Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, October 10
Oct 10, 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
There are no Florida insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Citizens Property Insurance slows loan program, wants independent review
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. officials were poised to sharpen the details of a loan program aimed at getting private companies to take over their policies, but instead responded to calls from lawmakers to conduct a more thorough review of the program.
Citizens Property Insurance board delays OK on $350 million loan to private insurers
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Tuesday opted to temporarily delay approval of a controversial $350 million loan to private companies, but also indicated it might not comply with a request from a top lawmaker calling for legislative review of the program.
Editorial: Proposed tax would make insurance even costlier
Twenty years ago, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida with wind speeds averaging 145 miles per hour, eventually destroying some 63,000 homes and damaging 82,000 businesses, more than 32,000 acres of farmland, 59 healthcare facilities and 31 public schools.
Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation Deputy Chief of Staff Gets Expanded Role
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty announced last week that Rebecca Matthews, deputy chief of staff at the the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, will direct the government affairs initiatives, which includes both legislative and cabinet affairs
Blog: Democrat Frank Bruno, Republican Dorothy Hukill Q & A Tackles Citizens Property Insurance
How should Florida approach problems associated with property insurance, particularly the state’s exposure to hurricane damages through Citizens Property Insurance?
Florida Governor Rick Scott Stays Out of Citizens Property Insurance Tuft
The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors is trying to reduce its risk by forcing out some of its 1.4 million customers.
Pizza shop slowly sinking into ground in downtown DeLand
A depression in a major downtown DeLand intersection is giving a pizza shop owner a sinking feeling.
State Farm Insurance request would increase Florida No-Fault rates
Insurance giant State Farm Mutual says it would like to increase the personal injury protection portion of its automobile policies by 22 percent, but it’s willing to settle for 7.9 percent to comply with recent legislation aimed at reducing skyrocketing insurance costs to drivers.
Blog: Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater — 1st PIP filing may have created disappointment
Lawmakers passed massive changes to the state’s no-fault auto insurance policy this past spring, promising that rates would go down.
Florida police bust drivers with fake insurance documents
Deputies and officers from more than 70 law enforcement agencies in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties areaparticipating in an operation that targets motorists with invalid insurance or fraudulent proof.
First meningitis death confirmed in Florida
State health officials on Tuesday confirmed the first Florida death linked to a national fungal meningitis outbreak.
Florida House Speaker-designate Weatherford taps Representative McKeel as budget chair
Incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford sent a memorandum to House members Tuesday announcing he has named Representative Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater told reporters Tuesday that it would not have been his choice for the state Republican Party to get involved in the merit retention of three Supreme Court Justices.
Blog: Wage theft law considered in Broward
A controversial wage theft law designed to help employees get their paychecks moved forward Tuesday with the tentative support of a majority of county commissioners.
Florida Governor Rick Scott said he wants more cash for teacher training
Governor Rick Scott continued his new-found focus on education Tuesday, announcing that he would seek $2 million from next year’s Legislature to finance a teacher training program.
Florida Chamber Focuses on State’s Restraints, the Things That Hold It Back
Despite a vast increase in consumer confidence, growth in exports and improved unemployment numbers, Florida still has a lot of work cut out to grow and attract business or get people more involved in their community.
Tennessee Regulators Say Insurers Weighing Shift in Roofing Policies
Tennessee regulators observed that in recent months, some property/casualty insurers in the state have filed to expand or shift their roofing policy terms to include actual cash value policies.
Alabama Regulator OKs New Insurance Certification Form for Auto Dealers
Alabama Insurance Commissioner Jim L. Ridling issued a bulletin last week approving the use of a new “insurance certification form,” MVD-1, that is designed for licensed motor vehicle dealers and others.
Insurance executive gives another $8 million to California initiative
Billionaire insurance executive George Joseph has donated another $8 million to his November ballot initiative in California.
New Texas MGA to Focus on Residential Properties
A new managing general agency – Mission Select Insurance Services, LLC – has been formed in Texas with a focus on residential property.
Advocates say insurance costs strain homeowners
Phyllis Nelson — a widow whose home on the Mississippi coast disappeared with Hurricane Katrina — leafs through family portraits, the only things she took with her when she evacuated.
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