Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, August 17, 2015
Aug 31, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida homeowners assess damage from Erika remnants
The National Weather Service has not confirmed if a tornado touched down in Lee County, WINK News reports.
Florida Leads Nation in Child Drownings
Key West and Punta Gorda, Florida had the highest rates of child pool drownings, FlaglerLive.com reports.
Florida Bike Deaths Highest in Nation
A report released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that Florida has the highest rate of bicycling deaths of any state in the nation – 0.57 per 100,000 people, more than double the nationwide rate of 0.23 per 100,000. Emerson Brito reports for the Tampa Tribune.
Florida Worst In Nation for Financial Risk Of Driving, Study Finds
What’s the worst place in the country to drive? Probably Florida, for a lot of reasons. And thanks to a new study from Wallethub, we have yet another one – Florida is ranked last out of all 50 states when it comes to the “financial risk of driving.” James Ayre blogs for Gas2.org.
Florida In Legal Battle Over Prescription Drug Benefits
Pharmacy-benefit managers for Florida’s state-employee health insurance program are challenging an attempt to require them to repay $39.2 million to the Florida Department of Management Services. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via Health News Florida.
US Risk to Acquire Florida-Based Strategic Program Managers
U.S. Risk Insurance Group, Inc. has entered into an agreement involving the acquisition by U.S. Risk of an undisclosed ownership interest in Florida-based Strategic Program Managers, a specialist trucking MGA and broker, Insurance Journal reports.
Legislator and GOP chairman file lawsuit against Fair Districts amendments
A group including a Pensacola state legislator and the chairman of the Alachua County Republican Party is launching a new legal challenge to two amendments passed by voters. The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Florida Lottery Secretary Resigns Under Fire
Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell, one of Governor Rick Scott’s original agency heads, has resigned in the wake of media reports of questionable travel expenses and absenteeism, the Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports.
State panel prepares to move forward with medical pot
State health officials have named the three members of a panel that will choose five nurseries to be Florida’s first legal pot growers, setting in motion the final stages of the drawn-out process to get Florida’s new medical-marijuana industry off the ground. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via the Tallahassee Democrat.
Environmental Groups Sue Over Amendment 1
Arguing that lawmakers “defied” a constitutional mandate, four environmental groups filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to force the state to shift $237 million to help carry out a conservation measure approved by voters, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via WUSF News.
Doctors Ask Full Appeals Court to Reconsider “Docs Versus Glocks” Law
Physician groups are asking a federal appeals court to reconsider a ruling upholding a Florida law restricting what doctors can ask patients about guns, The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Florida Department of Health Under New Leadership
Starting in September, Florida’s Department of Health will be under new leadership, Peter Schorsch reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
The swift and firm-footed rise of Miami’s Speaker-Designate Jose Oliva
Elected in a special, off-year election in 2011 to replace former State Representative Steve Bovo, R-Hialeah, Jose Oliva　quickly turned his skills to becoming speaker-designate of the Florida House for 2018, one of the three most powerful positions in Florida. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Slape, Brady Named Deputy Commissioners at Texas Department of Insurance
Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax announced two key executive positions on his staff. Doug Slape will become deputy commissioner for financial regulation, and Kevin Brady was named deputy commissioner for agency affairs, Insurance Journal reports.
Hedge Fund Financing of Lawsuits Draws Interest from U.S. Senators
Hedge funds have been speculating on lawsuits, a new form of financial engineering that some business interests say encourages wasteful courtroom warfare. Bloomberg’s Paul Barret reports via Insurance Journal.
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