Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, February 12
Feb 12, 2010
Note: Beginning this week, until the March 2, 2010 Florida legislative bill filing deadline, Capitol to Courthouse Headliners will provide a listing of insurance-related bills filed each day. This listing will be located at the end of the news headlines.
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Senate May Pass “Dereg Lite” Property Insurance Bill
Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said on Thursday that he is going to urge that Senate to pass what he calls a “dereg lite” bill that is different from SB 876, the “consumer choice” bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton.
New York Times: Florida Stumbles in Effort to Harden Homes Against Hurricanes
Hurricane insurance produces little harmony: Homeowners feel it’s overpriced. Insurers face rising risk. Regulators are caught in the crossfire.
Expanded Florida flood plain might force thousands to buy insurance
Thousands of area property owners may be forced to purchase flood insurance because of new federal maps identifying flood-prone property.
Commercial real estate owners favor insurance deregulation
Unicorp National Developments owner Chuck Whittall, who has more than two-thirds of his firm’s retail property portfolio in hurricane-prone Florida, has a keen interest in the high cost of property insurance.
Floridians grapple with nation’s highest insurance costs
Pensacola, Florida is a city rich in history, known for its old time beauty and its world class tourism industry. A city that has been growing steadily in the past.
Florida Court Overturns $12 Million Drunk Driving Verdict Against School
A Florida appeals court has reversed a $12 million verdict against a Miami archdiocesan high school previously found liable for the injuries of a student who survived a drunken driving crash.
Health plans sold in Florida target of suit
Minnesota’s attorney general is suing two Texas companies that sell discount health plans in a number of states, including Florida: Direct Medical Network Solutions Inc. and Association Healthcare Management Inc.
Daytona Beach-based Brown & Brown buys Colorado firm
Brown & Brown Inc. has bought Medical Settlement Protocols LLC, a national provider of Medicare set-aside services in Lakewood, Colo.
Ransom, kidnap insurance amounts identical in Florida case
For $750,000, the ransom e-mail said, Tom Wiles would be able to see his kidnapped son alive again.
Justices adopt Florida foreclosure mediation rules
Lenders will be required to pick up the tab for investigating and verifying ownership and then try mediation before foreclosing Florida home mortgages under new rules approved Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s exit from Congress sets off political scramble
Lincoln Diaz-Balart, the passionate defender and architect of measures to strengthen the Cuban embargo, said Thursday that he won’t seek reelection to Congress, setting off a political scramble that reached from Tallahassee to Miami.
Lawmakers berate backer of Fair Districts redistricting amendments
Backers of two constitutional changes that would make it harder for Florida lawmakers to gerrymander their political boundaries got a long-anticipated tongue-lashing Thursday from a testy legislative panel charged with overseeing next year’s redistricting process.
Florida sees decline in illegal immigrants
It’s the only state to experience drop in numbers; experts cite economic downturn
Florida was the only state to see a net loss of undocumented immigrants from 2000 to 2009, the federal government says in a new report.
Florida justices uphold local election law
The Florida Supreme Court ruled the state’s election code does not pre-empt local laws Thursday in a voting machine dispute that traces its origins to the Florida recount that decided the 2000 presidential race.
As Senate campaign lags, Crist stresses budget, job creation
Gov. Charlie Crist said he’s looking past U.S. Senate race polls and man-hugs to concentrate on Florida’s budget, a $69.2 billion spending plan relying heavily on a gaming compact and the state’s economic recovery.
Attorney General calls Florida GOP spending unforgivable
Attorney General Bill McCollum says he’d assist with a criminal investigation if an audit of recent Republican Party spending suggests illegal activity.
Column: Florida GOP has formula to restore its credibility
Whatever is in the Florida Republican Party’s financial records probably can’t be as bad as its refusal to, as one candidate for governor put it, “come clean.”
Florida schools, agencies closed with snowfall expected
Area could see the white stuff in late morning
A winter storm that is forecast to bring rain, sleet and snow across Northwest Florida has forced all local public schools and some government offices to close today.
Editorial: Florida texting bill is laughable
Put us down as underwhelmed at best by the “bold” bipartisan bill in Tallahassee to ban texting while driving. The bill, to deal with “an epidemic” one of the sponsors says is “destroying lives and families,” will impose a $30 fine.
Florida Senate leaders backing off effort to replace consumer advocate
With the arrival of Gov. Charlie Crist’s letter endorsing J.R. Kelly, the public advocate in utility rate cases, Senate leaders now appear to be backing off attempts to challenge Kelly’s confirmation.
Editorial: Cleaning up fouled Florida waters can’t wait
The clean water standards the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed for Florida are good for public health and the state’s economy.
Water managers delay decision on extending deadline for Everglades land deal
Mounting financial concerns could pose renewed hurdles to Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposed $536 million Everglades restoration land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. Louisiana Recovered $8.2M for Insurance Consumers in 2009.
Louisiana Recovered $8.2 Million for Insurance Consumers in 2009
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced that the Department of Insurance helped Louisiana insurance consumers to recover $8.2 million in insurance payments last year.
Even though the Bureau of Labor Statistics job loss numbers could be in the negative range for January, unemployed Americans continue to be resilient in their job searches as 58 percent of those laid off in the last twelve months have secured new positions.
After three years of shrinkage, home equity gaining ground
With all the bad news about underwater homeowners and strategic walkaways, you might think that American homeowners’ equity holdings are in the tank.
Flood Program Extension Could Get Action If Jobs Bill Moves
A provision extending the National Flood Insurance Program until May 31 is included in bipartisan Senate legislation aimed at creating jobs.
Warren Buffett now Munich Re’s biggest shareholder
U.S. investor Warren Buffett has become the biggest single shareholder in the world’s largest reinsurer Munich Re and could soon hold 7 percent of the company.
2010 Florida insurance-related bills filed on Friday, February 12:
HB 1029 Relating to Motor Vehicle Crashes by State Representative Baxter Troutman
Requires the driver of a vehicle that was involved in a crash resulting in serious bodily injury to stop and remain at scene until he or she has fulfilled specified requirements; directs courts to order restitution; revises mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for persons who were driving under influence and failed to stop and fulfill such requirements at scene of crash that resulted in the death of any person; provides mandatory penalties for failing to stop and fulfill such requirements at the scene of a crash that results in injury, serious bodily injury, or the death of any person; provides that a person who commits such violation may be required to participate in a victim impact panel session; provides for a period of license revocation. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
HB 1027 Relating to Hurricane Preparedness by Representative Troutman
Provides an exemption from the sales and use tax for sales of specified tangible personal property for specified period. Effective Date: upon becoming a law
HB 1025 Relating to Public Employee Group Health Insurance by State Representative Ritch Workman
Provides for market determination of premium cost for health insurance for retirees; requires cost of continued participation by retirees in insurance plans to be paid by retiree; authorizes employers to segregate claims experience of retiree group from claims experience of active employees; authorizes separate experience rating of retirees from active employees. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
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