Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, August 17, 2015
Aug 17, 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 Office of Insurance Regulation says flood rates in Florida may be unfair
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has responded to state Senator Jeff Brandes’ request to study the methods used to determine National Flood Insurance Program policy rates, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Janelle Irwin reports.
Florida to Conduct Public Hearing on Citizens’ Proposed Rate Changes
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced that it will conduct a public hearing later this month to discuss Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s proposed 2016 rate changes for its business in the multi-peril and wind-only accounts, Insurance Journal reports.
Pasco releases flood update, funds for damaged homes
Pasco County Government updated WTSP-TV this weekend on the extended local state of emergency during recent flooding.
Palm Beach County pushes for cheaper flood insurance
Thousands of property owners in central Palm Beach County could qualify for lower flood insurance rates if the Federal Emergency Management Agency alters its maps highlighting areas prone to flooding, Mike Seemuth reports for The Real Deal.
Insurance fraud cases skyrocketed in Northeast Florida before new laws passed
By mid-2013, Florida’s Division of Insurance Fraud had established a special unit in Jacksonville after similar teams had cracked down in the Miami and Tampa areas. At the time, auto insurance fraud was billed as Florida’s biggest criminal trend. Florida Times-Union’s Dana Treen reports.
Texas lender sues Tampa Bay area appraisers for over-evaluating home values pre-2008
Texas-based Llano Financing Group has filed eight separate lawsuits targeting Florida appraisers and their companies for damages associated with foreclosure losses, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Janelle Irwin reports.
Florida economists project continued growth in state money
If Florida’s preliminary economic forecasts are adopted, they would give legislators nearly $2 billion extra in state money for next year. But Medicaid expenses are rising and the state is expected to lose additional federal aid, which could shrink the size of any surplus. The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Can Florida draw an unbiased political map? Contrast and compare
As Florida legislators struggled last week to draw a congressional district map that meets a court mandate, it became clear that what they would end up with would be far from perfect. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Governor Scott will have power over next rewriting of the state constitution
Among Governor Rick Scott’s legacies after two terms in office will be the role he plays in the next remake of the state constitution, the Tampa Tribune’s James Rosica reports.
Sites Across Florida Added to National Register of Historic Places
The new additions to the National Register of Historic Places include the Cape San Blas Lighthouse in Port St. Joe; the Axline House in Alachua County right next to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park; the Hopper Academy in Sanford; the Hawthorne Cemetery in Hawthorne; and the Fruitland Park Community Center in Lake County. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
NAIC Signs Bermuda Memorandum of Understanding
NAIC President Monica J. Lindeen signed a memorandum of understanding this weekend with Jeremy Cox, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Monetary Authority during the Opening Session of the 2015 NAIC Summer National Meeting. Colodny Fass’ Donovan Brown reports on NationalInsuranceNews.com.
NAIC Accredits Three States’ Insurance Departments
The NAIC Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation Committee voted to accredit the New Jersey, New Mexico and Tennessee insurance departments at this weekend’s Summer 2015 National Meeting in Chicago.
New York City Taxi Driver-Owners Form New Association to Take on Uber
Parity in surge pricing and the use of apps are among the concerns voiced by New York City taxi drivers, who have formed a new association to address the concerns, Lejla Sarcevic reports for Insurance Journal.
Wisconsin Joins NAIC’s State-Based Systems
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced Wisconsin as the 29th state to license State Based Systems, an electronic-filing tool created for NAIC members to increase efficiency in regulatory functions.
Pennsylvania going after insurance companies not paying benefits to heirs
So far this year, $70.4 million has been recovered for nearly 4,300 Pennsylvanians, according to officials. The effort by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance is part of a multi-state examination of business practices in the life insurance industry. Gema Maria Duarte reports for the Bucks County Courier Times.
U.K. driver database helps uncover 212,000 car insurance lies
There were 212,000 attempted dishonest applications for motor insurance in 2014, according to the U.K. insurance industry body, the Association of British Insurers—one fifth higher than in 2013, before the “My License” database was unveiled, the Daily Telegraph reports via Advisen.com.
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