Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, Sept. 28

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PIP revamp being readied for legislative session

There’s one thing for certain: Florida’s controversial no-fault auto insurance law will expire next Monday. But probably not for long.

 

The plan: Reviving motorist insurance

Although they are too late to keep Florida’s mandatory auto insurance alive, legislators are scrambling to build a replacement that leaves little interruption.

 

Legislature unwraps its PIP deal
 
TALLAHASSEE – Florida legislative leaders have unwrapped a deal to
recreate mandatory medical coverage for auto accident victims, as well
as restore the state’s no-fault system.

 

Agents urged to explain Citizens details

Concerned about possible liability, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents has armed its members with a detailed analysis of the coverages provided by a Citizens homeowners policy.

 

Insurance lobbyists warn potential clients about Citizens’ fees

As Citizens Property Insurance Corp., once the state’s carrier of last resort, continues to offer coverage to more and more homeowners, a lobbying group took the unusual step Thursday of publicly bashing the state-run company that has turned into Florida’s biggest home insurer.

 

House Adds Wind Coverage To Flood Insurance

WASHINGTON – Despite a White House veto threat, the U.S. House on Thursday approved a bill that would add wind insurance coverage to an already debt-ridden national flood insurance program.

 

Agreement To Save PIP Won’t Benefit Consumers

With the encouragement of Gov. Charlie Crist, negotiations to rescue Florida’s no-fault automobile insurance law from extinction have been successful, which is not necessarily a good thing for consumers.

 

The Climate Change Peril That Insurers See

Montana is burning again. This summer, some of the nation’s worst wildfires incinerated homes, barns and fences, killing livestock and forcing families to evacuate.

 

Disaster insurance relief faces stiff opposition

Two federal efforts aimed at lowering the cost of homeowners’ insurance in Florida are heading to the House of Representatives floor, but they face opposition from the White House, some sectors of the insurance industry and lawmakers from states not prone to hurricanes.

 

Tax amendment standoff to be focus of budget session

As legislators started closing one of the state budget’s largest holes ever, they were preoccupied Thursday with a multi-billion dollar issue that wasn’t even on the agenda: property taxes.

 

The Offshore Tax Debate – Déjà vu – All over Again

At least that’s how Yogi Berra might describe it. On Sept. 25 William R. Berkley, chairman and CEO of the company of the same name, gave a detailed indictment before the Senate Finance Committee of the iniquities visited upon U.S. taxpayers by “Foreign-Owned Insurers.”

 

Cat Models An Issue For NAIC Confab

An insurers group said when the nation’s insurance regulators meet this week, it will urge them to allow insurers to use the best natural catastrophe loss models available to manage risks.

 

State universities panel okays higher tuition

But that doesn’t assure the 5 percent hike for college classes will necessarily stick.

TALLAHASSEE — Students enrolled in state universities face a $55 increase in their tuition bill for a full load of classes this spring after the Board of Governors unanimously decided Thursday to raise tuition by 5 percent.

 

Donelon Names Clarissa A. Preston Head of Consumer Advocacy

Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon has appointed Clarissa A. Preston Deputy Commissioner of the newly created Office of Consumer Advocacy within the Department of Insurance.

 

Health Bill Approved By Senate

WASHINGTON – Congress on Thursday approved legislation adding 4 million children to a popular health care program, setting up a veto fight that President Bush will probably win but that would hand Democrats a campaign issue for next year’s elections.