Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Monday, December 29, 2014
Dec 29, 2014
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
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Flood insurance rates on non-primary Florida residences to rise
The furor over rising federal flood insurance rates in the Tampa Bay area seems to have subsided after the passage of a reform bill in Congress in March, but owners of vacation homes and rental properties still might be in for a shock when they get their policy renewals in the mail this spring. The Tampa Tribune’s Josh Boatwright reports via Scripps “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Florida Appeals Court Ruling Opens Door for Cruise Line Malpractice Suits
Heretofore, courts have said that cruise ship passengers should not expect the same level of medical care on a ship as on land, and ships’ doctors and nurses were private contractors beyond the cruise lines’ direct control. The Associated Press’ Curt Anderson reports via Insurance Journal.
Florida working on disaster team process that ensures other states give and receive help
Florida is developing a process to credential members of a state disaster-response team. Matt Dixon reports for the Naples Daily News.
Anthem buys Coral Gables-based Simply Healthcare for estimated $1 billion
Simply Healthcare Holdings, a Coral Gables-based managed care company, has reached an agreement to sell to Anthem Inc., a publicly traded health insurer with headquarters in Indianapolis, for an estimated $1billion. The Miami Herald’s Nicholas Nehemas reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Florida title insurers get windfall, consumers stiffed in 2015, advocates say
Advocates for home buyers are protesting a “windfall profit” for Florida’s title insurers after regulators promised to explore passing savings to consumers from a lucrative tax break, but now report they cannot provide any relief in 2015. Charles Elmore reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Accidents, traffic on rise on Metro Orlando toll roads
Accidents have been rising on Metro Orlando toll roads during the past four years, in part because there are more cars out there paying tolls. Orlando Sentinel’s Dan Tracy reports.
New Florida child booster-seat law goes into effect January 1
Children ages 4 and 5, previously allowed to ride in cars with just a seatbelt, must use child-safety or booster seats under a new law that takes effect January 1, Tonya Alanez reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Could this be the year for Florida pension reform?
After years of back-and-forth over local police and fire pension, supporters of reform are hopeful that 2015 will be the year for change, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Lawmakers will again consider loopholes to Florida’s open records law
The Florida Legislature will have to balance privacy and openness in 2015 as members again have filed bills creating exemptions to the state’s public records law, still considered the nation’s best. The Tampa Tribune’s James Rosica reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Expertise, but little else, is on the agenda for December 30 Charlotte’s Web workshop
The December 30 workshop to develop rules for a Florida medicinal marijuana industry will include a presentation about the “expertise” of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. James Call reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Most Florida clerks won’t give gays marriage licenses
Most of Florida’s 67 clerks of court don’t plan to issue marriage licenses to gay couples on January 6 because they are paralyzed by confusion over whether a same-sex marriage ban is being lifted across the whole state that day, according to an Associated Press survey. SaintPetersBlog.com notes the story.
Secret redistricting documents show maps drawn to accommodate Mike Hogan
A review of formerly secret documents tied to ongoing challenges of Florida’s election redistricting process shows just how deliberately the political maps were redrawn. The Florida Times-Union reports.
Florida officials seek $5 million to promote state business climate
Florida’s economic development officials are again seeking a pot of money to create a brand for the State’s big-money business recruitment efforts. Matt Dixon reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Regulators Tackle Insurance License Loophole
Brokers Barred From Securities Industry Had Been Able to Sell Insurance
Regulators around the country are taking steps to patch a loophole that allows brokers who have been barred from the securities industry to sell insurance and other financial products. Julie Steinberg reports for the Wall Street Journal.
Wall Street’s Watchdog Doesn’t Disclose All Regulatory Red Flags
FINRA doesn’t make public all its information about brokers, Wall Street Journal’s Jean Eaglesham and Rob Barry report.
Insurers Take Aim At Indexed Universal Life Insurance Illustrations
A coalition of three large insurance companies is urging the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to act promptly to adopt a realistic regulation governing the illustrations insurers and agents can use in marketing indexed universal life insurance. National Underwriter’s Arthur Postal reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
India shows resolve to open doors to foreign insurers
Legislation to raise the limit for foreign investments in Indian insurance businesses was scheduled to be discussed at the parliament session ended Tuesday. Nikkei English News reports via Advisen.com.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@colodnyfass.com.