Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, March 20
Mar 20, 2013
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 2013 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Florida Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance meeting. Toni Jennings Committee Room, 110 Senate Office Building, Tallahassee. To view the complete agenda, click here.
- SB 468 relating to Commercial Insurance Rates and Forms
- SB 648 relating to Health Insurance Marketing Materials
- SB 242 relating to Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact
- SB 356 relating to Financial Guaranty Insurance Corporations
- SB 324 relating to Florida Insurance Guaranty Association
- SB 1046 relating to Insurance
- SB 662 relating to Workers’ Compensation
- SB 1662 relating to Establishment of a Clearinghouse Diversion Program Within the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
- SB 1606 relating to Public Records/Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Citizens Property Insurance CEO Barry Gilway defends company pay raises
The head of Florida’s largest property insurer is defending a decision to hand out big pay raises to his employees.
Citizens Property Insurance overhaul passes 2nd Senate hurdle
A bill reworking eligibility and rates for state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government on Tuesday by an 8-4 vote.
- Controversial Citizens Property Insurance bill moves ahead
- Blog: More lawmakers sign on to bill forcing higher property insurance rates
- The Florida Current’s Policy Note: Citizens Property Insurance
The Florida Current’s Policy Note: Florida Insurance Guaranty Association
The Florida Insurance Guaranty Association is a fund that pays out the claims of homeowners when an insurance company goes bankrupt.
National Guard chief outlines spending cuts; Cabinet concerned about hurricane season
Florida Adjutant General Emmett Titshaw told Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet Tuesday the federal budget sequester will have a $54 million impact on Florida, hurt military readiness and cause layoffs in communities across the state.
Governor Rick Scott took some harsh shots at Speaker Will Weatherford and Citizens Property Insurance executives today after his weekly Cabinet meeting.
Is This Right Time to Restructure Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund?
A move to restructure Florida’s state-run property reinsurance facility by lowering its financial obligation to insurers is facing an uphill legislative battle as both lawmakers and members of the industry find themselves in conflict over the plan.
House panel OKs bill blocking higher workers’ compensation Rx prices for doctors
One of the longest-running special-interest fights in the state Capitol was renewed Tuesday when a House committee debated whether doctors should be allowed to charge higher prices than pharmacies when they prescribe drugs for workers-comp patients.
Florida Senator Joe Negron files bill offering alternative to Medicaid expansion
A Healthy Florida proposal, the Senate’s alternative to expansion of the Medicaid program as called for by the Affordable Care Act, has been filed and will be heard Thursday in the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting.
Today, the National Alzheimer’s Association released its 2013 Facts and Figures, showing the magnitude and growth of this disease nationally and in Florida, and detailing the extensive costs that this disease levies on federal and state health care systems, and on families.
Florida Governor Rick Scott, House speaker Weatherford clash over budget
In an uncharacteristic moment, Florida Governor Rick Scott is already raising questions about some of the early budget proposals emerging from the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Blog: Former Lieutenant Governor Carroll says she was duped by Allied Veterans
Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll resigned last week after investigators questioned her about her business relationship with Allied Veterans of the World chain of Internet sweepstakes cafes, was the center of a nationwide racketeering and fraud investigation.
Bills to waive fees on development, cutting permitting review times pass House subcommittee
The House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee on Tuesday passed two business-backed bills over limited environmental opposition.
Mexican currency brokers charged in Miami with laundering millions through check-cashing businesses
The cargo and commercial flights carried millions of U.S. greenbacks in suitcases, containers and money bags from Mexico to Texas, and then to Miami International Airport, on a routine schedule.
In a move advocates for the disabled heralded as a major step in efforts to make sure handicapped people have places to live, a leading South Florida builder has agreed to retrofit an estimated 5,000 units – including scores in Palm Beach County – with grab bars, ramps and other features so they are accessible to people in wheelchairs or who have other physical limitations.
Of all the additions Walt Disney World will make during the next few years as it transforms its Downtown Disney shopping district into the larger “Disney Springs,” none will be more important than a pair of parking garages.
Blog: Florida Governor Rick Scott trails Crist by 12 points, according to Public Policy Polling
Rick Scott’s approval numbers have seen no improvement over the last two months, even after his decision to allow Medicaid expansion in Florida.
Most gun legislation idled this session
Although the threat of gun violence continues to loom in the state, with a potential shooting spree averted at the University of Central Florida this week, state lawmakers remain reluctant to take up any firearm-safety measures.
Panhandle state lawmaker loses battle with cancer
State Representative Clay Ford of Gulf Breeze has died after a battle with cancer. He was 74.
High court rules for insurer in class-action suit
A unanimous Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected efforts by a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit to keep his claim in state court rather than more business-friendly federal court by limiting the amount of money sought to under $5 million.
Monica J. Lindeen, National Association of Insurance Commissioners Vice President and Montana Insurance Commissioner, testified today in support of a proposal to streamline insurance producer licensing.
- Click here to access all witness testimony from yesterday’s Senate hearing
Researchers: Warming Temperatures Could Multiply Katrina-Like Hurricanes
The number of Atlantic storms with magnitude similar to killer Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, could rise sharply this century, environmental researchers reported on Monday.
Storm preparation: Texas lawmaker wants to make hurricane-mitigation equipment tax exempt
A bill introduced March 4 in the Texas House of Representatives would create Hurricane Mitigation Week, during which sales tax exemptions for buying hurricane-mitigation equipment would be in effect.
Mississippi Court Grants Appeal in “King Of Torts” Case
The Mississippi Supreme Court has reinstated the appeal of a lawsuit against a former federal prosecutor and a political blogger over a book they co-wrote about the judicial corruption case involving former attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs.
Expected Small Airports’ Tower Closures Raising Safety, Insurance Concerns
When landing a plane amid birds, bobcats or alligators, it helps to have an air traffic controller on the lookout.
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