Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Thursday, June 08, 2017
Jun 8, 2017
Scenes from today’s Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Participating Insurers’ Conference: Colodny Fass’ Wes Strickland and Claude Mueller were on hand in Orlando to hear the event’s keynote address by Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier. To view the day’s agenda, click here.
Florida’s Chief Fraud Fighter Moves On: Atwater Recalls Successes, Frustrations With Industry
As Florida’s CFO, a position he has held since 2011, Atwater has worked closely with the insurance industry. DFS oversees the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, as well as the office of the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate, who assists Florida residents with insurance-related questions or concerns. Insurance Journal’s Amy O’Connor reports.
Suncoast residents going without hurricane insurance coverage
It’s not uncommon for mobile home owners on the Suncoast to not have insurance at all. Many say they just can’t afford it, and most insurance companies won’t cover them even if they can afford coverage. WWSB ABC-7 reports.
Climate decision could accelerate damage to Trump properties
President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement could accelerate damage to his family’s real estate empire in the coming decades, especially his properties that lie just feet from the encroaching sea in low-lying South Florida. Jason Dearen and Alex Sanz report for the Associated Press.
Flood Protection in the Glades: One Canal Is Already Higher than Lake O
As South Florida experienced torrential rain Wednesday, with more promised through the weekend, folks in communities east, west and south of Lake Okeechobee nervously watched the big lake rise. SunshineStateNews.com Publisher Nancy Smith reports.
Consumers paying for Florida legislature’s inaction on Assignment of Benefits (AOB) “scams”
The Florida Department of Financial Services reports that lawsuits brought by auto glass companies against insurance companies skyrocketed from 1,389 in 2012 to 19,695 in 2016. W.J. Kennedy writes for the Florida Record.
Florida, Georgia agencies set up checkpoints to prevent highway deaths
Hands Across Borders campaign focuses on preventing careless driving, DUIs. Erik Avanier and Destiny McKeiver report for News4Jax.com.
Divided Yet Again, Florida Legislators Return to Work
The Florida Senate also took the unusual step on the first day of voting to override some of Governor Rick Scott’s vetoes, including more than $11.4 billion in school funding, calling it “insurance” just in case the two sides are unable to work out a final deal, the Associated Press reports via U.S. News and World Report.
Lawmakers agree on rules to grow, sell medical marijuana, add it to special session
State lawmakers reached an agreement to make medical marijuana available in Florida, ending an impasse that derailed the issue last month. Michael Auslen reports for the Miami Herald.
- Jeff Brandes doesn’t like the medical pot deal
- Hillsborough commissioners approve cap on medical marijuana dispensaries but state lawmakers may void it
Florida lawmakers bog down on budget
After one day of a special session to set the $82 billion budget, lawmakers appeared to make no progress resolving their deep rift over funding for public education and jobs programs. Gray Rohrer reports for the Orlando Sentinel.
Senate bristles at House “Holy Grail” version of economic incentives package
The Senate’s frustration at the new relationship between Governor Rick Scott and the House showed during debate, Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
House panel clears Special Session infrastructure, job training bill
The House’s main budgeting panel on Wednesday cleared one of the bills planned for the Special Session dealing with tourism, Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
ACLU: State algae bloom reporting failed public
Florida officials did a lousy job warning Treasure Coast residents about the potential health hazards caused by last summer’s toxic blue-green algae bloom, according to a report released Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union. Tyler Treadway reports for TCPalm.com.
Florida business leaders propose solutions to traffic and lack of housing affordability
Transportation and affordable housing, two of the region’s most pressing problems, were at the forefront of Wednesday’s Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2017 Goals Conference, as elected officials from both Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami committed to prioritizing a proposed link in the county’s southern corridor. The Miami Herald’s Andrea Januta reports.
Florida Senator Jeff Clemens also drummer in U2 tribute band
Like most rock ‘n’ roll drummers, Lake Worth resident Jeff Clemens, who re-creates the unorthodox style of Larry Mullen Jr. in the nationally touring U2 tribute band U2 by UV, marches to his own beat. Ben Crandell reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
After 18 Months, Houston Hurricane Vulnerability Documents Arrive from Feds
For months, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica tried in vain to get specific information about what could happen if any of the thousands of massive oil tanks along the Houston Ship Channel sprung a leak during a hurricane; whether companies that owned the tanks were prepared; and whether nearby communities understood the risk. The Texas Tribune’s Neena Satija reports via Insurance Journal.
Delaware Streamlines Emergency CAT Adjuster Licensing Requirements
Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro has taken steps to streamline the licensing process for insurance adjusters who come to Delaware, Insurance Journal reports.
Are Uber, Lyft Public Nuisances? San Francisco Wants to Know
San Francisco has issued subpoenas to Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. for a broad scope of records on driving and business practices as part of an investigation to determine whether the ridesharing companies have become a public nuisance. Reuters’ Heather Somerville reports via Insurance Journal.
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