Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Judge Tells Louisiana to Reconsider Health Insurance Contract
Jun 23 2010 // A judge on June 21 ordered the state of Louisiana to reconsider its award of a contract to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to administer the HMO health plan for state workers, retirees and their dependents. Humana...
UK Regulatory Consultant Analyzes Financial Services Regime Change
Jun 22 2010 // The UK’s new Chancellor (Finance Minister) George Osborne has announced plans to fundamentally reform the way financial services, including insurance, are to be regulated [See IJ web site –...
Lawmakers Seek Funds for Study of Tennessee Floods
Jun 22 2010 // U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander say they would secure funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to produce a detailed report of the May flooding in Tennessee. Cooper issued a statement saying he had been...
Judge’s Approach to Curbing Malpractice Suits Gets $3 Million
Jun 22 2010 // To settle medical malpractice lawsuits, Judge Douglas McKeon sometimes quietly listens to heartbroken family members vent their anger. He calls it “humanness.” Curiosity about medical matters led the longtime...
Rush to Electronic Health Records Could Increase Liability Risk
Jun 22 2010 // Although the benefits of bringing information technology to health records can be substantial, electronic health records (EHR) systems also give rise to increased liability risks for health care providers due to possible...
Lawmakers Say Insurance Reform Veto Will Cost Oklahoma Agencies
Jun 22 2010 // Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma say a gubernatorial veto will keep numerous agencies, including some of the state’s largest, from saving millions in health care costs. Legislation that supporters say would have...
BP Partner Anadarko Places All Blame for Oil Disaster on BP
Jun 21 2010 // As BP Plc rushed to raise cash to pay for the Gulf of Mexico disaster, a partner in the out-of-control well said the British company was likely guilty of “willful misconduct” and should shoulder the financial...
Michigan Court Rules Liability Waivers for Kids Do Not Bar Lawsuits
Jun 21 2010 // A parent’s signature doesn’t waive the legal rights of a child who is hurt at play, the Michigan Supreme Court said in a decision that has consequences for businesses, schools and other groups offering...
Hawaii Insurance Commissioner Schmidt Resigns
Jun 21 2010 // Resignation is One of Many in West The latest in a series of resignations among western insurance regulators, J.P. Schmidt, Insurance Commissioner of the State of Hawaii, will be leaving his position to join the Honolulu...
Florida Allows XL Re to Operate Under Lower Collateral Rule
Jun 18 2010 // Florida officials have agreed to allow Bermuda-based reinsurer XL Re Ltd. to participate in Florida’s insurance marketplace under rules calling for reduced collateral. According to the Florida Office of Insurance...
North Carolina Might Ease Fireworks Safety Law for July 4th
Jun 18 2010 // A state law passed after the July 4 blast on Ocracoke Island that killed four fireworks handlers mandated safety training for those who prepare the displays, but some warn the rule could limit fireworks shows this...
New York Agents Urge Defeat of Auto Insurance Reform Bills
Jun 18 2010 // A trade group for New York agents is urging lawmakers to defeat a bill it says would weaken the state’s no-fault auto insurance system by expanding juries’ role in deciding whether a lawsuit can proceed. The...
Calif. Lawmaker Edges Ahead in Insurance Commissioner Contest
Jun 18 2010 // A California lawmaker is leading the close contest to become the GOP’s nominee for California Insurance Commissioner, but the outcome is still far from certain. Assemblyman Mike Villines of Clovis was winning as of...
FSA Chairman Comments on UK Gov’ts Plans for Regulatory Reform
Jun 17 2010 // A bulletin from the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) indicates that its Chairman, Lord Turner, has “welcomed the changes to financial regulation outlined by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Mansion...
UK Finance Minister to Propose New Regulatory Scheme
Jun 16 2010 // The UK’s new Finance Minister, George Osborne, looks set to announce on Wednesday sweeping new powers for the Bank of England to police the financial sector and prevent another credit crisis. In his first...
Obama Demands BP Set Up Independent Account for Oil Claims
Jun 16 2010 // President Barack Obama, seeking to demonstrate strong leadership on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, will demand today that BP set aside billions of dollars to pay damages from the catastrophe. A day after he vowed to fight...
Federal Judge Approves $72M Insurance Settlement with The Hartford
Jun 16 2010 // A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement under which The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. will pay $72.5 million to more than 21,000 people nationwide who alleged the insurer engaged in fraud in...
Revamp of Oklahoma Workers’ Comp System Signed by Governor
Jun 15 2010 // Legislation intended to improve the Oklahoma workers’ compensation system for injured workers was signed into law June11 by Gov. Brad Henry. The governor’s signature on the measure also reduces by one the...
Judge: Louisiana Attorney General Can Investigate BP
Jun 15 2010 // Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has been told he can go ahead with his investigation of BP, the rig explosion that’s dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and the company’s process for compensating...
Court Rules in Favor of Calif. State Compensation Workers
Jun 15 2010 // About 7,900 employees of California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund are entitled to back pay after a state appeals court ruled in their favor over furloughs. The First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco...
