Bill Text: FL S1462 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Powers of the Consumer Advocate
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S1462 Detail]
Download: Florida-2011-S1462-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2011 SB 1462 By Senator Hays 20-00890-11 20111462__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the powers of the consumer 3 advocate; amending s. 627.0613, F.S.; deleting a power 4 of the consumer advocate relating to the preparation 5 of an annual report card grading personal residential 6 property insurers; providing an effective date. 7 8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9 10 Section 1. Section 627.0613, Florida Statutes, is amended 11 to read: 12 627.0613 Consumer advocate.—The Chief Financial Officer 13 must appoint a consumer advocate who must represent the general 14 public of the state before the department and the office. The 15 consumer advocate must report directly to the Chief Financial 16 Officer, but is not otherwise under the authority of the 17 department or of any employee of the department. The consumer 18 advocate has such powers as are necessary to carry out the 19 duties of the office of consumer advocate, including, but not 20 limited to, the powers to: 21 (1) Recommend to the department or office, by petition, the 22 commencement of any proceeding or action; appear in any 23 proceeding or action before the department or office; or appear 24 in any proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings 25 relating to subject matter under the jurisdiction of the 26 department or office. 27 (2) Have access to and use of all files, records, and data 28 of the department or office. 29 (3) Examine rate and form filings submitted to the office, 30 hire consultants as necessary to aid in the review process, and 31 recommend to the department or office any position deemed by the 32 consumer advocate to be in the public interest. 33(4) Prepare an annual report card for each authorized34personal residential property insurer, on a form and using a35letter-grade scale developed by the commission by rule, which36grades each insurer based on the following factors:37(a) The number and nature of consumer complaints, as a38market share ratio, received by the department against the39insurer.40(b) The disposition of all complaints received by the41department.42(c) The average length of time for payment of claims by the43insurer.44(d) Any other factors the commission identifies as45assisting policyholders in making informed choices about46homeowner’s insurance.47 (4)(5)Prepare an annual budget for presentation to the 48 Legislature by the department, which budget must be adequate to 49 carry out the duties of the office of consumer advocate. 50 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.