Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, January 15
Jan 15, 2014
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
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.–Florida House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee meeting. Agenda includes a presentation on Citizens’ Sinkhole Repair Program and consideration of the following bill:
- HB 143 relating to Florida Insurance Guaranty Association by State Representative Jake Raburn
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Condos, apartment complexes next on Senator Simmons’ list to take out of Citizens
Private companies have taken over thousands of homeowners’ policies from state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in the past two years as lawmakers pushed to reduce its overall risk from a catastrophic storm. Now a move is on to boot condominiums and apartment complexes out of Citizens, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Sinkhole bill needs more protections, insurance panel says
The head of the Senate’s Banking and Insurance committee scuttled consideration of a sinkhole repair bill after skeptical members raised concerns over its effectiveness, James Rosica reports for Tampa Tribune.
David Jolly Wins Pinellas County GOP Congressional Primary
David Jolly won the Republican primary Tuesday, earning a chance to face former state CFO Alex Sink in a special election in March for the congressional seat left open by the death of longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Scott Takes Drug Testing to U.S. Supreme Court
Governor Wants State Employees to Be Tested
Arguing that Florida has an “overriding interest in a drug-free workforce,” Gov. Rick Scott has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of a drug-testing policy for tens of thousands of state employees, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via the Lakeland Ledger.
Top federal prosecutor says Florida tops US in ID theft, tax fraud
A top federal prosecutor says Florida has the nation’s highest rate in the nation of identity theft, with the information often used to commit tax fraud, the Associated Press reports via the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Hydraulic fracturing bills pass first committee stop despite Democrats’ opposition
Bills that would require companies that engage in hydraulic fracturing to disclose the chemicals they use and allow an exemption from public records for “trade secrets” passed their first committee stop on Tuesday despite Democratic opposition, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.
Florida universities now allow guns on campus
Public universities statewide have started allowing students to keep guns in parked vehicles after a Florida court ruled last month that it is unlawful to prohibit it, Orlando Sentinel’s Denise Marie Ordway reports.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam proposing overhaul of Florida’s charity laws
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Wednesday will propose “a complete rewrite of Florida’s charity laws,” aiming to increase state oversight and transparency in direct response to investigative reports published last year in the Tampa Bay Times, Tia Mitchell reports.
Jeff Brandes’ Bill Would Help Keep Unscrupulous Guardians in Check
Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, came out swinging Tuesday, filing SB 634, legislation aimed at preventing the abuse of vulnerable Floridians by unscrupulous guardians, Nancy Smith reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Complaints about water utility spill into Florida Senate hearing as bill passes first stop
A bill that would tighten regulation of private water and wastewater utilities was amended Tuesday to allow customers to petition the Public Service Commission to revoke a utility’s state operating certificate, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.
Florida Senate committee moves sexual predator bills
The Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee Tuesday moved two proposals designed to close loopholes in the Jimmy Ryce Act, The Florida Current’s James Call reports.
No Casinos to premiere anti-gambling documentary, “Pushing Luck” tonight
The anti-gambling group NoCasinos.org is promoting a film premiering tonight that takes a “clear-eyed look” at the evils of gaming, Peter Schorsch of SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
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