Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Thursday, March 16, 2017

 

Citizens Insurance Buying Back $300 Million in Catastrophic Coverage

Citizens Property Insurance can buy back some $300 Million in Reinsurance against a Catastrophic Storm because the risk of that happening is now projected to have fallen.  Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Florida Resident Sues Mining Company Over Contaminated Land Under Homes

A Central Florida Man is Suing a Mining Company that he says built homes over former phosphate mines and didn’t warn Homeowners about health hazards.  The Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Flores Assures “The Votes Are There” To Pass Insurance Tax Bill

Senate President Pro Tempore Anitere Flores said Wednesday there is support to pass a High-Profile Tax Bill that would eliminate a Tax Break for Insurance Companies and that action on it was deferred because Two Senators on the Subcommittee were absent.  Christine Sexton reports for Politico Florida.

 

Senate Panel Scuttles Florida Recovery Care Centers

House Leaders in recent years have pushed to end a Regulation that Bars Ambulatory Surgical Centers from keeping Patients overnight.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

 

Florida Optometry Bill Clears House Subcommittee

It’s been dubbed the Eyeball Wars:  Optometrists want to prescribe more medications and perform surgeries and Ophthalmologists are standing firm against them.  Naseem S. Miller reports for the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Florida Patients Blinded by “Loosely Regulated” Clinic

The Cases expose gaps in Florida’s ability to protect Consumers from Unproven Treatments by Entrepreneurs.  The New York Times’ Denise Grady reports.

 

Prepared Holdings, LLC Announces New Ownership

Patrick L. White, current Chairman and President of Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation, has acquired an 89 percent Ownership Stake in Prepared Holdings, LLC and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries including Prepared Insurance Company.

 

USF Sarasota-Manatee Creates Risk Management and Insurance Major

USFSM College of Business Dean James Curran said its Risk Management and Insurance Major, which will begin enrolling Students this fall, is the result of consultations with area Insurance Leaders who’ve seen Employee Ranks thinning dramatically in recent years.  Billy Cox reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

 

Florida Poised to Strengthen Stand Your Ground Defense

The New York Times reports that Florida is on the verge of passing Legislation that would bolster Self-Defense Laws and shift the Burden of Proof to Prosecutors during Immunity Hearings to show that such Laws should not apply.

·         Stand Your Ground Changes Pass Florida Senate.  Now it’s on the House.

 

Bills Could Change Legal Fee Awards in Public Record Cases

The Town of Gulf Stream, known for its protected pine trees and coastal views along State Road A1A in Palm Beach County, is Ground Zero for a Statewide Public Records Battle.  Caite Switalski reports for WUFT via Fox 29 WFLX.

 

House Okays Bill to Allow Utilities to Ignore City Development Rules

The Bill also clarifies that the Public Service Commission has exclusive Authority to require that Power Lines be put Underground.  The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via “The Buzz” blog.

 

Tourism and Boating Execs Tell Governor and Legislators: Fix Degraded Water or Tourism is in Trouble

The Leaders of one of the Nation’s Largest Outdoors Companies, a Major Boat Manufacturer, and Tourism Industry Officials met with Governor Rick Scott and Legislators Wednesday to make the Case that Urgent Action is needed to end the Toxic Discharges from Lake Okeechobee.  The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via “The Buzz” blog.

 

Tax Cuts Taking Shape in Legislature, Governor’s Office

Businesses paying rent will see a Tax Cut this year, as will Consumers who will benefit from Tax-Free Shopping Days under separate Plans being developed in the House and the Senate.  Arek Sarkissian and Alexandra Glorioso report for the Naples Daily News.

 

Florida May Be a Retirement Mecca, But it Doesn’t Rank High in How it Helps People Age

No Florida big or small City made it to the top 10 “Best Cities for Successful Aging” Report and Index, a collaboration between the Milken Institute’s Center for the Future of Aging and its Research Department.  Ana Veciana-Suarez reports for the Miami Herald.

 

Author of Texas Hailstorm Bill Says Significant Changes Made

The Texas Senate Business and Commerce Committee on March 9 heard testimony on a revised Bill that aims to Limit the number of Policyholder Lawsuits filed against Property Insurance Companies following severe weather events.  Stephanie K. Jones reports for Insurance Journal.

 

Report:  Auto Insurers’ Premium Leakage is $29B Annually

Inaccurate Auto Insurance Rates resulting from Incorrect or Omitted Underwriting Information are amounting to $29 Billion in Premium Leakage per year, Claims Journal reports via PCI SmartBrief.

 

Personal Trainers Can Now Buy Policies from Next Insurance via Chatbot on Facebook

Next Insurance says its Chatbot is the first in Insurance to enable Buyers to Sign-Up and Pay Completely over Facebook’s Messaging Service, without having to even download its App.  Insurance Journal reports.

 

 

 

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