Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, August 11
Aug 11, 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
(CANCELED) 10:00 a.m.–Florida Surplus Lines Service Office National Clearinghouse Committee meeting. Agenda includes issues pertaining to the proposed national surplus lines tax clearinghouse. To view the meeting notice, click here.
11:00 a.m.–Florida Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services Rule Development Workshop. Proposed Rule 69B-221.155 would adopt four forms to be used by the bail bond industry. To view the hearing notice, click here.
Florida Eases Surplus Lines ‘Due Diligence’ Rule for Agents
Florida insurance agents should have an easier time placing commercial policies with surplus lines carriers under a new law that allows them to offer the coverage without first scouring the admitted market for the coverage.
Hernando group organizes trip to protest Citizens Property Insurance increase
United Communities of Hernando County has organized a bus trip to the rally/meeting that is in protest of the proposed 471-percent sinkhole insurance rate increase by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
Opinion: Sinkhole changes impact owners
Sinkholes have become a major issue for both Florida property owners and insurance companies.
Insurance rates may go down with new Marco Island Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps
Many Marco Island single-family homeowners could see their property Insurance rates drop as a result of changes in the federal flood insurance maps.
Advocates, doctors concerned about prenatal care access in state Medicaid overhaul
As Florida waits for approval from the federal government before moving forward with its plans to overhaul Medicaid, patient advocates remain concerned about problems with prenatal care access that plagued a five-county pilot program similar to the new statewide measure.
Gun law legal challenge shot down by Florida Medical Association
The Florida Medical Association has agreed to do something it hasn’t in the past: Defend Florida physicians in administrative challenges.
Governor Scott getting low-cost health insurance from Florida
Governor Rick Scott, a critic of the federal health care overhaul, is paying less than $400 a year for health Insurance for himself and his wife.
Big insurer shakes up mental-health field
Some mental health providers say they will no longer treat Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida patients in light of a “surprising” letter they received from the company last week.
Associated Industries of Florida chief resigns
Barney Bishop, a former chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, has resigned his position as one of the top business lobbyists in Tallahassee: President of Associated Industries of Florida.
People-to-people tours to Cuba take off Thursday
Liane and Tom Young got interested in Cuba through listening to the Buena Vista Social Club, the best selling Cuban album in history, and the allure of the island’s famed cigars.
Groups call on lawmakers to finish redistricting work by January
Several groups who backed the Fair Districts constitutional amendment renew their complaints about how the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature is handling redistricting.
Plunge shrinks state pension fund’s value by $8 billion
Political drama in Washington and the ensuing turbulence on Wall Street has cost Florida’s state retirement fund $8 billion in market value since the end of July.
Lawsuit filed against Florida Governor Scott on textbook changes
A volunteer group formed out of concern about terrorism will sue Governor Rick Scott today for what it deems a threat to public schools: New textbook adoption policies.
Before State Department rerouted contested parts of elections bill, feds sought more information
The Florida Department of State recently rerouted the approval process for the four most controversial provisions of the state’s new elections law.
Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos: Why Florida Received High Marks From Standard & Poor’s
While politicians in Washington, D.C., struggle with our nation’s debt, out-of-control spending and the recent downgrade in our nation’s credit rating by Standard & Poor’s, Florida received an upgrade from the same credit rating agency from negative to stable.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary coming to Florida today
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Florida today to tour the Winding Waters Wetland Preserve in West Palm Beach and to announce several Everglades restoration projects.
A good season for Florida citrus growers
Florida citrus growers enjoyed an unusually good 2010-11 citrus season in both the grove and the pocketbook.
Another round in Ten Commandments fight hits Florida
The folks who live in this sparsely populated rural region along Florida’s upper west coast don’t like outsiders butting in, especially when it comes to their religious beliefs.
New York Times: Debt Deal Reopens Debate on Climate Catastrophes
A provision in the recent debt ceiling legislation that has sparked debate on how the U.S. will pay for skyrocketing catastrophe losses.
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