Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, February 25
Feb 25, 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:
Blog: Battle Brewing Over Public Insurance Adjusters
Florida’s three major insurance trade groups are lining up behind legislation to restrict how public insurance adjusters operate.
Lee appraiser gets far more than state, feds
The state Department of Health is investigating why there is such a wide gap between the number of defective drywall cases reported to the agency versus the numbers being reported to county property appraisers.
Chinese drywall bankrupts construction firm
Chinese drywall has driven a South Florida construction company into bankruptcy.
PCI Supports Bipartisan Florida Legislation On Hurricane Claims
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) supports House Bill 1181 and Senate Bill 2264, which would reduce the window for filing hurricane claims from five years to three.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Slip and Fall Bill Gets Hearing Next Week
One minute you’re strolling through the produce aisle at the grocery store, trying to decide whether those cantaloupes look good.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Cities Still Waiting for Movement on Red Light Cameras
A court decision this week banning the city of Aventura from ticketing red light runners caught on camera is one of the first decisions on whether or not the cameras can be used in Florida, but other municipalities are still waiting for some form of statewide guidance on the issue.
Red-Light Cameras on Legislative Agenda
More than 50 cities in Florida have installed cameras at busy intersections to catch red Light runners, even though a 2005 opinion said the cameras, while illegal, could not be used to fine motorists.
Judge cuts $300 million Florida smoker’s lawsuit award to $39 million
Concluding a jury was moved by emotion rather than hard evidence, a judge today reduced $300 million in damages awarded to a Florida smoker against Philip Morris USA to nearly $39 million.
Florida Trial Lawyers on High Alert for Slip and Fall, Child Safety Waivers
Trial lawyers will be paying close attention to two issues in particular during the legislative session.
When legislators convene this month in Tallahassee, among the most interested observers will be the state’s trial lawyers.
Florida Blues seek hikes in premiums
With health insurers nationally facing increased scrutiny about rate hikes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is seeking double-digit increases for policies it sells to individuals and small businesses.
Former Florida Speaker Allan Bense named chairman of Florida military council
Former House Speaker Allan Bense expects a new statewide military advocacy council to take an active role in securing state and federal support for Florida’s bases.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Rivera Congress Bid Official, but Mario Diaz-Balart Better Known
Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, made his expected entry Thursday into the Congressional District 25 race to replace fellow Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, who plans to switch districts to run for the safer seat being vacated by his brother Lincoln.
2010 Florida Legislative Preview: Setting the Table
A look at the key issues that will shape the next session, which starts in March.
Florida lawmakers will face a multitude of challenges when they return to Tallahassee in March.
McCollum Highlights Priorities for 2010 Legislative Session
Attorney General Bill McCollum today highlighted his priorities for the upcoming 2010 Florida Legislative Session, concentrating on issues concerning government transparency and accountability, public safety, and consumer protection.
Cell towers attract politicians
Cell phone tower opponents might get some political help in their fight against new structures.
Florida GOP U.S. Senate race may hinge on history
Florida to offer a funhouse-mirror U.S. Senate race.
Former Florida House Speaker states his innocence in letter to the House
Former House Speaker Ray Sansom said Wednesday he was hounded out of the Legislature by a partisan Democratic attack — aided by a Republican rival chairing a special committee that investigated him.
McCollum sees progress on Fla. gangs
Florida has about 1,100 criminal gangs with nearly 49,000 members, Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday.
Alex Sink pushes ethics reform
Florida gubernatorial candidate calls for gift bans and investigative power
The state Commission on Ethics should have broad investigatory powers and gifts from lobbyists to state officials should be banned, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink proposed in a new ethics reform package Wednesday.
CFO Sink Announces Nearly $1 Million in Savings Through Lease Opitimization Initiatives
Working with landlords, moving to state-owned facilities produces big savings
Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced projected taxpayer savings of nearly $1 million from re-negotiation of current and future lease contracts by her Department of Financial Services, and from moving state employees from privately leased space to state-owned facilities.
Crist restocks water board with backers of his Everglades restoration plan
Environmentalists who favor Gov. Charlie Crist’s monumental Everglades restoration land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. saw the odds of success improve Wednesday, when Crist named two allies and re-appointed a third to the board of the South Florida Water Management District, in advance of another crucial vote on the half-billion-dollar purchase.
Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Hosts Mortgage Fraud Summit In Miami
Representatives of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force met in Miami today for the first of a series of Mortgage Fraud Summits.
U.S. House Passes Repeal of Health Insurers’ Antitrust Exemption
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to take a 65-year-old antitrust exemption away from health insurance companies, leaning hard on an industry that has been the focus of criticism for fast-rising rates.
Property-Casualty Industry Joint Statement on Passage of H.F. 4626
David A. Sampson, president and CEO of the Property Casualty Insurers of American and Leigh Ann Pusey, president and CEO of the American Insurance Association issued the following joint statement today regarding H.R. 4626, the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act.
SEC delays plan to adopt international accounting standards
U.S. securities regulators Wednesday delayed plans to allow domestic companies to use international accounting standards because it will take businesses at least four years to switch to new rules.
Architect Not Liable for Economic Loss in Construction Defect Case
A property owner cannot sue an architectural firm for economic losses because of negligent design in a construction defect case, the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled.
PCI Urges IAIS to Protect Insurers from Bank-Focused Regulatory Framework
As the International Association of Insurance Supervisors’ Technical Committee meets in Basel, Switzerland this week to discuss systemic risk as it relates to insurers and lessons learned from the financial crisis, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America will urge the supervisors to carry to bodies such as the G20 and the Financial Stability Board the message that insurers should not be regulated like banks.
Many States Vague On Surplus Lines Compensation Rules
Rules for disclosure of compensation arrangements between insurance brokers and surplus lines insurers are ill defined, according to an industry trade group representative.
Disaster Awaits Cities in Earthquake Zones
As he surveys the streets of this sprawling mega-city, Mustafa Erdik, the director of an earthquake engineering institute here, says he sometimes feels like a doctor scanning a crowded hospital ward.
Team in Colorado Makes Quick ‘Shake Map’ to Guide Rescuers to Likely Victims
Seismologist Susan Potter’s computer sounded a gentle chime on a recent afternoon, alerting her to a sizeable earthquake somewhere in the world. She tapped on a keyboard to pinpoint where.
Florida insurance-related bills filed on Thursday, February 25, 2010:
SB 2440 Relating to Liability Releases by State Senator Mike Bennett
Would redefine the term “non-spectators” to include a minor on whose behalf a natural guardian has signed a motorsport liability release and provide that a motorsport liability release signed by a natural guardian on behalf of a minor is valid. Would authorize natural guardians to waive, in advance, claims for injuries arising from risks inherent in an activity and provide a statement that must be included in the waiver. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
SB 2400 Relating to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles by State Senator Andy Gardiner
Would require that additional information be included on the short-form crash report and deletes provisions authorizing counties to establish traffic-record centers. Would require that drivers of certain commercial motor vehicles slow before crossing a railroad grade and provide that aggressive careless driving is a moving violation. The bill also would revise the provisions governing special license plates issued to federal and state legislators. Effective Date: October 1, 2010
HB 1341 Relating to Property Insurance by State Representative Bryan Nelson
Would revise capital funds requirements for domestic insurers and separate filing requirements and criteria. Would apply solely to residential property insurance. Would specify the publication responsibilities of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) and revise requirements for provision by the OIR of specified information on the Internet. The bill also would extend the date requirement for the OIR to develop and make publicly available hurricane mitigation measure methodologies for insurers. The bill would delete specified reporting requirements of the Board of Directors of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. It would provide criteria, requirements and procedures for changes in insurance policy terms, notice form requirements, acceptance of changes in policy terms and would revise specified replacement cost requirements for losses for insured dwellings and personal property. The bill also would repeal a provision relating to a database of information relating to sinkholes. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
HB 1317 Relating to Community Associations by State Representative Maria Lorts Sachs
The bill would provide and revise various provisions relating to community associations, including insurance requirements, fire alarm systems, definitions, duties of owners and associations, meetings, officers, governance and fines. It would create a “Distressed Condominium Relief Act” to provide regulatory provisions relating to bulk assignees and bulk buyers and repeal a provision relating to public elevators and emergency operation plans in certain condominiums and multi-family dwellings. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
HB 1315 Relating to the Florida Retirement System by State Representative Perry Thurston
The bill would redefine the term “special risk member” and revise criteria for membership in a special risk class to include court deputies. It would provide legislative findings that this legislation fulfills an important state interest. Effective Date: July 1, 2010
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