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CS/HB 359 — Regulation of Insurance Companies
by Commerce Committee and Rep. Santiago (CS/CS/SB 454 by Appropriations Committee; Banking and Insurance Committee; and Senator Brandes)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Banking and Insurance Committee (BI)
The bill makes several changes relating to the regulation of insurance companies. The bill:
• Deletes the future repeal of the exemption of medical malpractice insurance premiums from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund assessments. Under current law, the exemption is repealed May 31, 2019.
• Allows an insurer issuing only renter’s insurance, tenant’s coverage or cooperative unit owners insurance to maintain a surplus of $10 million to do business in the state.
• Removes the requirement that all members of an audit committee for an insurer must be free of any relationships that could interfere with the member’s independent judgement.
• Allows Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association surcharges to be counted as insurer assets if those surcharges are paid to the Association before the surcharges are collected from the insureds.
• Removes the requirement on insurers writing certain lines of medical malpractice insurance to make a full rate filing annually; these insurers will have the option to certify their rates with the Office of Insurance Regulation.
• Renames “owners and encumbrance” reports to “property information” report and clarifies such reports are not title insurance.
• Allows electronic checks and drafts as acceptable methods of payment for specified lines of insurance and allows insurers to charge a $15 insufficient funds fee.
• Specifies display requirements for the electronic delivery of documents.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 117-0