Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, June 29

Jun 29, 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

 

2:00 p.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Board of Governors meeting.  Teleconference:  888-942-8686.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

     

     

    Daily Insurance-Related News

     

    Florida’s Insurance Market Earns “F” From Research Group

    The Heartland Institute, a national nonprofit research and education organization whose mission is to “discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems,” has issued its annual “2011 Property and Casualty Insurance Report Card” of all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

     

    South Florida among top 5 regions for questionable insurance claims

    South Florida consistently has generated some of the largest volumes of questionable insurance claims among metropolitan regions nationwide over the past three years, according to an industry report released Tuesday.

     

    New pool pump law raises concern by contractors

    Its purpose is to reduce the energy consumed by swimming pools, but a new law slated to take effect at the end of this year has some pool contractors concerned it will cause a tide of “underground activity” by people not qualified to repair or install swimming pools.

     

    Monroe County attorney concerned with Key Largo Ocean Resort Federal Emergency Management Agency implications

    The complications continue in the 14-year process of redeveloping Key Largo Ocean Resort.

     

    Owners of condos in stricken Dolphin Tower find options limited

    They were told what many owners in the 38-year-old condominium building already knew:  Options are limited.

     

    Opinion:  Insurance rate control

    Regarding “Reinsurance costs will hit many homeowners”:  The front-page story June 26 told readers that worldwide tragedies (e.g. earthquakes in New Zealand and tsunamis in Japan) will cause Florida homeowners to pay more for their insurance.

     

    Governor Scott wraps up his first session as governor

    Governor Rick Scott on Tuesday wrapped up his first session as governor when he signed the last bill left on his desk.

     

    Pink slips flowing throughout state government

    At least 1,600 state workers have been told they are losing their jobs at the end of this week.

     

    Florida Department of Transportation SunRail Tour Draws Cheers and Jeers

    Project’s friends, foes joust in Central Florida on the eve of Governor Scott’s decision

    Dogged by protests, Florida’s transit boss Tuesday toured the four-county Central Florida region that would be served by the planned SunRail commuter train.

     

    Legislator wants to close loophole on homeowner association foreclosures

    Despite repeated efforts, real estate agent Colleen Tuttle had no luck swinging a short sale on behalf of a client who offered the bank $800,000 in cash for an Apollo Beach home with a stunning view of Tampa Bay.

     

    Resistance building to state plans to add campgrounds in four state parks

    State park officials have recommended going ahead with new campgrounds at Fanning Springs, De Leon Springs, Honeymoon Island and Wakulla Springs state parks.

     

    Consumer confidence in Florida keeps dipping

    A University of Florida survey showed that consumer confidence dropped for the fourth time in five months.

     

    THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  Change in Latino Population Could Alter Florida’s Politics

    About 54.7 percent of the state’s 2.8 million new residents are Hispanic

    There was little surprise when Census numbers came out earlier this year that Latinos had comprised most of Florida’s explosive growth — about 54.7 percent of the state’s 2.8 million new residents were Hispanic.

     

    Blog:  Theresa Frederick named new policy director for Senate Democrats

    Legislative veteran Theresa Frederick was named Friday as the new staff director in the Senate Democratic Office, reports the News Service of Florida.

     

    Texas Windstorm Insurance Association puts forth rate hike

    As lawmakers in Austin passed a bill restricting litigation against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the storm insurer of last resort proposed a 5 percent rate hike at a meeting in Galveston.

     

    Pennsylvania tort reform measure signed into law

    Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett on Tuesday signed into a law the so-called Fair Share Act, which limits the financial responsibility of defendants in multidefendant civil suits to only each defendant’s share of a judgment under most circumstances.

     

    Labor backs Deutsche Bank using captive to fund long-term disability

    The Labor Department has given tentative authorization to New York-based Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp. to use its Vermont captive to reinsure long-term disability benefits.

     

     

     

     

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