Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, March 16, 2015
Mar 16, 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
11:00 a.m.—Florida Insurance Guaranty Association Board of Directors teleconference meeting. Agenda includes discussion of proposed legislative updates. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida faces the Uber conundrum
It’s been nearly three months since the smartphone app Uber, which connects consumers with contracted drivers, debuted in Southwest Florida, and local officials are still unsure how to regulate and monitor the tech company’s business model on local streets. Justine Griffin reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Florida Law Would Limit Jury Awards in Tobacco Liability Lawsuits
Senator Garrett Richter, R-Naples, said SB 978 would cap how much can be awarded tobacco liability cases, and puts the jury awards in line with punitive damage limits already in state law. Scripps’ Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster reports via the “Political Fix Florida” blog.
18 charged in Florida in $125 million private insurance fraud scam
Federal authorities have charged 18 people in South Florida in a $125 million fraud scheme aimed at prominent private health insurance companies.
Florida House, Senate health-care funding disagreement shapes budget talks
A disagreement between the Florida House and Senate over health-care funding and Medicaid expansion could foreshadow a budget showdown that leaves hospitals and health clinics vulnerable. Tia Mitchell reports for the Florida Times-Union.
Access to Florida online court records varies by hierarchy
Florida’s clerks of court are leading the nation in making electronic state court records available to the public online. But in the process, they’re creating two-tiers of public viewers with varying privileges based on how much information users are willing to provide about themselves. The Associated Press’ Mike Schneider reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Lawmakers considering dozens of sunshine exemptions
Florida lawmakers are considering more than 60 bills that would create new exemptions in the Sunshine Law, including a measure that would keep the public in the dark about who is applying for top university posts. Jeff Bulew reports for the Tallahassee Democrat.
About-face on Florida primary timing
After blowing up the presidential primary system in two straight election cycles, Florida is now doing something unusual: playing by the rules. Jeremy Wallace reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s “HT Politics” blog.
Alimony reform bill again stirs passions on both sides in Florida
The Florida Legislature is considering a bill that would end permanent alimony in most future divorces, setting up formulas that would set time limits and amounts based on the length of the marriage and the income difference between the spouses. Scripps’ William March reports for the Naples Daily News.
Activists uneasy as Florida Legislature takes up gay rights
Gay marriage may possibly now be legal in Florida but that has hardly quieted the debate over gay rights in the Legislature this year.
State report spells trouble for Florida enterprise zones
Findings showed that economically, surveyed Florida Enterprise Zones “generally underperformed” when matched with a decade’s worth of Census data between 2005 and 2012 on median home values, property values, household income and unemployment and poverty rates when compared to similar non-zone areas. Karl Etters reports for the Tallahassee Democrat.
2015 Session Week Three–Legislative Food Fights Edition
Ryan Ray of FloridaPolitics.com is continuing to report on several “legislative food fights” during the annual lawmaking period. These food fights don’t always make the front page of the traditional media outlets, but they are the kind of industry vs. industry or intra-industry turf battles that drive Tallahassee.
NAIC Invites Cybersecurity Comments
Regulators, industry representatives and others are encouraged offer perspectives, insights and recommendations to inform and shape emerging regulations. Chris McMahon reports for InsuranceNetworkingNews.com.
Three Promoted to Top Posts at Ohio Department of Insurance
Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor has promoted three members of the Ohio Department of Insurance leadership team, Insurance Journal reports.
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