Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, March 16
Mar 15, 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
Florida’s 2011 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.–House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee
- Workshop:
- Consideration of:
- HB 967 Relating to Personal Injury Protection Insurance by State Representative Mike Horner
10:00 a.m.–Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies Board Meeting. Teleconference: 888-808-6959; conference code: 9226020. To view the agenda, click here.
1:00 p.m.–Press Conference on SB 1930 and HB 1411 relating to No-Fault/Personal Injury Protection Fraud by Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff and Representative James Boyd. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will be in attendance.
1:30 p.m.–Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- SB 1252 relating to Persons Designated to Receive Insurer Notification by Senator Chris Smith
- SB 1330 relating to Residential Property Insurance by Senator Alan Hays
- SB 0740 relating to Motor Vehicle Licenses by Senator Joe Negron
1:30 p.m.–Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism
- SB 178 relating to Commercial Insurance Rates by Senator Steve Oelrich
Blog: Insurance reform hits a hurdle in the Senate
A property insurance bill that would allow certain rate hikes and change sinkhole coverage hit a hurdle at a Senate budget committee meeting Tuesday.
Insurers seek to reduce sinkhole claims
Even as Private Juan Espinosa waits to ship out to Afghanistan, he is waging another war over his crumbling home.
News Release: Seminole Casualty Insurance Company Ordered Into Receivership
Leon County Circuit Court Judge Terry P. Lewis today ordered Seminole Casualty Insurance Company into receivership for the purpose of liquidation. The Florida Department of Financial Services is appointed Receiver.
Update: Public Adjusters File Suit Against Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Allege Florida Office of Insurance Regulation cannot prohibit policyholders from using public adjusters
The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters joined the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters on March 11 in filing a lawsuit for a declaratory judgment against the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
Staff Changes at Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Announced
Several senior staff changes have been announced at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
Opinion: PCI’s William Stander – PIP fraud is hurting everyone
Florida ranks first in the nation in questionable auto insurance claims, and Personal Injury Protection fraud has spiraled out of control.
Boyd’s bill attacks auto insurance fraud
Stiffer penalties, increased consumer protection and revisions to car crash reports are among several measures Florida lawmakers will be reviewing in an effort to fight auto insurance scams.
Senator Bennett tells slow drivers to move over
They are surely among an interstate driver’s greatest frustrations: those plodding drivers in the left lane who refuse to move over and let faster drivers pass.
Brown & Brown says group broke contracts
Brown & Brown has sued a group of former top executives, including its former vice chairman, claiming they broke their contracts.
Florida dentists say insurers put the bite on them
Dentists say they are getting squeezed. Insurance companies say they are helping hold down costs for patients.
Blog: Deregulation fever hits House committee — they vote to cut oversight of about 30 professions
A proposal to deregulate interior designers, geologists, landscape architects, dance studios, mold inspectors, hair braiders and more than 20 other professions passed through the House business and community affairs committee today.
Senate votes to put tax, revenue cap on the 2012 ballot
The Florida Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment Tuesday that would place new limits on the power of future legislators to tax and spend.
Senate drops business mandate in immigration bill
The Senate Judiciary Committee officially took up its version of an Arizona-style immigration measure Monday – but watered down its employer mandate.
State of Florida to close three prisons
In a move to save more than $30 million, the state today announced plans to close three prisons, two bootcamp programs and a road work prison.
Senate saying no so far to key part of Scott’s jobs agenda
Governor Rick Scott wants more than $300 million set aside for economic development incentives.
Final vote set on Florida teacher merit pay, tenure
Republican-sponsored legislation setting up a merit pay plan for teachers and ending tenure for new hires is up for a final vote in the GOP-controlled Florida House.
Governor Scott to join Florida delegation for two-day trade mission to Panama
Governor Rick Scott will leave Thursday for his first foreign trade mission since being elected, a two-day trip to Panama.
Former Republican Party of Florida executive director gets top agency job March 14, 2011
Ronnie Whitaker, who served as executive director under Chairman John Thrasher, has been hired as deputy secretary and chief of staff at the Department of Elder Affairs.
Food Fight! Battle Begins Over Who Controls School Lunch Programs
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wants to shift programs from Department of Education to his department
Miami-Dade voters remove Mayor Carlos Alvarez
Mayor Carlos Alvarez was ousted Tuesday by voters angry over a property tax rate increase and salary raise for county employees in a county struggling to recover from the recession.
Dosal Tobacco: Don’t tax Florida corporation to help out-of-state companies
Associated Industries of Florida has chosen to side with out-of-state companies in their call for a targeted tax increase on South Florida’s Dosal Tobacco Corp.
Guy Carpenter: Japan Disaster Could Raise Reinsurance Rates
Losses from the Japanese earthquake will eat into reinsurers’ capital reserves, potentially forcing them to raise prices for the first time in years, a leading reinsurance broker said on Tuesday.
Revisions To Catastrophe Models Could Mean Revisions To Reinsurance, Ratings
A change to a catastrophe model can influence the level of reinsurance purchased by companies and impinge on the rating process, but the extent to which the latest revision announced by one modeler affects either is not specifically clear.
Mississippi Senate Passes Auto Insurance Verification Bill
A bill designed to force compliance with Mississippi mandatory insurance laws passed this week in the Senate, and was among several proposals facing a legislative deadline.
Alabama Senate Approves Auto Insurance Verification Database
The Alabama Senate has voted to set up a computer database that would allow county tag officials and law enforcement to instantly check whether a vehicle has liability insurance.
Utah Legislature Passes Accident Tax Restrictions
The Utah Legislature approved a bill restricting fees that municipalities can charge after an accident occurs.
Bills Filed in Texas Would Create ‘Loser Pays’ Tort System
Legislation filed in Texas would create a “loser pays” legal system that Texas Governor Rick Perry says would provide stronger protections against frivolous lawsuits.
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