Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Monday, January 5, 2015
Jan 5, 2015
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.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday, January 6
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.–Florida Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Presentation
Wednesday, January 7
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.–Florida House of Representatives Insurance and Banking Subcommittee
- Overview of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and Current Issues
- Overview of Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and Current Issues​
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Some Florida Counties Lacking Homeowners Insurance Competition, Report Shows
A new report has been issued by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and has shown that in the counties of Miami-Dade and Monroe, there is a notable lack in competition among homeowners insurance companies for certain kinds of residential policies. LiveInsuranceNews.com reports.
Deficient insurance review processes used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency resulted in the agency overfunding its Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Florida hurricane grants by more than $177 million, leaving the government liable for an estimated $1 billion in future disaster costs, according to a new audit by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General. Anthony Kimery reports for HSToday.gov
Florida Insurance Premiums May Go Down
The end of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund assessment will save policyholders about $4 on a $350 semi-annual automobile premium, and about $12 on a $1,000 annual home insurance payment. Highlands Today’s Gary Pinnell reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Florida’s Brown & Brown Sells Reinsurance Broker Axiom Re to Beach Re
Brown & Brown said the sale is part of a business strategy to exit the reinsurance brokerage business, Insurance Journal reports.
Uber’s Southwest Florida debut offers new transportation option
Like many governments that came before them, county and city governments in Southwest Florida have taken different approaches to the Silicon Valley-based company’s business model, which officially launched in Sarasota and Bradenton earlier this month. Justine Griffin reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Florida has most sign-ups for Affordable Care Act coverage
Florida led the nation in the number of people who signed up for a 2015 health insurance plan on the federal health exchange from November 15 to December 15, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data show. Maggie Clark reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Dozens testify at Orlando hearing on medical marijuana rules
Dozens of people testified Tuesday about how state rules should be set to allow limited medical marijuana use in Florida, but state officials at the public hearing in Orlando have not said whether they are any closer to coming up with regulations. Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Powers reports.
Publix says gay and lesbian couples will be eligible for insurance
Days before same-sex marriage is due to become legal in Florida, Publix has told employees that gay and lesbian couples legally married elsewhere will be eligible Thursday for group health and other insurance. The Miami Herald’s Steve Rothaus reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
More seasoned Rick Scott plans low-key ceremony to start second term as Florida governor
Florida Governor. Rick Scott will begin his second term Tuesday by striking a low-key, businesslike tone starkly different from the lavish celebration of four years ago that launched a rocky and mistake-prone first year in office. The Tampa Bay Times reports.
Annual Look-Ahead: What to Expect in 2015
With Governor Rick Scott set to be sworn in for his second term and legislative committee meetings beginning next week, the topics that will dominate discussion in the Capitol in the coming year are already starting to shape up. Here are 10 stories that could generate major headlines — or at least dominate the Tallahassee chatter — in 2015. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida Politicians Can Expect a Lively 2015 in Tallahassee
While there are no statewide elections coming up in 2015, Florida politics won’t be dull in the new year, explains Jeff Henderson for SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida judge dismisses voucher expansion lawsuit
A Florida judge on Tuesday tossed out a lawsuit aimed at blocking an expansion of the state’s main private school voucher program. The Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Access to public records in Florida faced new, bigger hurdles in 2014
It was a dark year for sunshine in Florida in 2014, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas explains via the Tampa Bay Times.
New bill could limit questions about job seekers’ criminal past
Florida Senator Jeff Clemens, citing the need to increase employment opportunities and reduce recidivism, filed a bill seeking to limit employers asking job applicants about their criminal records. The Lake Worth Democrat filed SB 214 this week for consideration during the 2015 Legislative Session. Phil Ammann reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Weird Florida 2014: Fangate, nude crooks and Satan
What else would you expect from a state where the two leading candidates for governor held up a live televised debate over a small electric fan? Brendan Farrington reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
U.S. Looks At Pre-Empting State Reinsurance Rules
The federal government is considering pre-empting inconsistent state laws regarding reinsurance collateral because the inability of states to adopt a uniform approach is increasing the costs of insurance for U.S. consumers. National Underwriter’s Arthur Postal reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Secret Sandy engineering reports set to be released
Soon, thanks to the fallout from a shocking courtroom revelation, Superstorm Sandy victims will learn if that initial engineering report was subverted to deflect the blame away from Sandy and toward a cause not covered by their insurance. Russ Zimmer reports for the Asbury Park Press.
Massachusetts FAIR Plan Expands to Include Writing of Dwelling Liability Coverage
The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association – also known as the Massachusetts FAIR Plan – will be expanded to include the writing of dwelling liability coverage, effective January 7, 2015. The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents reports via Insurance Journal.
California Insurance Commissioner-Sponsored Bills Signed into Law in 2014
During California’s 2014 legislative session, Governor Jerry Brown signed nine bills sponsored by the California Department of Insurance and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Insurance Journal reports.
Workers’ compensation pricing increases moderate at year-end renewals
Market competition bouncing back after peak losses of 2011-12.
The Two Year Reduction in Natural Hazard Damage: A Long-Term Trend?
Overall damage related to natural hazards in the United States in 2013 and continuing through 2014 was lower than expected and predicted, explains CoreLogic’s Dr. Thomas Jeffrey, who penned the report for Insurance Journal.
Corporations Warned Not to Hack Back
A growing number of companies are pushing the limits of existing law to consider ways to break into hackers’ networks to retrieve stolen data or even knock computers offline to stop attacks, Bloomberg’s Michael Riley and Jordan Robertson report via Insurance Journal.
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