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Today is Day 57 of the 60-day session of the Florida Legislature.

House passes bill to fix home insurance problems

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 2, 2006

The House on Monday passed a bill aimed at expanding the number of companies selling home insurance in Florida, encouraging housing upgrades and helping all homeowners absorb the cost of bailing out those who can't get private insurance.

The measure (HB 7225), which still needs Senate approval, would use $920-million to offset Citizens Property Insurance's deficit after paying claims on eight hurricanes in two years. That would help all Florida homeowners, who otherwise would see larger assessments on their insurance bills to cover the shortfall.

The proposal also would put $500-million into a program to strengthen homes to be able to better withstand hurricane winds.

But the long-term fix envisioned by supporters of the bill is to attract more insurance companies to Florida. It would in part allow companies to boost rates by an average of up to 5 percent without regulatory approval.

Sen. Frederica Wilson missed Monday's legislative session after suffering bruises in a mugging over the weekend in Miami.

The Miami Democrat, who is executive director of the office of alternative education and dropout prevention for the Miami-Dade County school system, was leaving the building where she works when she was attacked and her purse taken.

"I felt my arm just lifted up and twisted. It was like whiplash," Wilson told the Miami Herald . "As he runs away, I yell: "Mister, I'm on your side!' That hurts me so hard."

The culprit was not caught. Wilson said she lost no money.

A bill that would have given prosecutors the final word in closing arguments in cases where the defense doesn't present evidence except for the defendant's testimony was defeated in the Senate - but then revived.

The prosecutor in most cases makes a closing argument and then gets to offer a rebuttal to the defense's argument. The procedure is reversed when the defense fails to present any evidence other than the defendant's testimony. That sometimes gives defendants an unfair tactical advantage, said those favoring the bill (HB 147), which would have repealed a procedural rule set by the Florida Supreme Court. Opponents said the Legislature shouldn't be deciding what court rules should be.

The chamber voted 25-11 for the bill, but it required two-thirds - 27 votes - to pass because it would have repealed a court rule. The bill, however, was revived by a motion for reconsideration. A new vote is expected today. It passed in the House 85-31 last week.

Legislation to create new medical schools at the University of Central Florida in Orlando and Florida International University in Miami passed 32-5 in the Senate.

The sponsor, Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, said they would help alleviate a doctor shortage.

The medical schools also are in a broader bill (HB 1237), which also creates a new technology scholarship program, that has passed in the House.

[Last modified May 2, 2006, 01:56:04]