Four Insurance-Related Bills To Be Heard in April 12 House Jobs and Entrepreneurship Council

Apr 11, 2007

The Florida House of Representatives Jobs and Entrepreneurship Council is scheduled to meet on April 12, 2007.

During this meeting, four insurance-related bills and proposals currently moving through the legislative process are expected to be discussed:

  • HB 111 by Rep. Galvano relating to Nonresident Title Insurance Agents
  • HB 1267 by Rep. Robaina relating to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
  • HB 1105 by Rep. Patronis relating to Cystic Fibrosis Treatment
  • HB 1429 by Rep. Grant relating to Workers’ Compensation

Below is a brief description of each of these bills. Also, we have included the bills’ status in relation to its assigned Committees, as well as that of the corresponding Senate companion bills as each moves through its respective committee process.

 

HB 111 by Representative Galvano relating to Nonresident Title Insurance Agents provides that in order to be licensed as a nonresident title agent, an individual must pass an examination and complete continuing education requirements. The bill also repeals the prohibition against a title insurance agent rebating or lowering the agent’s share of the title insurance premium. The bill further repeals the prohibition against an agent charging less than actual cost for closing services. Finally, the bill repeals the requirement that the title insurer or agency must maintain a record of the related title service charges made for issuance of the policy.

This is HB 111’s last Council of reference. Its companion, SB 636 by Senator Lawson, has been referred to two committees but has not been heard.

 

HB 1267 by Representative Robaina relating to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) amends the laws regarding Citizens. The bill provides intent language emphasizing the need for affordable insurance to be provided by Citizens, authorizes Citizens to offer multiperil and wind-only coverages in its high risk account beginning July 1, 2007, provides that applicants for coverage from Citizens are not ineligible for coverage based on the availability of coverage from an authorized insurer or surplus lines insurer, prohibits a Florida domestic residential property insurer that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of an insurer authorized to conduct business in another state from getting a certificate of authority, and provides for the expiration of such insurance subsidiaries.

HB 1267 has one additional Council of reference in which to be heard. Its companion, SB 2498 by Senator Garcia, passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on April 9, 2007 and has two more committees of reference. We anticipate that a strike-everything amendment will be filed to conform the House version of this bill to that of the Senate’s.

 

HB 1105 by Representative Patronis relating to Cystic Fibrosis Treatment requires group health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations to provide medically-necessary chest physiotherapy provided by a licensed respiratory therapist, and certain other services if medically necessary in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

HB 1105 has one additional Council of reference in which to be heard. Its companion, SB 274 by Senator Margolis, passed two committees and has one more committee of reference.

 

HB 1429 by Representative Grant relating to Workers’ Compensation amends several laws governing the Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (JUA). This bill changes the appointment process of JUA Board members, subjects JUA meetings and records to the public records and public meetings law, requires the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to approve the JUA’s plan of operation, adds procurement policies requiring competitive bidding for procurements over $ 25,000 and a vote of the board for those over $ 100,000, requires the JUA to use the surplus in former subplan C to fund JUA deficits before assessing employers in the voluntary market, requires the JUA to refund premiums to their policyholders if the OIR disapproves the rate, adds ethical and financial disclosure standards for board members and JUA employees, sets a time period during which the JUA is allowed to assess employers in the voluntary market for deficits, rather than an indefinite period, and requires the JUA to apply to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status by January 1, 2008.

HB 1429 passed the House Insurance Committee and has one more council of reference. Its companion, SB 2276 by Senator Bennett, has been referred to three committees but has not been heard.

 

 

The above is a brief summary of the proposed legislation on the House Jobs and Entrepreneurship Council’s agenda and is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of any particular bills.

Our representatives will continue to monitor the progress of these bills and meetings and provide you with additional information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact this office should you have any questions or comments.

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