Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, November 16
Nov 16, 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
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
- Daily Insurance-Related News
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
8:00 a.m.–Florida House of Representatives Insurance and Banking Subcommittee
- HB 307 relating to Workers’ Compensation Certificate-of-Exemption Process
- HB 379 relating to Captive Insurance
- HB 4085 relating to Workers’ Compensation
- HB 4087 relating to Repeal of a Workers’ Compensation Independent Actuarial Peer Review Requirement
- HB 119 relating to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) Insurance
- Workshop on draft Proposed Committee Substitute
8:30 a.m.–Florida Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- Discussion and testimony on potential PIP reform
9:00 a.m.–Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology meeting. Agenda includes discussion and adoption of the 2011 Standards and Report of Activities. Teleconference: 888-808-6959; conference code: 4765251363. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:00 a.m.–U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee – Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee Hearing: “Insurance Oversight and Legislative Proposals.” To view the hearing notice, click here.
12:00 p.m.–Florida Self-Insurers Guaranty Association Board of Directors Annual meeting.
1:00 p.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation (“DWC”) Three-Member Panel meeting. Agenda includes discussion of potential reform for various DWC responsibilities, follow-up on recommendations provided to the Legislature in the 2011 Three-Member Panel Biennial Report, an update on DWC initiatives relating to the recently enacted pill mill legislation and consideration of an update to the uniform schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances for Ambulatory Surgical Centers. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
SB 938 relating to Insurance Agents and Adjusters by Senator Garrett Richter
SB 938 would delete a requirement for an insurer pay an agent tax for each county in which an agent represents the insurer and has a place of business. The bill would revise the definitions of “adjuster” and “home state,” as well as revise provisions of law relating to who may bind insurance coverage, their continuing education requirements and whether persons on active military duty may seek a waiver. The purpose of the general lines and personal lines license and certain requirements related to general lines and personal lines agents would be revised, as would requirements for persons transacting mortgage guaranty insurance to be licensed and appointed as a credit insurance agent. Effective Date: October 1, 2012, except as otherwise provided.
Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund manager wants to raise cash, rates to avoid potential shortfall
He also wants to change the name of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to State Board of Administration’s Finance Corp.
Florida Last-Resort Insurer Takes List of Changes to Lawmakers
Florida’s largest property insurer wants sweeping changes, including the ability to charge higher rates, in the coming year.
Governor Scott supports shrinking Florida hurricane fund
Governor Rick Scott said Tuesday that he supports shrinking Florida’s hurricane insurance backup fund even though that would raise premiums.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Insurance premiums would rise 10 percent under governor’s plan
The Florida Catastrophe Fund would shrink by about $5 billion over the next four years under a prescription offered to the governor and Cabinet Tuesday that would raise Floridians’ average insurance premiums by about 10 percent over the next several years.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater calls for ban on referral services like 1-800-ASK-GARY
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on Tuesday called for a ban on accident lawyer referral services, like 1-800-ASK-GARY and 411-PAIN, which have proliferated on television, Facebook and other media in recent years.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Personal Injury Protection fraud targeted Tuesday, bills up Wednesday
On the eve of legislative testimony, Governor Rick Scott and Cabinet members joined forces Tuesday to call on lawmakers to enact significant changes to curb fraud they say is costing motorists nearly $1 billion a year in higher premiums.
Governor Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater vowed at a joint press conference Tuesday to work together to pass an overhaul of personal injury protection insurance.
Legislative Efforts Underway to Salvage Personal Injury Protection Auto Coverage from Rampant Fraud
A Florida House committee will begin discussions Wednesday to answer the call for reform of personal injury protection auto insurance by Governor Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.
Senator promises that revamp of no-fault auto insurance coming soon
Senator Joe Negron, the senator who will help craft the Senate’s rewrite of the no-fault auto insurance law, says any proposal to limit attorneys’ fees must be applied equally to both sides.
Blog: Meet the new Personal Injury Protection reform, same as the old PIP reform
Personal Injury Protection, the compulsory auto coverage that pays up for $10,000 for medical bills and lost wages, is kind of like hurricanes: Lots of people worry about real and potential damages – in this case, fraud – but no one quite knows what to do about it.
Editorial: Fix Personal Injury Protection to protect Florida businesses and consumers
Florida’s no-fault system is creating problems for Florida’s businesses and consumers.
Men charged with theft of insurance premiums
A father and son face charges of misappropriating more than $100,000 in Insurance premiums they had collected through their Lakeland-based company, according to complaint affidavits released Tuesday.
Report: Osceola insurance agent accused in scam
An Osceola County Insurance agent is accused of putting several clients’ money into fraudulent investments, according to a WFTV Channel 9 report.
Blog: Senate President Mike Haridopolos confident House won’t ‘play games’ with claims bills again
Senate President Mike Haridopolos is reviving his efforts to pass a claims bill for a former Brevard County man convicted of murder on the strength of faulty evidence and lying witnesses.
Senate panel says it’s prepared to vote on redistricting plan in December
The Senate Reapportionment Committee wrapped up its hearings on Southwest Florida on Tuesday, and is prepared to unveil its full redistricting proposal after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Senator Bogdanoff aims to rope Florida Lottery into state gaming commission
The Fort Lauderdale Republican said Tuesday she hopes to bring the Florida Lottery under the control of a state gaming commission.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner: ‘Best news would be if nothing happens’ on immigration
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam told state citrus industry leaders Monday that Florida GOP elected officials should be credited for not passing the “mistaken” state immigration laws now in place in Georgia and Alabama.
Lawmakers question economic development efforts, want accountability
Enterprise Florida CEO Gray Swoope defended the state’s economic incentives as vital to getting more results from Florida’s economic engine.
American Conservative Union Says Florida Legislature More Conservative than Expected
As a former Republican Party of Florida chairman, Al Cardenas knew the government in Florida is conservative.
NAIC Model Law on Reduced Collateral Credit-Negative for U.S. Primary Insurers
A model law passed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that, if adopted by states, would allow foreign reinsurers in qualified jurisdictions to post reduced collateral benefits those foreign reinsurers but is credit-negative for U.S. insurers that buy reinsurance, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
Property and Casualty Industry Looks to Limit Financial Stability Oversight Council Authority
It is unnecessary for property and casualty insurance companies to be overseen by the Financial Stability Oversight Council as potentially “systemically significant,” and Congress should move to take away that authority, a P&C trade group contends.
Texas Surplus Lines Professionals: Late-file Bill a Victory but Issues Remain
The passage of a bill addressing late filing of surplus lines policies in the 2011 Texas legislative session was a victory for surplus lines professionals in the state.
Short-Term National Flood Insurance Program Extension on Horizon
Another temporary extension of the National Flood Insurance Program is imminent, but it is unclear when the Senate will take the next step in passing a bill that will provide long-term certainty to the program.
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