PIP! PIP! Hooray!

August 21, 2007 | 3 Comments

A number of news outlets — and a few other blogs — have written about the end of PIP in Florida. “PIP” - no, not a Dickens character - is the requirement that all drivers carry personal injury protection as part of their auto insurance. In fact, this is really all that is [...]

Jul

9

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part IX: Financial Services & Insurance

July 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Insurance
HB 1381 makes changes pertaining to the regulation of insurance agencies, agents and adjusters under the authority of the Department of Financial Services. Passed 117-0 and 40-0.
HB 743 makes a number of changes to the Florida Trust Code, including limiting the power of a trustee to distribute principal in some cases and expanding the power [...]

Jul

7

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part VIII: Health Care

July 7, 2007 | 1 Comment

Health Care and other health related issues tend to be a major component of each Legislative Session.
Health Regulation
HB 543 authorizes pharmacists to administer flu shots to adults and creates the Task Force for Study of Biotech Competitiveness to develop proposals for bringing flu vaccine manufacturing and distribution companies to Florida. Passed 93-22 and 33-5.
HB [...]

Jun

26

Governor Crist to Sign Students’ Bill in Tampa Friday

June 26, 2007 | 2 Comments

The State of Sunshine has written about this on several occasions, and the program really is “One of the best Ideas I’ve Ever Seen.”

House of Representatives
Kevin C. Ambler
District 47
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: JENNA LABADIE, LEGISLATIVE AIDE
June 26, 2007 PHONE: (813) 558-1333
Governor Charlie Crist to Sign “Ought to be a Law” Student [...]

Jun

20

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part VII: Transportation & Economic Development

June 20, 2007 | 1 Comment

Economic Development
SB 1974 creates the Agency for Enterprise Information Technology within the Executive Office of Governor. Passed 39-0 and 119-0.
HB 83 the “Florida Capital Formation Act” - requires Enterprise Florida to facilitate the creation of the Florida Opportunity Fund to increase availability of seed capital and early stage venture equity capital for emerging companies [...]

Jun

19

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part VI: Elections

June 19, 2007 | 1 Comment

There was one major elections bill that passed this year, and it contained a lot of provisions. A few, less extensive bills passed dealing with citizen initiatives.
HB 573 is the major election package. It’s provisions include:

requiring voter registration organizations, including political parties, to submit voter registrations in a timely manner;
setring the presidential preference primary [...]

Jun

18

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part V: Veterans & Military Affairs

June 18, 2007 | 2 Comments

The number of bills affecting active military service members and veterans has dwindled over the years, as the Legislature runs out of ways to support the military. Heck, we do a GREAT job of that now.
Here are the bills that passed this year:
HB 981 among state park provisions, this bill provides free admission to [...]

Jun

4

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part IV: Public Safety & Judicial System

June 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment

A number of bills are filed every year that deal with law enforcement, public safety, and Florida’s court system.

Law Enforcement & First Responders
SB 1030 increases court cost assessed against anyone convicted of violating state penal or criminal statute or convicted of violating municipal or county ordinance, requires defendants to pay all outstanding criminal costs and [...]

May

30

No Veto for HB 7203 (Growth Management Bill)

May 30, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Jim provides an excellent overview of the provisions of this growth bill below.
I’ve been following the debate on this with interest. The major opposition that has formed centers on the provision allowing certain municipalities (all of Pinellas and Broward counties, along with Tampa, Hialeah, Miami and Jacksonville) to follow an alternative state review program [...]

May

29

Florida Legislative Session Review - Part III: Environment

May 29, 2007 | 1 Comment

Once area that is challenging in Florida is the balance between protecting natural resources while allowing for both the significant growth we are experiencing and the desire for people to enjoy those resources. This is one area where many bills are filed every year.
Growth Management
HB 7203 is a bill dealing with comprehensive planning. [...]

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