Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, May 29
May 29, 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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Proposed Rule Hearing. Proposed amendments to Rule 19-8.028 would adopt the 2012-2013 FHCF Reimbursement Premium Formula and 2012-2013 FHCF Reimbursement Premium Rates. In addition, obsolete language has been removed and, in paragraph (4)(d) of the proposed Rule, the title has been clarified and new language has been added to allow scheduled personal property with a limit equal to, or exceeding $10 million dollars, and which predominantly covers one or more collectible types of property to be exempt from FHCF coverage. To view the hearing notice, click here.
1:00 p.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Rates and Forms Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
2:00 p.m.–Florida Division of Driver Licenses Proposed Rule Hearing. Proposed repeal of Rule 15A-3.009, which requires every insurer issuing an automobile Personal Injury Protection insurance and property damage liability coverage binder in Florida, or to a Florida resident, to furnish a standard binder for the purpose of vehicle registration to the named insured. To view the hearing notice, click here.
Governor Rick Scott: “Jacksonville has done a great job”
Governor Rick Scott, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown and other public officials briefed the media around 3:15 p.m. Monday afternoon.
State Representative John Tobia: Return Citizens Property Insurance to original intent
Re state Senator Anitere Flores’ May 20 Other Views column, Where are our savings?: In 2002, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation was created as an insurer of last resort.
Quality of Life: Handling the pitfalls of insurance
Item 12 on the Citizens Property Insurance Company’s Frequently Asked Questions section on its website asks: How do I know whether my policy excludes sinkhole coverage?
20 years after Hurricane Andrew, troubling parallels
Letter to the Editor: The Florida insurance lobby is the winner by a knockout
The first blow of a one-two punch landed on the jaws of Florida homeowners in 2008, when home prices in Florida dropped as a result of mortgage defaults caused by banks lending people money for houses they could not afford.
Court Nixes Florida Award for Injury Before Policy Purchase
A Florida appellate court has reversed a $6.25 million judgment against an insurance company because it was for an injury that occurred four days before coverage was obtained.
Judge to hear arguments on prison health care privatization
In the coming weeks, Tallahassee judges will hear arguments in two court cases that will test the limits of lawmakers’ power to order outsourcing in the state budget.
Heading into Memorial Day weekend, Florida beach water had less bacteria testing
The Florida Department of Health in September scaled back testing from weekly to every other week, although a few counties continue to test more often.
Florida Legislators set to toughen identity theft law
State legislators say they are determined to change the law to make it easier to crack down on tax refund fraud.
Florida agency warns of proposed Brevard County wetland plans
State environmental officials say Brevard County proposals that would allow more development on wetlands could devastate the natural filters of the St. Johns River and other waters.
Amid redistricting, many former Florida lawmakers seek return to office
A lot of former Florida lawmakers want their old jobs back.
State Representative Rachel Burgin says she will indeed run for the state Senate seat being vacated by her friend, Ronda Storms.
Florida Representatove Rich Glorioso of Plant City is strongly tempted to stop running for Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections and instead enter the race to replace Senator Ronda Storms, who’s leaving to challenge a porn-vexed property appraiser.
Pasco County businessman Wiltson Simpson now runs unopposed in Florida Senate District 18
County Commissioner Dave Russell admits he considered a state Senate bid.
Florida senator from Fort Myers gets a blurb from ex-Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Lizbeth Benacquisto, the state senator from Fort Myers, continues to be a favorite among Republican leaders in Florida.
Blog: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi not getting married this weekend (yet)
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and her fiance are waiting a few more weeks to tie the knot.
Expect Bigger Political Spending from Florida Chamber, Associated Industries Florida
There should be little surprise that the state’s largest and most authoritative business advocates expect to be as — or more — engaged in the 2012 election cycle than they were in past campaigns.
Ocala remains a refuge for Floirda’s new surgeon general
Florida’s new surgeon general is a globe-trotting Army brat who spent time in exotic locales like Cambodia and Hawaii, has studied at Princeton and the University of Virginia and has practiced medicine from one end of Florida to the other.
National Weather service director retires after critical investigation of agency
The director of the National Weather Service has retired after an investigative report found senior staff members at the agency had misdirected millions of dollars and operated “outside the bounds of acceptable financial management.”
58 percent Wind Rate Boost by Louisiana’s Last Resort Insurer
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. plans an average rate increase for wind-only policies of 58 percent, sparking an argument among top state officials on whether the increase is legal.
NIMA Accepts Compromise to Implement NRRA Tax-Sharing Provision
The Non-Admitted Insurance Multi-State Agreement has adopted the revenue-sharing agreement of a rival compact in an apparent effort to jumpstart creation of a uniform system to implement a premium-tax-sharing component of the federal surplus-lines reform law.
Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer litigation nears end
A class-action settlement agreement has been reached to resolve nearly all the remaining court claims over allegations that government-issued trailers exposed Gulf Coast residents to hazardous fumes after Hurricane Katrina, a lead plaintiffs’ attorney said Monday.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com