Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, October 19
Oct 19, 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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology meeting. Adoption of 2011 Standards of Acceptability and Report of Activities. Teleconference: 888-808-6959; conference code: 4765251363. To view the meeting notice, click here.
9:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Rule Development Workshop. Proposed amendments to Rule 69L-5.201 would allow an affiliated self-insurer structure and utilization of the financial strength of a parent company for purposes of providing a parental guaranty for affiliated self-insurers under Rule 69L-5.215, where the parent company could, but elects to not hold the self-insurance authorization. To view the hearing notice, click here.
10:00 a.m.–Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies meeting. Teleconference: 888-808-6959; conference code: 9226020. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
HB 385 relating to Sovereign Immunity by State Representative Matt Gaetz
Providing legislative findings and intent, HB 385 would provide sovereign immunity to emergency health care providers acting pursuant to obligations imposed by specified statutes, with exception. Under HB 385, emergency health care providers would be deemed as agents of the state and be required to indemnify the state up to specified liability limits. The bill also provides for sanctions against emergency health care providers who fail to comply with indemnification obligations. Effective Date: upon becoming a law, and shall apply to any cause of action accruing on or after that date.
HB 409 relating to Alien Insurers by State Representative Ed Hooper
HB 409 would revise provisions of law exempting alien insurers from being required to obtain certificate of authority. The bill specifies that an alien insurer is exempt from having to obtain certificate of authority if such insurer only engages in specified activities relating to delivery of insurance policies or contracts to nonresident policy owners. It also would revise the definition of term “nonresident.” Effective Date: July 1, 2012
SB 578 relating to Depopulation Programs of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation by Senator Garrett Richter
SB 578 would provide that eligible surplus lines insurers may participate, in the same manner and on the same terms as an authorized insurer, in depopulation, take-out, or keep-out programs relating to policies removed from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”). The bill would authorize Citizens to release information from underwriting and confidential files to specified entities that are considering writing or underwriting risks insured by Citizens under certain circumstances. Under the provisions of SB 578, only Citizens’ transfer of a policy file to an insurer, as opposed to the transfer of any file, would change the file’s public record status. Effective Date: July 1, 2012
Florida hurricane fund has $3.2 billion shortfall
Florida’s hurricane fund is confronting a potential $3.2 billion shortfall, financial experts said Tuesday in a new estimate of the money available to the pool intended to help insurers make disaster payments.
What kind of insurance is your condo association required to have?
What kind of hazard insurance is your condominium association required to have?
An open letter was issued by NFIB/Florida’s Executive Director Bill Herrle to the Florida Insurance Commissioner calling for a workers’ comp rate decrease in the interest of small businesses.
Florida’s Ranew, Ranzino Agencies Merge
Two Florida insurance agencies have merged as part of a plan to increase their business in southeast Florida.
Details about Florida Department of Health reorganization emerge
The state health department wants to transfer children’s food, anti-abortion crisis counseling and the trauma program to other agencies. The agriculture department for now says no thanks.
Florida Senate president vows to pass Brody claims bill in coming session
Eric Brody and his parents spent more than 12 hours on the final day of the session waiting in vain for the Florida House to take up a claims bill.
Judge rejects American Civil Liberties Union challenge of Florida election law implementation
A federal court in Miami on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the implementation of changes to Florida election laws on Tuesday.
Florida’s minimum wage to go up 36 cents per hour
Florida’s minimum wage is going up by 36 cents to $7.67 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2012.
After holdup, resort casino bill to be filed this week
The bill, which has been expected for several weeks, has been delayed while its authors say they have attempted to cover every nuance in the legislation that would allow up to three resort casinos in South Florida and create a state gaming commission to regulate it and all forms of gaming in the state.
Fewer people being sent to prison in Florida
Fewer people were sent to prison in Florida last year, and the number of people who returned to prison also declined.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Putnam endorses Romney
The endorsement by Florida’s agriculture commissioner is considered a major win for the Republican hopeful.
Florida’s construction industry still shrinking, but some workers cling to hope
Florida’s bustling construction industry lured Sam Radowick from Michigan eight years ago.
Blog: Florida Senator Gary Siplin says lawmakers can’t do away with his district
As the politically cantankerous redistricting process cranks up, Senate lawmakers are starting to quarrel over the publicly drawn maps the chamber is reviewing – and they haven’t even drawn any lawmaker-submitted maps yet.
County-by-county gun purchase wait rules remain in effect
Some counties have no plans to do away with their gun waiting period rules, which can be as long as five business days and can apply not just to handguns but to shotguns and rifles.
Run for governor may be in former Tampa mayor’s plans, analyst says
A shared ride to a Jacksonville conference leads to speculation about Pam Iorio’s plans for a future foray into politics.
Supporters Push Lawmakers to Ratify Equal Rights Amendment
Supporters rallied at the state capitol to push the Florida legislature towards passing the equal rights amendment.
Highest-paid in Florida’s State University System isn’t who you might think
Governor Rick Scott’s office has expanded its public records website – floridahasarighttoknow.com – to include the $2.66 billion in salaries for more than 52,000 workers at Florida’s 11 universities.
Alabama commission looking to cut homeowner’s insurance rates visits Decatur
Sharp rises in deductible rates, buried in the fine print.
Solvency II Capital Rules Create Debt Opportunity
Insurers are seldom fazed by technical complexity or heavy expenditure, yet even they have flinched when confronted with the intricacy and high implementation costs of Solvency II, a set of new capital rules for the European insurance industry.
Vitale: Return of Buffer Liability Signals Change in Surplus Lines Market
There are “little signs” that the surplus-lines marketplace is turning, says Mario Vitale of Aspen U.S. Insurance
Police say a family of four has been found dead in their suburban home north of New York City.
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