Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, March 5
Mar 5, 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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Long-Term Care Managed Care Technical Advisory Workgroup meeting. Continued discussion on the Medicaid eligibility process. Teleconference: (800) 407-7939; conference code: 53784757. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:00 a.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Board of Governors meeting. Teleconference: (888) 942-8686; participant code: 5743735657#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.–Senate Session
- HB 245 relating to Depopulation Programs of Citizens Property Insurance by State Representative Jim Boyd
- HB 4087 relating to the Repeal of a Workers’ CompensationIndependent Actuarial Peer Review Requirement by State Representative Ben Albritton
1:00 p.m. until conclusion–Florida House of Representatives Session
- HB 963 relating to Dispute Resolution by State Representative Shawn Harrison
1:30 p.m.–Citizens Chief of Internal Audit Search Committee meeting. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; participant code: 3877541849#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
An otherwise uncontroversial bill received a new wrinkle Saturday when a bid to reduce the size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, known as the Cat Fund, was added to the legislation by Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales.
Join the Survey: Say Something Nice About Florida’s Insurance Market
So much that is said and written about Florida’s insurance climate is negative. Is there anything good to say about Florida’s insurance market?
Citizens Property Insurance changes produce sharp rise in complaints
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which covers nearly one of every four Floridians, has been making some of them very unhappy.
Hurricane Center head discusses storm forecasts
The director of the National hurricane Center, Bill Read, and other leading forecasters are in South Carolina for a conference on improving hurricane forecasting.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said Friday he’s open to returning in a special session if the state’s low-cost auto coverage isn’t resolved by the end of next week, when the regular session is scheduled to end.
Florida to spend money for interstate warning signs
Florida lawmakers racing against a looming deadline agreed on Sunday night to deep cuts to hospitals and other health care programs as part of their effort to reach a deal on a new state budge
Florida doctors get law training to improve patient care
Here’s a place you might not think to go to for legal advice: your doctor’s office.
Key health care issues bumped to budget chairs
House and Senate negotiators got closer than ever on health care spending plans Friday evening, but have yet to agree on key budget items such as hospitals, nursing homes, mental health and substance abuse.
Florida legislators grapple with big budget decisions in final hours
Racing against the clock, legislators labored Sunday to settle spending differences and agree on a $70 billion budget with five days left in the session.
- Buckle up for legislative session’s frenzied final week
- Budget chairs pass on education, health care but agree to economic incentives sought by Governor Rick Scott
- Governor Rick Scott Playing Bigger Role Behind the Scenes this Session, Lawmakers Say
State worker drug screenings bill tests positive in Florida House
State workers could be randomly tested for drugs under legislation passed by the Florida House on Friday.
Study: Counties that didn’t implement new elections law had greater early voting turnout
According to newly-released research, Florida’s controversial new elections law affected early voting turnout in this year’s presidential primary, despite claims from proponents of the bill that it would not negatively affect accessibility of early voting.
Blog: Supporters mobilize against lawmakers’ decision to close Hillsborough Correctional Institution
Legislative leaders decided in weekend budget talks to close Hillsborough Correctional Institution in Riverview, the state’s only faith- and character-based prison for women.
Blog: Who are the most influential Democrats in Florida?
We recently put an intriguing question to participants of the Tampa Bay Times Florida Insider Poll, entirely uncertain whether a consensus would emerge: Who are the three most influential Democrats in Florida?
Grounded by Rick Scott, Cabinet members learn how to travel Florida without a state plane
After logging 220,000 miles, Florida’s chief financial officer said it was finally time to say goodbye to his Honda minivan “Blue Steele.”
Legislature proves friendlier than fights in court
Two years ago, a powerful business trade group filed a lawsuit against the state’s largest county, Miami-Dade, arguing that its program to help workers recover unpaid wages was unconstitutional.
5 biggest questions of 2012 session answered
There’s one week to go and most signs (absent some meltdown ala the 2011 session) are that Florida lawmakers will have everything wrapped up by March 9.
Industry Expresses Concern over Broadening SERFF for Regulatory Purposes
The unilateral decision by officials of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to broaden the use of the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing to include regulatory purposes is coming under strong fire from industry trade groups.
Cities, counties, homeowners – who is responsible for wildfire prevention?
Fifty years ago, a lightning strike could spark a big fire in the wooded areas outside of Austin that could naturally clear out underbrush and dead vegetation.
Proof of insurance? Lawmaker wants an app for that
California drivers seeing flashing lights in their rearview mirror may soon be reaching for their smartphones instead of putting them down.
Court Revives Securities Case Involving Foreign vs. Domestic Transactions
A federal appeals court has breathed new life into a lawsuit accusing a Beverly Hills broker-dealer of defrauding nine hedge funds out of nearly $200 million through
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