Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, October 21, 2015
Oct 12, 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
- 1:00 p.m.–Florida Division of Insurance Agents and Agency Services Rule Development Workshop. Tallahassee, Florida. Proposed amendments would update the continuing education rules in Chapter 69B-228, pertaining to requirements and standards for all continuing education courses, providers of continuing education courses, school officials, instructors, supervising instructors, and licensees under Chapters 626 and 648, F.S. Rules 69B-228.110, .120, .130, .190, and .240 are proposed for repeal. To view the proposed Rule Chapter, click here. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Judge rejects Florida House, Senate redistricting map, recommends challengers’ plan
Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis on Friday gave tentative approval to a new congressional redistricting map that has the potential to unseat at least three incumbent congressional candidates and opens the doors for others to enter the fray. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports.
- Florida Judge Rules in Favor of Democrats in Gerrymandering Case
- Ruling Upends Florida’s Political Landscape
- Florida judge breaks up U.S. House Speaker candidate Daniel Webster’s home district
- Florida Judge Recommends Sweeping Changes to State Congressional Map
Florida Approves the Removal of Up To 142,500 Policies from Citizens
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved the removal of up to 140,000 personal residential policies and 2,500 commercial residential polices from Citizens Property Insurance, Insurance Journal reports.
More Citizens customers rejecting policy transfers
So far in 2015, more than 50 percent of the Citizens policyholders notified of a pending transfer of their coverage to another insurer stopped the switch and stayed with Citizens. In 2014, the comparable transfer-offer rejection rate was 30 percent. TheRealDeal.com reports.
Janney Montgomery Scott Upgrades Federated National Holding to “Buy”
Federated National Holding was upgraded by equities researchers at Janney Montgomery Scott from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Monday, The Fly reports via Dakota Financial News.
Florida drivers sent wrong licenses due to computer glitch
Thousands of motorists paid $27 to update their driver’s licenses but were instead sent new licenses with their old address, the Associated Press reports via the Panama City News-Herald.
New Florida highway alert system stops 14 wrong-way vehicles in first year
A new alert system prevented at least 14 wrong-way wrecks on the Sawgrass Expressway and a stretch of Florida’s Turnpike in Miami-Dade in its first year, according to state data. The Sun-Sentinel’s Michael Turnbell reports.
War on red light cameras heating up
The war to liberate drivers from red light cameras is heating up on several fronts now, in the courts and in the Legislature. Dan Sweeney reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Record number of Floridians now enrolled in Medicaid
Florida is hitting a milestone this year that may raise questions about the depth of the state’s economic recovery, the Palm Beach Post’s John Kennedy reports.
After complaints, State of Florida to monitor health program
After hearing complaints from families and doctors, state senators said this week they are keeping a close watch as the Florida Department of Health changes a program aimed at helping some of the most medically vulnerable children in the state. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Lloyd Dunkelberger reports via the “HT Politics” blog.
Citrus Greening Cure May Be Too Late
Agricultural researchers, bolstered by the infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal and state government and growers themselves, seem confident a solution will be found to eliminate or slow the spread of citrus greening, an insidious disease that already has claimed tens of thousands of acres of Florida’s signature crop. Keith Morelli reports for the Tampa Tribune.
Florida’s unemployment system drawing complaints
A chorus of complaints is growing against a Florida unemployment system that is supposed to help people weather their time out of work. The Sun-Sentinel’s Marcia Heroux Pounds reports.
Solar panels and other energy efficiencies to be financed with municipal bonds
A new decision by the Florida Supreme Court will allow Florida municipalities to issue bonds for commercial property owners with plans to install certain “green” technologies in buildings. Mary Shanklin reports for the Orlando Sentinel.
Los Angeles will have the nation’s toughest earthquake safety rules
In a stark recognition of Los Angeles’ vulnerability to a major earthquake, the city on Friday enacted the nation’s most sweeping seismic regulations, requiring an estimated 15,000 buildings be retrofitted so they will better withstand violent shaking. The Los Angeles Times reports via Advisen.com.
What’s Driving Surplus Lines Insurance Growth?
The surplus lines industry reached new heights in 2014, growing direct premium written in 2014 to $40.2 billion – the highest point in history, reports A.M. Best’s “2014 Special Report U.S. Surplus Lines – Segment Review.” Andrea Wells reports for Insurance Journal.
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