Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Monday, December 12, 2016

 

Citizens Insurance Chief Sees “Absurd” Rise in Litigation Expenses

“Out of Control” Litigation Costs are slowing efforts by Florida’s Property Insurer of Last Resort to shift risk onto Private Insurers, and may lead to Aggressive Restrictions on Claims for Water Damage, the Organization’s President said last week.  Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

·     Florida’s Citizens to Lawmakers: AOB Reform Must be Passed in 2017

  

Top Florida Insurance Stories of 2016: Workers’ Comp Market in Turmoil

It’s been a tumultuous year for the Florida Insurance Industry, Insurance Journal’s Amy O’Connor reports.

 

Rising Sea Levels Mean Polk’s Future Needs To Be Planned Now

Regardless of where you stand on the causes of Climate Change and the Resultant Sea Level Rise, it’s hard to dispute that Florida will be increasingly affected, the Lakeland Ledger Editorial Board writes.

 

Detert, Moran Demand More Specifics on Economic Development

·        Spending on Pitbull, Soccer Team and Race Car Worth It, Says Visit Florida CEO

·        Carl Hiaasen: Why Won’t Florida Say What’s in Pitbull’s Secret File?

 

Panhandle Will Lack Clout in Capitol

The Legislative Delegation from Northwest Florida is preparing to enter one of the most important sessions in years with less Political Clout than it has wielded in Decades, but Lawmakers say they’re confident they can work together to ensure the Panhandle maintains a strong voice in Tallahassee.  Will Isern reports for the Pensacola News Journal.

 

Republican Lawmakers Have Big Plans for Florida’s Constitution

For the first time in 20 years, Florida embarks on a Constitutionally Mandated Update of the State Constitution next year and, if Florida’s Top Republican Officials have their way, they will use the process to Overturn the most Controversial Rulings of the State’s High Court — on Education Spending, Private School Vouchers and Political Redistricting.  The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Florida Growing Older, More Diverse

Florida gained more Wealthy Residents but also more Families Living Below the Poverty Line between 2010 and 2015 when the Sunshine State participated in an Economic Recovery from a Devastating Housing Crash and the worst Recession in Decades.  The Associated Press reports via FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Lyft Says Its Presence in Tampa Has Led to Nearly $12 Million in New Spending in Local Economy

With Lyft (along with Uber) now Street Legal in Tampa after more than two-and-half-years of wrangling with the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission, the San Francisco-Based Ridesharing Company is making some Bold Claims about its impact on the Local Economy.  Mitch Perry reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Fight Over Everglades Refuge Pits Florida Against Feds

South Florida Water Officials are threatening to Cancel a Lease with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over Management of a 144,000-Acre Wildlife Refuge in the Everglades.  The Associated Press reports via FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Florida’s Federal Grants: Special Handling Required

Florida has already taken steps to Integrate Federal Funds into the State Budget; however, an Analysis from the James Madison Institute Outlines Policy Prescriptions to improve Accountability.

 

NAIC Taps Former Pennsylvania Commissioner, Transamerica Exec Consedine as CEO

Ten Months after its last Chief Executive Officer departed, the National Organization of State Insurance Regulators has named former Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael F. Consedine as its New CEO. Consedine will assume the job in early 2017, Insurance Journal reports.

 

North Carolina High Court Dismisses Insurer Rate Increase Request

The State’s Highest Court on Friday Dismissed Arguments by the Group that represents North Carolina Insurers, which in 2014 sought an Average 25 percent Increase in Homeowners’ Premiums, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Will Zenefits’ Anti-Rebating Settlements Embolden Other State Regulators?

While Florida’s Anti-Rebating Statute was struck down by an Appeals Court in 1984 for Violating the State Constitution’s Due-Process Clause, the State Legislature Enacted a New Anti-Rebating Law in 1990.  Bruce Shutan examines the issue for Employee Benefit News.

 

 

 

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