Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, January 18
Jan 18, 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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Cabinet meeting. To view the agenda, click here.
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation presentation
- State Board of Administration
- Request approval of the appointment of Dr. Kurt Gurley as the engineer member of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council
House panel looks to shore up Catastrophe Fund, ease assessments
Florida’s insurance market has two sick children: the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, or Cat Fund, and Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Citizens Property Insurance chief to update Governor Rick Scott, Florida Cabinet
Outgoing Citizens Property Insurance Corp. President Scott Wallace is planning to update Governor Rick Scott and members of the independently elected Cabinet on its latest efforts to shrink the state-backed insurer.
Blog: Parkland developments move past Chinese drywall
Three years after reports of tainted Chinese drywall first surfaced, Parkland’s two main gated communities are slowly recovering.
The Tampa Tribune’s recent editorial on Insurance claim reform proposed in the Florida Legislature misleads the public about what is at stake for all Floridians (“Tinkering with bad faith puts citizens’ rights at risk,” Our Views, Jan. 2).
Letter to the Editor: Personal Injury Protection bill increases stress on emergency rooms
As expected, the paranoia fueled by the insurance lobby concerning the need for PIP reform has caused the Florida Legislature to take leave of its collective senses, common or otherwise.
Fight over waterfront damage may scuttle Ft. Lauderdale boat show
West Palm Beach says the boat show’s production company caused $141,500 in damage at the waterfront during the 2010 Palm Beach International Boat Show.
After Reforms, Florida Workers’ Compensation Rates Continue to Rise
A report on Florida’s worker compensation program says costs rose over a five-year period after reforms in 2003 drove those costs down by 20 percent.
Bill would give Florida Department of Health more muscle to rein in errant practioners
Physicians or dentists who are arrested could temporarily lose their prescribing ability, according to a bill approved by a House subcommittee on Tuesday.
Florida Senate approves its redistricting plans
After hours of questions and debate, a majority of state senators approved a set of proposed new districts for the Florida Senate.
Blog: All-star panel discusses Everglades restoration
Governor Rick Scott defended his environmental policy and discussed his views on water conservation with an all-star panel of legislators and environmentalists at Tuesday afternoon’s Everglades Water Supply Summit.
On the eve of a decision about Ash Williams’ job status, Senator Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, sent the State Board of Administration chief a letter asking for specific documents either withheld or redacted from his public records request about a $125 million pension fund investment.
Another top official leaves Florida Department of Health
Another high-ranking official at the Florida Department of Health has resigned.
Blog: Ban on internet cafes moves ahead, but future cloudy
A House bill banning “internet cafes” made it through its first committee Tuesday, but the politics of gaming bills could ensare its chances of final passage.
Kennel industry fights back as legislators push to reduce dog racing
John Weber spent $20,000 to buy seven dogs last year pocket change in a multimillion-dollar industry that supplies 13 greyhound tracks across the state.
High court drops case against “Taj Mahal” judge
The Florida Supreme Court has approved the state judicial ethics panel’s dismissal of its case against a Tallahassee-based judge for his involvement in an expensive new courthouse.
Reinsurers Advise Against Protectionist Regulation
A coalition of reinsurance trade groups are warning that protectionist policies by governments on global reinsurers will ultimately backfire because of the important role global risk distribution via reinsurance plays.
Government Accountability Office Study Disappoints Risk Retention Group
While the Government Accountability Office report on risk-retention groups recommends that Congress pass legislation clarifying certain provisions of the Liability Risk Retention Act, it doesn’t go far enough, according to an industry expert.
Washington Post: Attack on Federal Volcker Rule Seen Exaggerating Cost of Disorder
Lobbyists for U.S. banks say a proposed ban on proprietary trading will cost companies and investors more than $350 billion. Some economists and fund managers say the claim is greatly exaggerated.
*** If you haven’t registered for the 2012 State of the Florida Insurance Market Summit scheduled for March 14-16, 2012 at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida, please visit www.floridainsurancesummit.com. To receive an invitation to the Summit, please e-mail Fred Karlinsky at fkarlinsky@cftlaw.com.
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