Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, June 13

Jun 13, 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

 

 

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Presidential Search Committee meeting;   Teleconference:  (888) 942-8686; participant code:  5743735657#.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.–Citizens Board of Governors meeting;   Teleconference:  (888) 942-8686; participant code:  5743735657#.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

9:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services Proposed Rule Hearing;   During the 2011 Florida Legislative Session, Section 626.207, F.S. was amended to change the way that the criminal history of an applicant affects an application for insurance agent licensure.  Proposed amendments would conform Rules 69B-211.041 and 69B-211.042, F.A.C., entitled “Effect of Law Enforcement Records on Applications for Licensure,” to the revised statute.  To view the hearing notice, click here.

10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (“FWCJUA”) Board of Governors meeting.  To view the meeting notice, click here To view the agenda, click here.

 

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

 

Florida Citizens Property Insurance Interim President Tom Grady Not Among Finalists for Permanent Replacement

During a Presidential Search Committee meeting this morning, June 13, 2012, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Interim President Tom Grady was rejected as a finalist in the search for a candidate to fill State-run insurer’s President and Chief Executive Officer position.

 

Governor Scott to Florida Insurance Agents:  There’s More Work Ahead

Florida has made a good start on addressing some of the state’s most pressing insurance issues such as pursuing ways to depopulate the state-backed homeowners insurer and reforming the no-fault auto insurance law, but more remains to be done, says Governor Rick Scott.

 

Lawmakers to hold round table on Citizens insurance rates

As Citizens Property Insurance Corp. considers another plan to raise rates, two lawmakers want the public and industry officials to talk about ways to avoid skyrocketing premiums.

 

Disaster-Area Status Sought for Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties

In a letter late Tuesday, Northwest Florida legislators asked Gov. Rick Scott to immediately declare water-ravaged Escambia and Santa Rosa counties natural disaster areas.

 

United Insurance names Raymond James’ John Forney as CEO

The board of directors of United Insurance Holdings Corp. appointed John Forney as CEO.

 

Lessons learned from a hurricane:  Businesses with a plan have won half the battle

Hurricane Charley disrupted Dan Gladman’s business like a loud, early-morning alarm.  “Things were going great. We had so many employees, so many jobs, and then, boom,” said Gladman, owner of Gladstone Inc, which installs precast stone moldings, columns and ornaments.

 

Editorial:  Insurers at risk

Gov. Rick Scott and Florida’s legislative leaders have frequently sounded alarms over the potential insolvency of the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

 

Will PIP changes work? State pays firm to find out

The Florida Legislature enacted sweeping changes to the state’s no-fault auto insurance law this year in hopes of reducing premiums. Now the state will pay private actuaries to determine whether it will work.

 

Governor Scott defends voter purge on national media

The governor went on national television and radio to defend his efforts to purge noncitizens from voter registration rolls. Political science professors question whether the purge is worth the effort.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  Pension-contribution fight taking shape before Supremes

With Republican legislative leaders and the Florida League of Cities already weighing in, Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet officers have asked the state Supreme Court to approve a plan requiring public workers to chip in money to the state pension system.

 

Florida Senator Norman ends his re-election bid

Sen. Jim Norman withdrew his name from the ballot for Senate District 17 on Tuesday. He faced a GOP primary battle with Rep. John Legg, former Rep. Rob Wallace and security consultant John Kronkus.

 

NRA survey takes aim at sheriffs association 

The National Rifle Association and Unified Sportsmen of Florida are surveying sheriff candidates in Florida on whether they’re willing to take a stand against the very association that will represent them in the Capitol if they win.

 

With water fears rising, Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Ann Shortelle picked to lead Suwannee River water district

Shortelle becomes the third DEP official to take over a water management district in the past 13 months. She denied rumors of a DEP takeover of the districts, saying she applied for the job because she loves the district.

 

Education conference expects decline in Florida public school enrollment

Although Pomp and Circumstance may still be echoing in school auditoriums across the state, about 200,000 kindergarten-age children are expected to be enrolled at public schools. 

 

Political season brings storms of different kind

The hurricanes forming in the Atlantic aren’t the only stalkers Floridians face heading into summer and fall. There’s another brutal season brewing: Presidential elections.

 

Climate Change Will Boost Number of U.S. West’s Wildfires

Climate change will make wildfires in the U.S. West, like those now raging in parts of Colorado and New Mexico, more frequent over the next 30 years, researchers reported on Tuesday.

 

New York Times:  New York Seeks New Rates for Force-Placed Insurance

New York State is demanding that insurers that write policies to cover financially troubled homeowners submit new rate proposals after hearings last month showed companies charged too much for the coverage.

 

Insurance Policies May Be Limited in Crane Collapse

New York’s top court says misrepresentations on insurance forms by the operator of a crane involved in a deadly collapse four years ago could also limit coverage for the developer and builder.  The accident killed seven people in midtown Manhattan.

 

 

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