Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2018)–The Florida House is sending a clear message early in the legislative session that Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse is hurting consumers and must be addressed immediately. Now is the time for the Senate to follow the House’s lead and do what is right for Florida’s consumers. The Consumer Protection Coalition…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A bill to provide more disclosure to homeowners about the lack of flood coverage in their property insurance policy passed its first House committee on January 10, 2018. A strike all amendment (#818499) and two technical amendments to the strike all (#193917 and #302883) were adopted by the…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 7012 reenacts and saves from repeal the public records exemption in current law for proprietary business information provided by insurers in the private market to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation for use in the Citizens Clearinghouse. The information is provided by insurers to the Citizens Clearinghouse and used to…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A property insurance bill, SB 1652, filed by Sen. Tom Lee (R- Brandon) on January 5, 2018 requires insurers to inspect hurricane damaged property within 45 days of notice of the claim, restricts an insurer’s ability to deny or limit payment of hurricane related claims, and restricts an insurer’s…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A third AOB bill emerged in the Senate on December 7, 2017. The bill, SB 1168, was filed by Sen. Steube who was tasked by Senate President Negron to handle the AOB issue in the Senate this year. Previously filed AOB bills are: SB 62 by Sen. Hukill…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 678 requires leases to specify whether the renter is required to purchase renters insurance and if so, the required coverage. The bill also requires a lease to provide information about the benefit of purchasing renters insurance if the lease does not require purchase of such. The Senate Banking…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 299, filed for the 2018 Session, reduces the number of members on the Florida Building Commission because the bill sponsor feels it has too many members. The bill passed its first committee on November 15, 2017 and has only one committee left. The Building Commission implements and adopts…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House Judiciary Committee heard and passed the House AOB bill, PCB JDC 18-01, filed for 2018. One amendment (PDF) removing the examination under oath (EUO) provision from the bill was proposed, but was defeated on a voice vote after the bill sponsor indicated the amendment was unfriendly. The…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House Judiciary Committee released a committee bill on AOB reform on November 7, 2017. The bill will be heard and voted on at the Judiciary Committee meeting next week, on November 14, 2017. Thus, it seems like AOB reform is being fast-tracked by House leadership this year. …
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Advisory Council (Council) for the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF or Fund) met on October 26, 2017 and learned the FHCF is still financially strong despite losses to the Fund from Hurricane Irma. During the meeting, the Council received and approved the October Claims Paying Capacity Estimates…