Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, March 18
Mar 21, 2011
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 2011 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. Agenda includes a review of claims provider performance in claims handling. To view the meeting notice, click here.
State lawmakers push ahead with bill that allows 30 percent insurance rate hike
Florida lawmakers have resurrected a bid to let insurers raise their rates without much interference from state regulators, contending as they did two years ago that giving insurance companies such discretion will help stabilize the state’s fragile property insurance market.
Plan to plug Hillsborough landfill’s sinkhole: $5.4 million, 15 months
As Hillsborough County officials this week unveiled a $5.4 million, 15-month plan to plug a massive sinkhole at the Southeast County Landfill, some residents who viewed the presentation took the opportunity to say, “I told you so.””Why was the landfill built here in the first place?”
The atrocious run of hurricanes we suffered through in 2004 and 2005 has been followed by an almost unnatural period of calm.
Editorial: Insurance policy rewired
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. made a decision in the best interest of Florida homeowners by allowing homes with aluminum wiring to be insured if they meet certain requirements.
FCCI Insurance names Craig Johnson CEO
Craig Johnson will become president and chief executive officer of FCCI Insurance Group, transitioning into the positions as G.W. Jacobs prepares to retire on May 31.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Red light camera repeal gets the green light
A House committee on Thursday gave a green light to a repeal of the statewide law approved last year that lets cities put up red light cameras, reports the News Service of Florida
Blog: Docs attack trial lawyers over expert witnesses
The Florida Medical Association launched a website today that aims to get Florida’s physicians involved in the FMA’s efforts to pass medical liability reform. DoctorsForTortReform.com encourages physicians to support House Bill 479, a substantial medical liability reform bill supported by the FMA.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Shairi Turner named acting state surgeon general
Pediatrician Shairi Turner, a deputy secretary at the Florida Department of Health, has been named acting state surgeon general – filling a job that has been vacant since Governor Rick Scott took office in January,
Blog: Let the sunshine in – Scott’s office unveils a Right to Know website
The office of Governor Rick Scott has come under fire from the media for dragging its feet in responding to public-records requests – some dating back to January remain unfilled – but a new website is opening up state payroll and retirement records for easy online searching.
Panel votes to add three justices to high court
The Florida Supreme Court would get three new justices and be split into civil and criminal divisions in an effort to speed up death-sentence appeals under a constitutional amendment approved Thursday by the House Justice Subcommittee.
Governor would gain more control over judiciary under new House proposal
House releases another piece of legislation aimed at the judicial branch that would give governor more say over judicial appointments.
Hispanics powered Florida’s population growth since 2000, census shows
A boom in Hispanic residents during the past 10 years drove most of Florida’s population growth to a total of 18,801,310, according the U.S. census 2010 count released Thursday.
House bill would raise retirement age
A House committee rewrote Governor Rick Scott’s pension reform plan Thursday by raising the retirement age of all workers, including police officers and firefighters, and rejecting his call for ending defined pensions for new workers.
Proposal for new consolidated state agency comes under fire
Senator Don Gaetz, R-Destin, asked members of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee for criticism and advice on his 623 page draft bill that collapses three state agencies into a super department called Jobs Florida.
Scott talks free trade during visit to Panama
On his first trade mission Thursday, Governor Rick Scott talked with Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli about prospects for increased commerce though a free-trade agreement and expansion of the Panama Canal.
Column: Bill frees professions from state regulation
Atlas Shrugged on Tuesday as the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee passed a bill that dips Florida’s toes in the sea of libertarianism.
South Florida utilities could get reprieve on when they have to stop piping sewage into ocean
Six sewage treatment plants in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties discharge about 300 million gallons of sewage per day into the Atlantic Ocean.
State may have nearly 25,000 acres of land it doesn’t need
Initial review by state comes up with thousands of acres of land that could be sold. But almost none of the 24,555 acres identified for possible sale was purchased for conservation, Mike Long, deputy director of Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of State Lands, said Tuesday.
Jury selection for Sansom trial begins Friday
Nearly two years have passed since a Leon County grand jury indicted Ray Sansom for allegedly misappropriating $6 million in state funds.
Illinois insurance head to lead Federal Insurance Office
The Obama administration has named Illinois Insurance Director Michael T. McRaith to head the new Federal Insurance Office.
2010: Number Of U.S. Companies Posting Combined Ratios Over 100 Triples
A dozen more U.S. insurance and reinsurance companies observed by Fitch Ratings posted a combined ratio over 100 in 2010 compared to 2009.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Regulation Spells Out Authority Over Troubled Insurers
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has issued an interim final regulation dealing with the liquidation of a troubled non-bank financial company, including an insurer.
Insurance Commissioner Donelon reduces Louisiana Citizens rate request
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said Thursday he is optimistic the board of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will go along with a 6.5percent average rate increase for policyholders, 2.5 percent lower than the company originally sought.
Legislation Would Smooth Insurer Reimbursements To Medicare
Legislation has been introduced in the House that would clarify industry reporting requirements under an existing controversial law that requires reimbursement to Medicare for payments made to people who are also paid later through workers’ compensation or liability claims.
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