Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, March 15
Mar 15, 2013
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 2013 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
9:00 a.m.–Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association meeting. Lake Mary, Florida. Agenda includes review of claims provider performance in claims handling. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Small versus large insurers’ fight over Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund plays out on Senate panel
A Cat Fund fight broke out at the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Thursday, as small, Florida-based insurance companies fought with larger carriers and reinsurance companies over two approaches to the state’s reinsurance coverage.
- Blog: Storm Brewing In The Senate Over The State’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
- THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Senator Ring Seeks to Redirect Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
Citizens Property Insurance rates differ in high-risk areas
While Florida lawmakers negotiate and debate reforms for Citizens Property Insurance Corp., a rallying cry centers around eliminating the discounted rates paid by many homeowners in high-risk areas, such as hurricane-prone South Florida.
Florida Property & Casualty Association Recommends Defeat of House Bill 1107
House Bill 1107 proposes to reduce the catastrophe reinsurance provided by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to insurance companies writing homeowners insurance in Florida from $17 billion to $14 billion over a period of three years
Court Upholds Florida Sinkhole Insurance Loss Rule
A Florida court has upheld a decision by state insurance regulators that property insurers must offer sinkhole loss coverage in an amount equal to the dwelling coverage limit.
Florida Lawmakers Confront Cost of Improving School Safety
The mass school shooting in Connecticut led officials to question if more should be done to beef up security in Florida’s public classrooms.
Blog: House Looks To Dim Red-Light Cameras
While not pulling the plug on the controversial devices, a House committee Thursday approved a bill that would place more restrictions on how cities and counties use red-light cameras to police busy intersections.
Senator simulates accident to show why texting ban is needed
A state senator attempted to text and drive in the Capitol Wednesday — and hit two deer.
Florida Representative Fasano calls for public engagement on Medicaid expansion
A Republican representative is calling on Florida’s residents to help persuade his fellow GOP lawmakers to extend Medicaid coverage to nearly a million Floridians who have no health insurance.
Lawyer says Florida missing out on millions by ignoring bail bond law
Could Florida be missing out on millions of dollars in revenue?
In perhaps the first official fraud-shaming initiative, CFO Jeff Atwater will be releasing Florida’s “top dim-witted fraud criminals” throughout the month of March.
In light of federal probe lawmakers push for Internet sweepstakes café ban
The blockbuster news of a federal investigation into Internet sweepstakes café nonprofit Allied Veterans of the World and the arrests of its executives, which sparked the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll, could lead to a complete ban of the storefronts that offer video-like slot games.
- Internet cafe probe snags dozens, could doom industry in Florida
- Blog: Legislators dash to distance themselves from illegal gambling
- Carroll does not believe she’s under investigation
Florida Ethics Commissioner to Legislature: Close Loopholes
The Florida Senate recently passed Senate Bill 2, a wide-ranging piece of ethics legislation.
House, Senate take differing pension paths
The House and Senate are taking widely divergent tracks in revamping the Florida Retirement System.
Senators want a study on sick leave
A Senate committee voted Thursday to create a statewide task force on employee medical leave policies to preempt ordinances approved by city and county governments.
In Dolphins bill fight, lawmakers tangle over banking and incentives
A battle between legislators and Governor Rick Scott over economic incentives is seeping into a push to get public financing for the Miami Dolphins’ SunLife Stadium.
The Villages leads growth in Florida
New U.S. Census estimates show that the retirement mecca of The Villages was the fourth fastest-growing community in the United States during the past two years and the fastest-growing one in Florida.
Blog: Another Charlie Crist donor headed for jail
U.S. Attorney Robert O’Neill announced that today that Lee County real estate broker Greg Eagle, who is the father of state Representative Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud, one count each of mail fraud and wire fraud.
Animal lovers: Do you want to know what shelters do with the dogs, cats and other critters they house on the public’s behalf?
Louisiana’s Citizens Property Insurance CEO Retiring
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Chief Executive Officer Richard Robertson says he plans to retire June 1.
Louisiana Governor: Texas Brine Agrees to Sinkhole Buyouts
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says a Texas company blamed for the sinkhole that formed after the collapse of an underground salt cavern has agreed to provide settlement offers, which include buyouts, to the residents of the Bayou Corne community in Assumption Parish who were forced to evacuate the area as a result of the massive sinkhole.
Texas Lawmaker Scolds Insurance Industry over Coastal Coverage
A state senator in Texas is taking the insurance industry to task for what he perceives as its disinterest in coming up with new approaches to solving coastal windstorm insurance issues.
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