Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, November 22
Nov 22, 2013
To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below. Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
2:00 p.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Reinsurance Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida allegedly in secret talks to accept funding for Medicaid from Affordable Care Act
Officials say Florida likely to join other Republican states in exploiting cash provision for providing alternative to public Medicaid program, The Guardian’s Sarah Boseley reports from Miami.
- BizPac: Florida legislators say reports of secret talks on Medicaid expansion are false
- Florida Seen as Unlikely to Expand Coverage to Poor in 2014
Florida delegation blames FEMA for moving too fast on flood insurance rate hikes
Feeling heat from constituents over rising flood insurance rates, Florida lawmakers on Thursday redirected some to FEMA, saying the agency has moved too fast with changes Congress approved, Tampa Bay Times’ Alex Leary reports.
Federated National Holding Company, a Florida-based provider of insurance, announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 2,418,605 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $10.75 per share for gross proceeds of $26.0 million.
Injured firefighter suing St. Petersburg homeowner
A St. Petersburg firefighter is suing the owner of a home he tried to save from a fire, BayNews9.com reports.
April trial set for alleged mastermind of $800 million Florida insurance fraud scheme
An April 1 trial date was set Thursday set for the alleged mastermind of an $800 million insurance fraud scheme regardless of the status of his shaky health, Associated Press’ Curt Anderson reports via The Republic.
Tax cuts will cost Florida $600 million, economists estimate
As state economists met Wednesday to evaluate the first batch of tax-cutting plans for the 2014 Legislature, it is already apparent that the popularity of the measures will likely exceed the amount of revenue the state will have to fund them, Lloyd Dunkelberger reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Democrats chide jobs agency over incentives portal
Florida Senator Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, and State Representative José Javier Rodríguez, D-Miami, want more information to be included in an online portal showing details of taxpayer incentive projects, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.
St. Johns Schools Superintendent asks to be removed from consideration for Lieutenant Governor
Less than two days after his name popped up on a short list to become Gov. Rick Scott’s lieutenant governor, St. Johns County Superintendent Joseph Joyner has asked for his name to be removed from consideration, Florida Times-Union’s Matt Dixon reports.
Land-buying supporters close in on signatures while Putnam, Chamber oppose amendment
Opposition to a proposed land-buying amendment to the state constitution is continuing to emerge as supporters say they are closing in on the number of petition signatures they need, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.
Shoddy Record-Keeping Shoots Holes in Florida’s Mental Health Gun Registry
It’s against federal and state law for individuals who’ve been legally deemed mentally incompetent to purchase firearms from licensed gun dealers, FloridaWatchDog.org’s William Patrick reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
World’s tallest roller coaster coming to Florida
A 520-foot-high roller coaster, the tallest in the world, will be built in Florida. We just don’t know exactly where yet, Orlando Sentinel’s Dewayne Bevil reports.
Donelon Asks President to Hold Off Raising Flood Rates
Lousiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon used an opportunity to meet with President Obama to present him with a letter asking him to refrain from raising flood insurance rates for residents of his state, Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
National Building, Communications Standards Recommended for Tornado Safety
National standards should be set for building construction, storm shelters and emergency communications to reduce death and damage from tornados, a federal agency that studied the deadly 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, recommended on Thursday, Reuters’ Kevin Murphy reports via Insurance Journal.
Domestic Property and Casualty Insurers Seek Tax Reform to Reduce Benefits to Foreign Companies
The Senate Finance Committee has approved a draft tax reform proposal that includes a provision sought by domestic P&C insurers to change the tax treatment afforded offshore insurers doing business in the U.S., Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
Colorado State Running Out of Money for Hurricane Forecasting
Colorado State University, which pioneered seasonal hurricane forecasting 30 years ago, may have issued its last prediction, Brian Sullivan reports for Bloomberg via Insurance Journal.
Coast Guard Has No Duty to Undertake Rescue Efforts, Court Rules
A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected a North Carolina widow’s lawsuit blaming the Coast Guard for failing to save her husband’s life, saying the agency does not have a legal obligation to launch life-saving rescues, Associated Press reports for Insurance Journal.
Lack of Liability Insurance Shutters Police Department in Louisiana Town
With the end of the Sorrento Police Department’s liability insurance coverage just a few hours away, the Town Council voted 5-0 to select an offer by Louisiana’s Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley to provide protection to the town at no cost through Dec. 31, Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Mississippi County Lifts Insurance Mandate for Santas
For this holiday season, DeSoto County school officials are waiving a requirement that Santa Claus have liability and workers’ compensation insurance coverage before he can pay a visit to area campuses, Associated Press reports for Insurance Journal.
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