Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On June 7, 2019, Governor DeSantis signed HB 673, the bill to equalize payment for long term care insolvencies by the Florida Life & Health Guaranty Association (FLAHIGA). The bill took effect on June 7th, its signing date. The bill is patterned on the NAIC model act for funding…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On June 7, 2019, Governor DeSantis signed HB 1247 which takes effect on October 1, 2019. The bill primarily deals with construction bonds, however, there is a surety insurance provision in it. That provision applies Florida’s one-way attorney fee law to suits brought by contractors against a surety insurer…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Language in a large construction bill relating to construction defect claims was approved by Governor DeSantis on June 7, 2019 when he signed HB 447. Starting July 1, 2019, the language provides that a notice of claim pursuant to chapter 558 does not toll any statute of repose.
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Following a rule workshop and Advisory Council meeting on May 30, 2019, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) is proceeding with changes to administrative rules and forms to implement the increase in loss adjustment expense (LAE) reimbursement set out in HB 301 which just passed the Legislature. Under the…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On May 24, 2019, HB 337, the bill to increase the county court jurisdictional threshold, was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The bill also includes a provision moving up the effective date of the attorney fee provision in the AOB bill. The court jurisdiction part of…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Governor Ron DeSantis signed the AOB reform bill, HB 7065, on May 23, 2019, one day after receiving the bill on his desk. The bill makes significant changes to assignment of benefit agreements in an effort to curb costs and litigation in property insurance claims. One of the most…