Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, September 7

Sep 7, 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

 

10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Investment Committee meeting.  To view the meeting notice, click here.  To view the agenda, click here.

10:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Agent and Agency Services Proposed Rule Hearing; Proposed Rule 69B-221.010 would provide guidelines that distinguish between the specific activities a bail bond agent whose license is under a temporary order of suspension may perform while discharging liability on previously effected bonds, and those actions that shall constitute unlicensed activity.  To view the hearing notice, click here.

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News

 

Catastrophe fund idea lives on

Mother Nature may be dropping some hints in the wake of Hurricane Irene that now could be a good time to create a national catastrophe fund, local leaders say.

 

Blog:  Federal District Court Finds Complaint for Breach of Contract is Sufficiently Pled in Hurricane Wilma Claim

The Southern District Court of Florida recently issued an opinion discussing the amount of detail required to state a claim for breach of contract in Florida in a Hurricane Wilma claim.

 

Brown & Brown, Stahl Announce Acquisitions

Brown & Brown of Central Michigan, Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., has acquired substantially all the assets of Public Employee Benefits Solutions, LLC,  of Saginaw, Mich.

 

2.2 Million Floridians Are Driving Illegally

Hundreds of thousands of drivers rumble over Florida roadways each day.

 

Blog:  Bid protest holds up HMO contracts for state workers

A battle is brewing over the right to offer HMO coverage to state employees.

 

Blog:  Senate Democratic  leader Nan Rich pondering gubernatorial bid

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich said Tuesday she is seriously considering a 2014 run for governor.

 

Florida lawmakers to go over state’s finances

Florida state lawmakers on Wednesday will review a new three-year financial outlook for the state.

 

Growth law challenge leads to recommendation to clarify “unfunded mandates”

A Senate committee is recommending that the Legislature clarify a phrase in the Florida Constitution that has played a key role in a recent local government law challenge.

 

Two Orange circuit judges uphold Florida’s drug statute

Despite a flood of legal paperwork, calling for judges around the state to throw out Florida’s drug statute, two more state trial judges – both in Orange County – have upheld its constitutionality.

 

Florida board wants politicians to pay off fines

A Florida elections panel says that politicians should be barred from campaigning if they owe money to the state.

 

Governor Rick Scott promises to look at transaction fee charged by state’s web-based vending system

Governor Rick Scott, who said he did not know about the 1 percent transaction fee charged by MyFloridaMarketPlace, says he will review the fee after he hears a complaint that the fee is an unfair tax on small businesses.

 

Report says Environmental Regulation Commission should be kept despite limited role

The seven-member Environmental Regulation Commission was established by the Legislature in 1975 but has seen its rule-making role substantially reduced.

 

Ruling that slot machines can be anywhere in Florida reaches appellate court

A circuit judge’s ruling saying that lawmakers can allow slot machines anywhere in Florida is being appealed.

 

State Representative Gaetz bill would let gasoline sellers off the ethanol hook

State Representative Matt Gaetz has proposed the repeal of the Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act.

 

Texas Governor Rick Perry has yet to tap many of Florida’s elite campaign fundraisers

Check out the host committee for Rick Perry’s Florida fundraising swing that starts in Tampa on Tuesday.

 

Blog:  Florida’s Former Chief Finanicial Officer Alex Sink endorses Audrey Gibson in Senate District 1 Special Election                              

Alex Sink, Florida’s former Chief Financial Officer and the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, has endorsed Audrey Gibson in the District 1 special election.

 

Blog:  Here’s where sh*t stands (the Tampa Bay version), from Jack Latvala to Leslie Waters

For many, Labor Day symbolizes the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall.

 

Insurers waive Connecticut hurricane deductibles

Connecticut officials have announced that several more insurance companies have agreed to waive higher-cost hurricane deductibles for coastal property owners whose homes were damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.

 

State Farm home insurance rates exceed most rivals in Dallas area, listing shows

State Farm Insurance is charging some of the highest premiums for homeowner coverage in North Texas despite the company’s repeated claims – in court and the public arena – that its rates are fair and competitive with other major insurers.

 

Study:  Limiting auto insurance would cost jobs

Ending unlimited medical and rehabilitation benefits for people injured in auto accidents in Michigan would save consumers on insurance premiums, but at a significant cost to the state in lost jobs and overall economic activity, according to a report commissioned by opponents of the idea and released today.

 

Texas insurers aim to save money through policy discounts

Coastal homeowners are no strangers to insurance companies raising rates because of losses from disasters like Hurricane Ike.

 

Moody’s Revises Reinsurance Sector to Stable Citing Improved Pricing, Demand

Recent catastrophe losses have provided momentum for reinsurance rates to harden, and demand for reinsurance is expected to pick up leading Moody’s Investors Service to revise the sector’s outlook to “stable” from “negative.”

 

Perspectives:  Surplus Lines Unity Will Come, Advocates Say

Hurricane Irene kept the dueling compacts in the surplus lines implementation battle from holding a summit at what would have been the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ summer meeting last week.

 

 

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