TALLAHASSEE -- Rejecting two proposals from Gov.-elect Charlie Crist, a state panel on Wednesday endorsed a series of property insurance reforms that could be taken up in a special session as early as next month.

But even supporters of the proposals say they need to do a better job of quantifying the savings for consumers if the reforms are to be passed.

"I think we need to have some specificity," said state Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, one of the members of the governor's Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee.

Alexander said he believed the reform package, which included 50 recommendations, could offer relief to homeowners and businesses that have seen escalating property insurance rates caused by eight hurricanes hitting the state in 2004-05 and resulting in $36 billion in insurance losses.

But he said lawmakers may be reluctant to act in a special session as early as the week of Dec. 4 unless they get more details on how the changes would actually impact the cost of property insurance.

"We don't have definitive actuarial data as to the savings," he said.

Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, who headed the study panel, agreed that state leaders want to attach some specific savings to proposals like encouraging the construction of more storm-hardened homes.

"I think it's going to be very important to know if I do this, I get this," she said.

Conspicuous in their absence in the recommendations from the panel were two proposals advanced by the state's next governor during his recent campaign.

Crist said he would provide relief to consumers by ending "cherry picking" by insurance companies that sell property insurance in other states but only sell other lines of insurance in Florida, such as auto coverage.

Crist also said he wanted to curb the use of Florida-based subsidiaries by major insurance companies that don't take into account all their losses and gains nationally.

But the proposals were rejected by the committee, with members questioning how they would work.

"Those are easy to say and hard to do," said Alexander. "And I'm not sure they're constitutionally possible."

Insurance industry representatives said if Crist's proposals were adopted, it could drive more insurance companies out of the state at a time when fewer companies are already providing coverage.

"I think that signal is the worst possible signal that we could send," said Sam Miller, a spokesman for the Florida Insurance Council.

Nonetheless, Crist, who has called property insurance the top priority of his incoming administration, said he was prepared to take part in a special session.

"I'm sure if they do have a special session we would participate in that," he said Tuesday. "I just don't know if that's been concluded yet. It really doesn't matter to me, what matters is giving the people relief."

Jennings said Crist's proposals as well as other ideas that were not included the committee's report could be considered in a special session. "This is going to have to be an amalgamation of a lot of good ideas that hopefully will result in savings for the homeowners of Florida," she said.

The proposal that appears to have the most support would allow insurance companies to have easier access to the state's Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

Allowing a greater reliance on the state fund should provide companies savings on the cost of their reinsurance, which provides a financial backup to the insurers.

With most companies renegotiating their reinsurance contracts with the new year, state officials said it could make sense to change the catastrophe fund now so that savings -- and ultimately lower premiums for consumers -- could be more quickly realized.

But Jennings and Gov. Bush have said they won't call for a special session unless there is "consensus" on the complicated insurance proposals.

"I'm not going to call a special session unless there's broad consensus," Bush said earlier this week. "It just doesn't make sense. People are suffering, there's a lot of hardship on this, to unreasonably raise expectations and then not get something done would be the last thing I would participate in."

Incoming House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, said Wednesday that there should be a quick special session to adjust the catastrophe fund limits before the end of the year.
__________________________________________________

By LLOYD DUNKELBERGER
H-T CAPITAL BUREAU

Joe Follick of the Tallahassee Bureau contributed to this report.

© Sarasota Herald-Tribune. All rights reserved.