Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Mar 17, 2015
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
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.–Florida Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance meeting. To view the meeting packet, click here. Agenda includes consideration of the following bills, among others:
- SB 404 relating to Improvements to Real Property Damaged by Sinkhole Activity
- SB 1148 relating to Firesafety
- SB 830 relating to Regulation of Corporation Not for Profit Self-Insurance Funds
- SB 1222 relating to Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services
- SB 1190 relating to Insurer Solvency
Florida Citizens Property Insurance Committee meetings. Maitland, Florida.
- 9:00 a.m.–Market Accountablity Advisory Committee. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; conference ID: 7849939192#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
- 11:00 a.m.–Audit Committee meeting. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; conference ID: 3877541849#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
- 12:30 p.m.–Consumer Services Committee. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; conference ID: 6487811620#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
- 2:30 p.m.–Finance and Investment Committee. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; conference ID: 2478401990#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
- 4:00 p.m.–Actuarial and Underwriting Committee. Teleconference: (866) 361-8575; conference ID: 8632017402#. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Broward judges toss 24,000 red-light camera tickets totaling millions
Two Broward County traffic judges dismissed 24,000 pending red-light camera ticket cases Monday, ruling that the program violates Florida law. Brian Ballou reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Crisafulli rules out state pension changes in 2015
The Florida House of Representatives has abandoned plans to overhaul the state pension plan for public employees, at least for this year, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said Monday. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via WXJT in Jacksonville.
Florida Lawmakers Debate Telemedicine
Will this be the year that doctors in Florida are able to practice medicine using video conferencing? Brian Heaton reports for GovTech.com.
Brightway Insurance Adds Office in Jacksonville, Florida Area
A new Brightway Insurance office has been opened in Orange Park, Insurance Journal reports.
College Concealed Weapons Bill Clears Senate Committee
A controversial measure to allow concealed weapons on university and college campuses cleared the Senate higher education committee Monday. Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Florida workforce chief defends “nightmare” unemployment Website
Despite harsh reviews by the state’s auditor general, Florida’s $77 million unemployment website is working just fine, according to agency officials in charge of the project. Michael Van Sickler reports for the Tampa Bay Times.
Governor’s Tax Cut Takes Another Step
Governor Rick Scott wants to cut over half a billion dollars in taxes in the coming fiscal year—much of that coming from a reduction in taxes on cell phone and cable bills. The plan is moving forward in the Senate. Nick Evans reports for WFSU.
Florida House committee rejects attempts to impose new restrictions on utilities
The House Energy and Utilities Committee voted Monday to increase some accountability of the state Public Service Commission but rejected a series of amendments including one that would have repealed the controversial nuclear fee currently paid by Florida Power & Light customers without any guarantee that a nuclear plant will be built. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Crist won’t run for U.S. Senate in 2016, clearing way for Murphy
Former Governor Charlie Crist will not be running for Senate or any other office in 2016, the Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat announced late Monday on his Facebook page. George Bennett reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Surge of no-party-affiliation voters continues across Florida
The trend of newly-registered Florida voters rejecting both major political parties continues unabated as the combined total of voters known as NPAs (no party affiliation) and minor-party voters has surpassed the total of a major party in 11 counties. The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports.
Fake service-dog bill headed to final committee
A House bill that could land dog owners in jail for passing off their pet as a service dog won another unanimous vote and is now headed to its final committee stop. The Palm Beach Post’s Christine Stapleton reports via the “Post on Politics” blog.
Florida bill would repeal law that bans shacking up
About 1 million Floridians are breaking state law by committing lewd and lascivious acts and a state senator doesn’t want them to be punished for it. The Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Legislative heavyweights slim down as part of Capitol “Biggest Loser” competition
Modeled after the popular TV series the Tallahassee Biggest Loser Contest encourages those in the legislative process –either lawmakers ore employees in the Capitol — to lose weight. SaintPeterBlog.com’s Christine Jordan Sexton reports.
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance CEO Resigns Unexpectedly
The chief executive officer of state-backed Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. abruptly resigned following a closed session of the insurer’s board of directors to discuss personnel matters, Insurance Journal reports.
North Carolina Bill Pushes Post-Event Finance, Catastrophe Model Changes to Avoid Reinsurance
Legislation introduced last week in the North Carolina legislature would seek to alter the state’s residual pool to shift the focus away from reinsurance purchases to post-event bonding. RiskMarketNews.com reports.
Insurance Information Institute’s Bob Hartwig Responds to ProPublica on Workers’ Compensation
Joan Collier’s WCI360.com carries the exclusive response by Insurance Information Institute’s Bob Hartwig to articles by ProPublica and NPR on the workers’ compensation industry–a must-read for all stakeholders.
Feds: Texas Company’s Guardrails Meet Safety Standards in 8 Crash Tests
Federal officials said that a guardrail system found on many U.S. highways met safety standards in crash tests that followed accusations they have speared cars. The Associated Press’ Jamie Stengle reports via Insurance Journal.
California Commissioner Names New Insurance Diversity Task Force
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Monday announced the members of the 2015-2016 Insurance Diversity Task Force, which will make recommendations to Jones on ways to increase diversity in procurement and governing boards within the insurance industry. Insurance Journal reports.
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