Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, February 22
Feb 22, 2010
Note: 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:
Bill would require septic tank inspections
More than 3,400 septic tanks have been installed in Bay County over the last decade.
City of Palm Coast Receives Good News On Flood Insurance Rates
Flood insurance premium rates for City of Palm Coast property owners are now available at a greater discount, resulting from the city putting “responsible floodplain management practices” in place, the city announced.
Governor Crist Appoints Three to the State Emergency Response Commission
Governor Charlie Crist today announced the following appointments:
Recent cold costly for Florida government
Cracked roads, water pipes among problems created by Florida’s cold weather.
From repairing cracked roads to keeping cats and dogs reasonably cozy, the unrelenting cold weather of recent weeks is going to cost government agencies money at a time when many are short of cash.
Deal of the Week: MGA Insurance Lease
MGA Insurance signed an 11-year lease to occupy a building at Flagler Station in Miami.
Shutter industry hurting in Lee County
Four slow hurricane seasons in a row and the collapse of new home construction in Lee County are ravaging the area’s storm protection industry.
Man accused by Tampa church of insurance fraud arrested in similar deal
A Palm Beach Insurance broker accused by a Tampa church of running a fraudulent life insurance scheme was arrested earlier this month on similar fraud charges.
Red-light cameras: Violators in West Palm Beach run risk of fines
For the first time in Palm Beach County, a city with red-light cameras says it has started handing out real fines as of Sunday.
Health official: Florida lawmakers must ‘take some action’ to curb growth of pain clinics
Despite new rules targeting the pain management industry, unscrupulous clinics that supply narcotics traffickers and addicts will keep spreading across Florida unless lawmakers enact tougher restrictions immediately, according to a top state medical official.
Former Speaker Sansom resigns House seat on eve of ethics trial
Ray Sansom resigned from the Florida House of Representatives on Sunday night, a dramatic decision on the eve of an ethics trial by his colleagues over his dealings with a Panhandle college.
New GOP Chair Thrasher orders a look at Florida’s Republicans’ books
New leader of Florida’s Republicans wants to clear money matters.
After being chosen Saturday to lead Florida’s Republicans, state Sen. John Thrasher called for an investigation into the party’s finances.
Will Democrat’s funding advantage triumph in special election for Florida House 58 seat?
Tuesday is election day in Tampa.
Marco Community Bank in southwest Florida shut and sold to new owners
State regulators on Friday shut down Marco Community Bank on Marco Island off Naples in southwest Florida. Federal receivers then sold the one-branch operation to Mutual of Omaha Bank of Nebraska.
In Florida capital, jobs are top worry
Florida lawmakers want to encourage hiring
Florida legislators will enter the 2010 session repeating the same thing as politicians all across the country: “Jobs, jobs, jobs.”
More than 20,000 Floridians each week stand to lose unemployment benefits unless Senate acts
Election year adds twist toFlorida’s legislative session
Gov. Charlie Crist wants tax cuts for businesses and consumers, Senate President Jeff Atwater is making government spending more transparent and Sen. Dave Aronberg wants tighter rules for pain management clinics to help ensure they aren’t run as pill mills.
Florida senators caught in rum war
Yo, ho, ho and a lot of bottles of rum.
Florida’s two senators are taking heat for taking sides in an expensive and increasingly divisive rum war between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Florida rule proposed to help oystermen
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has proposed a draft rule amendment to help oystermen adjust to pending new restrictions on the time they can harvest and transport oysters.
Turmoil: Power struggles and scandals could add up to missed opportunity
Republicans are riding high following surprise electoral wins in the Northeast, President Barack Obama’s slipping popularity and unexpected retirements in the U.S. Senate that give the GOP new hope of regaining control of Congress.
Florida Congressional Candidate Wilkinson Still Chasing Debate
As the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield could have said of Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson, he just “can’t get no respect,” at least from the front-runner for the Republican nomination for the 12th Congressional District.
Florida child welfare gets new system
Two years ago, following state scrutiny over the disappearance of a Florida foster child, Gov. Charlie Crist remarked that society does a better job of tracking packages than children.
Florida hasn’t complied with new sex offender tracking law yet, but is getting there
One. That’s how many states in the U.S. have fully complied with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act of 2006.
Editorial: Innocence panel could improve justice in Florida
People working in the criminal-justice system often become hardened to claims of innocence.
Allstate Drops Mobile-Home Coverage along South Carolina Coast
An Allstate spokesman says the company will no longer insure mobile homes along the South Carolina coast.
Hanover to Exit Louisiana Homeowners Market, Then Re-Enter
In a move he says will prevent the addition of policies into Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s book of business, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has approved an agreement with The Hanover Insurance Group that will keep Hanover’s 14,000 Louisiana’s homeowners insurance customers in the private insurance market.
Louisiana Judge Halts Rule on Licensing for Tire Insurance
A state district judge has granted Louisiana’s auto dealers’ and tire stores’ request to temporarily stop the state from forcing them to become licensed insurance agents in order to sell tire-and-wheel road hazard coverage.
No Plea Deal for Ex-Insurance Executive in Louisiana
Terry Lisotta, who was indicted in late 2008 on 14 counts of theft by fraud from the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., was unable to work out a plea deal with prosecutors Feb. 18.
California Regulator Considering Regs to Alleviate Underinsurance
The California Department of Insurance is considering proposing new regulations governing standards and training for estimating replacement value on homeowners’ insurance.
California clinic’s owners plead no contest to workers comp fraud in $60 million claims
Two California medical clinic owners have pleaded no contest to charges of compensation or inducement for referring clients for profit in connection with a scheme authorities said involved filing $60 million in workers compensation medical liens and bills.
PCI Unveils Systemic Risk Report
PCI today unveiled a new report by a global, independent research organization which concludes that a financial institution’s asset size should not be the primary determinant of systemic risk, as such a measurement can have major negative economic consequences, cost jobs and increase systemic risk if used in financial services reform legislation.
Sebelius Unveils New Report on Requested Premium Increases in States Across the Country
Report Highlights Requested Rate Hikes in Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington
“Over the last year, America’s largest insurance companies have requested premium increases of 56 percent in Michigan, 24 percent in Connecticut, 23 percent in Maine, 20 percent in Oregon, and 16 percent in Rhode Island, to name just a few states”
The earth is warming.
Florida insurance-related bills filed on Monday, February 22:
HB 1181 Relating to Public Adjusters by State Representative Janet Long
Would prohibit public adjusters from making specified employment solicitations and specified unsolicited written communications. Would provide exception requirements, revise prohibited solicitations and prohibited charges by public adjusters. Would specify required information in public adjuster contracts and bar specified personal lines of residential coverage insurance claims subject to specified notice requirements. Would provide for non-applicability to specified civil actions limitations. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
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