Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, January 27

Jan 27, 2012

 

To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below.  Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events

 

Florida’s 2012 Regular Legislative Session

  • Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
  • Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

Citizens Property Insurance bill passes Subcommittee  

A proposal to shift more of the financial burden of a catastrophic hurricane on the backs of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers passed the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations on Thursday.

 

Storms grow 3 months after hurricane season ends

Nearly three months after the 2011 hurricane season ended, storms are still growing stronger and one has even grown into a major hurricane.

 

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty:  Getting Back to Basics–Fixing the Personal Injury Protection Problem

Florida’s leaders showed tremendous vision by enacting the first-in-the-nation motor vehicle no-fault laws that became effective in 1972.

 

House panel votes down bad-faith bill

Lawyers obtained a victory Thursday as a House panel narrowly defeated a measure intended to curb bad-faith lawsuits against insurers.

 

Florida Supreme Court Sinkhole Decision

A sinkhole breach of contract case was remanded to the lower court in Warfel versus Universal Insurance Co. of North America.

 

Texting while driving ban moves closer to Senate floor

Senator Nancy Detert’s legislation to ban texting on cell phones while driving moved a step closer to getting a vote from the full Senate Thursday, as it passed quickly through the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations, garnering just one negative vote.

 

Nurses association sues to block prison health-care outsourcing

The Florida Nurses Association, which represents nurses and other health-care workers in Florida prisons, is making similar arguments to those brought by the Police Benevolent Association — that lawmakers do not have the authority to order privatization in budget proviso language through a process other than the one outlined in statute.

 

U.S. Senate panel holds Tampa hearing on Florida election law

Two Democratic U.S. senators will hold a hearing in Tampa Friday to focus on what they say are problems with Florida election laws, and the timing and location are no coincidence.

 

Senate panel warms to Governor Rick Scott’s tax plans

The governor wants to increase the business tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000, and to exempt the tangible personal property tax for the first $50,000 in property.

 

Governor Rick Scott’s workforce, unemployment bills get smooth Senate panel ride

Bills to give Governor Rick Scott more power to fire leaders of the 28 local workforce boards throughout the state and to rename and reform Florida’s unemployment compensation system passed unanimously Thursday through the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee.

 

Rig owner shielded by BP contract, judge rules

The rig owner involved in drilling the ill-fated well that blew out in the Gulf of Mexico and spewed more than 200 million gallons of oil will not have to pay many of the pollution claims because it was shielded in a contract with well-owner BP, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

 

Blog:  Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi proposal on timeshare fraud passes key committee

A top priority of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s, a bill to crack down on timeshare fraud, passed a key Senate committee Thursday by a 10-0 vote.

 

Volusia County development decision exposes growth law changes, opponents say

An administrative law judge this week issued a recommended order backing the Farmton development with 23,100 homes proposed on 59,000 acres.

 

Bill to Unleash Greyhounds Clears Senate Committee

A bill to decouple greyhound racing from dog track casinos advanced Thursday after a Senate panel rejected a “poison pill” amendment.

 

Efforts for Long-Term National Flood Insurance Program Extension Intensify

Efforts are underway to jumpstart Senate action on a long-term National Flood Insurance Program extension.

 

Texas Insurance Commissioner Kitzman’s Statement Regarding Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Actuarial Review

Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman of the Texas Department of Insurance issued this statement following the decision today of the TWIA Boardto retain a consulting actuary.

 

Puerto Rico Implements State Based Systems

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced the State Based Systems implementation for Puerto Rico.

 

 

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