Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, July 6

Jul 6, 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

 

There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

Florida Tops 10 Worst Regulatory States for Property and Casualty Insurers

Last week, we offered you the top 10 states ranked friendliest to Property and Casualty insurers and consumers when it comes to the state’s regulatory environment.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission launches investigation into St. Joe

Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist Named to Board in February 2011

The St. Joe Co. says the Securities and Exchange Commission has begun a “private investigation” of the company’s business practices.

 

Blog:  Florida Attorney General Bondi, Florida Department of Law Enforcement check doctors offices’ compliance with pill mill law

The Department of Health and Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted visits in doctors’ offices around the state on Tuesday to check on compliance with the states new pill mill law, reports the News Service of Florida.

 

Governor Rick Scott Salutes Veterans, Touts New Laws

Tax breaks, Hall of Fame, free park entry among new veteran perks in Sunshine State

A day after Floridians celebrated the Fourth of July, Governor Rick Scott embarked on a tour of the state to draw attention to new laws he signed last month for the state’s 1.6 million military veterans, 58,000 active duty members and their families

 

Blog:  Governor Scott to trumpet port terminal in jobs hunt

Governor Rick Scott will add 200 more jobs to his tally this week when he trumpets the opening of Keystone Terminals at the port in Jacksonville, and the terminals first customer, Vulcan Materials, reports David Royse of the News Service of Florida.

 

Another departure from Governor Scott administration

Communications Director Leaves for Republican Party of Florida

Brian Hughes, the deputy communications director for Governor Rick Scott, is leaving his job later this summer to become the new communications director for the Republican Party of Florida.

 

Senate Candidates Changing Plans for Special Election on First Coast

With Tony Hill stepping down, four candidates focus on 2011 instead of 2012

With state Senator Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, resigning his seat to serve in the administration of newly elected Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, the four candidates who filed to run for the seat in 2012 are moving up their calendars to take part in a special election later this year.

 

Criminal immigration prosecution numbers continue to rise

The Southern and Middle Federal Judicial Districts of Florida were among the top 10 districts in the nation in the number of criminal immigration prosecutions in the first six months of fiscal year 2011.

 

Blog:  Will the professional deregulation bill come back?

What’s all the fuss about? Floridians logged more than 45,000 complaints to a state consumer hot line during the latest fiscal year, up 20 percent from the year before.

 

Florida Center for Investigative Reporting:  Pursuit Rare for Bail Fugitives Who Skip the Country

On a chilly winter night in downtown Miami Nidia Diaz, the owner of Best Bail Bonds, and her team of four bail recovery agents drive south in two pickup trucks.

 

Insurance Coalition Challenges Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Medicare Second Payer Regulation

Property and casualty insurers want federal regulators to re-examine rules allowing Medicare to be reimbursed for medical claims that are at least partially covered by private-insurance coverage such as workers’ compensation and auto.

 

Jury Orders State Farm to Pay Indiana Contractor $14.5 million for Defamation

State Farm says it will “weigh its options” after an Indiana jury awarded $14.5 million to a contractor in Indiana who sued the insurer for defamation.

 

European Stress Test Shows Capital Deficiencies Under Extreme Scenario

While the European insurance market in general is well prepared for potential future shocks, approximately 10 percent of groups evaluated in a recent stress test failed to meet capital requirements under a certain “adverse” scenario.

 

Wall Street Journal:  ‘Death Policy’ Probe Grows

The developments in New York come on the heels of public hearings by regulators and officials in Florida and California into the claims-payment issue.

 

 

 

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