Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, Aug. 15

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Insurer says policies can now transfer

State Farm move is a tiny, positive sign

In one small but significant sign that the homeowners insurance market may be turning, starting today State Farm will resume allowing South Louisiana customers to take their policies with them when they move to a new home.

 

Return of Ross … sortof

A round of new council and committee appointments restores a bit of influence back to Rep. Dennis Ross.

 

Workshop To Focus On Sinkhole Insurance

Two consumer groups are hosting a Saturday workshop to discuss options for Pasco/Hernando sinkhole insurance.

 

Regulators get tough on insurance

3 companies find their proposed rate reductions rejected as too small

The battle between property insurers and state regulators is heating up.

 

Advocate: No-fault end would be chaotic

TALLAHASSEE — Courts will clog with lawsuits and emergency rooms will overflow if Gov. Charlie Crist and lawmakers let the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance law expire in October, a consumer group warned today.

 

It will be Florida’s fault if no-fault disappears

Florida has spent nearly 40 years trying to get no-fault auto insurance right. Now, Florida is very close to getting it wrong.

 

As coastal areas grow, worries about risk arise

GRAYTON BEACH — When property owners decided to build homes on some of Florida’s most vulnerable coastal barriers, they did so knowing their land was too threatened to qualify for federal flood insurance and other government subsidies.

 

National Hurricane Fund Unlikely

WASHINGTON – Tropical Storm Dean is the first real threat of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, and a reminder that Congress has been unable to agree on creating a national fund to help lower home insurance costs tied to hurricanes and other natural disasters.

 

GOP chair urges Allen to consider party

TALLAHASSEE — Republican leaders are gingerly asking Rep. Bob Allen to consider the party’s reputation as he weighs his political future, but they are stopping short of asking him to resign.

 

Q&A: Who pays when no-fault insurance law changes?

Rates may drop, but someone still has to pay. Drivers need to check their policies now.

TALLAHASSEE – After being on the books for 36 years, Florida’s no-fault auto insurance laws that require all drivers to buy personal injury protection, or PIP, are set to end.

 

Louisiana Commissioner Donelon announces plans to abolish PIAL and LAIP

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said today he wants to abolish the confusing and secretive layers of bureaucracy that are part of the management of the troubled insurer of last resort. Donelon said it’s all part of a shakeup and turnaround plan for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. designed to open it up to public scrutiny.

 

As coastal areas grow, worries about risk arise

GRAYTON BEACH — When property owners decided to build homes on some of Florida’s most vulnerable coastal barriers, they did so knowing their land was too threatened to qualify for federal flood insurance and other government subsidies.

 

WC Market Looks Good, RMs Told

ORLANDO , FLA. —Industry experts here have advised risk managers that, aided by new state laws, workers’ compensation insurers are strong despite a recent decline in prices.

 

Bridging The Maintenance Gap

Some of the nation’s bridges need repairs to make them safe, but an emergency-investment plan recently offered by New York Sen. Hillary Clinton would be a bad deal for Florida.

 

RMs Can Help Firms With SOX Compliance

Risk managers can play an important role in complying with corporate disclosures required by the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, though few do today, according to a survey of risk managers taken by a consulting firm.

 

U.S. House lawmaker to offer credit card bill

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) – A New York lawmaker said on Monday she plans to offer legislation to address some of the problems plaguing credit card customers who have been blindsided with interest rate changes and various fees.

 

Small Businesses Develop Disaster Plans

NEW YORK — The disaster preparation plan at the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group was two pages long in 2005, before Hurricane Katrina struck, and dealt mostly with how to use sandbags and plywood to protect a building. Now, the New Orleans restaurant operator has a 68-page book that includes communications and technology plans.

 

Proposal Puts Mangrove Protection At Risk

Almost overlooked in the controversy created by a proposal to get rid of Hillsborough County’s wetlands protection division as a cost-saver is that it is the only local agency charged with – or capable of – enforcing the rule against mangrove cutting.

 

Man Pleads Guilty in Glass-Eating Scheme

BOSTON — A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to his role in a multistate scheme in which prosecutors say he and his wife intentionally ate glass at restaurants and collected more than $200,000 in compensation.

 

N.Y. Extends Workers’ Comp Eligibility Deadline for 9/11 Responders

World Trade Center responders now have another year ? until August 14, 2008 ? to file the paperwork needed to claim workers’ compensation benefits if they become ill in the future.

 

White House Urged to Back SEC’s ‘Scheme Liability’ Position

Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, has asked President Bush to back the Securities and Exchange Commission in its support of plaintiffs in a so-called securities “scheme liability” case.