Florida House.
Bills envisioning herds of African wildlife on state lands pass House, Senate committees
Could Florida state park visitors one day see giraffes roaming Kissimmee Prairie or a herd of wildebeest joining the bison at Paynes Prairie?.
Governor Rick Scott Focus Turning to Asian Markets in Advance of Panama Canal Expansion
Florida’s much-traveled governor is expected to focus on Asia for at least one trade mission in 2013.
Blog: Governor Rick Scott asks Facebook fans to describe this legislative session
On Monday night, Governor Rick Scott – really his staff – asked the nearly 80,000 people who follow his Facebook page to fill in the blank: “If you could use one word to describe Florida’s 2012 legislative session, it would be ___________. COMMENT below!”
Low-lying Louisiana prepares for sea level to rise
A scientific report issued by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration predicts that the Louisiana coast could see about 3 feet of sea level rise along the already low and vulnerable Louisiana coast by 2100 – a prediction that leaves this Cajun coast drowning and under siege from storm surge for decades to come.
Allstate Readies Homeowners Product for More States
Look for Allstate to roll out a new homeowners product in phases to additional states through 2014.
Commercial Carriers Look to Jump on Predictive Modeling Bandwagon
Commercial lines carriers are looking to tighten the gap between them and their personal lines peers when it comes to the use of predictive modeling.
Appeals court: Social Security seniors can’t reject Medicare
A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that seniors who receive Social Security cannot reject their legal right to Medicare benefits, in a rare case of Americans suing to get out of a government entitlement.