Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, May 14, 2015
May 14, 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
9:00 a.m.–Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Proposed Rule Hearing. Tallahassee, Florida.
- Proposed Rule 19-8.010 would adopt an amendment form enabling the parties to the 2015-2016 Reimbursement Contract to correct a scriverner’s error in the definition of “retention multiple.” To view the hearing notice, click here.
- Proposed Rule 19-8.028 would adopt the 2015-2016 Contract Year Reimbursement Premium Formula. To view the hearing notice, click here.
10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Audit Committee meeting. To view the agenda, click here.
2:00 p.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Rates and Forms Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida’s hurricane insurance fund strong for storm season
Florida’s nine-year streak of avoiding hurricanes is helping the state reach a historic milestone: for the first time ever, the state-created fund designed to help pay out claims after storms has enough cash and assets on hand to pay off everything it could owe. The Associated Press reports via Advisen.com.
Storm surge remains greatest threat in hurricanes
It is water, not wind, that causes the most hurricane-related deaths, Florida Hurricane Conference attendees were told Wednesday. Harold Bubil reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Defunct Nebraska Insurer Must Pay Florida Regulators $2.2 Million
A judge has ordered a defunct Nebraska insurance company to pay Florida regulators at least $2.2 million, but this week’s ruling isn’t likely to settle the case that began in 1998, Josh Funk reports for Yankton.net.
Health insurers could be in Governor Scott’s commission spotlight too
Governor Rick Scott’s inquest into the cost and quality of health care in Florida isn’t just for hospitals, Orlando Sentinel’s Gray Rohrer reports.
Pinellas school district moves closer to self-insurance
Changes in the health insurance landscape have the Pinellas school district exploring its options for self-insurance, Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey Solocheck reports via “The Gradebook” blog.
Backed by fans, Uber, Lyft win delay in new county rules
Dozens of supporters of the transportation-networking companies Uber and Lyft packed a meeting of Hillsborough County’s Public Transportation Commission on Wednesday, pleading with commissioners to loosen regulations so the companies can operate here legally. Mike Salinero reports for the Tampa Tribune.
Corcoran and Lee meet all day to discuss budget, but provide few details
The Legislature’s two budget chiefs met all day Wednesday to discuss ways to compromise on the impasse on Medicaid expansion, but don’t expect any breakthroughs, at least not yet. Michael Van Sickler reports for the Tampa Bay Times’ “The Buzz” blog.
Governor Scott stands by $8 billion surplus figure
Governor Rick Scott’s office said Wednesday that Scott stands by his statement on Fox News Monday that the state would have a surplus of $8 billion if the Legislature adopts what he continues to call a “continuation budget” — in other words, holding the line with no tax cuts and no increase in per-pupil funding for schools. Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports.
Race for Florida Senate President has become a Chinese finger puzzle
The half-decade long race to determine who will serve as President of the Florida Senate from 2016 to 2018 — either Jack Latvala or Joe Negron — has taken on all the difficulty of a Chinese finger puzzle after a series of recent developments designed to solve the matter have only made the issue more complicated. SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch reports.
Statewide Slot Machine Proliferation Hangs in Balance of Appeals Court Ruling
In a case that could have far-reaching implications, a lawyer argued before an appeals court Wednesday that the state erred in denying a slot-machine license to a controversial North Florida horse track that was the first in the nation to receive a pari-mutuel permit for rodeo-style barrel racing. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via the Ft. Myers News-Press.
NCOIL to Focus on Price Optimization at Summer Meeting
NCOIL lawmakers in Indianapolis this July will examine the need for and consequences of allowing property-casualty insurers to use info on consumer pricing behavior.
Court: Debris Removal From Insureds’ Land Not Covered by Flood Insurance
A federal appeals court in Philadelphia recently ruled that a standard flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program does not cover the cost of cleaning up storm-generated debris not owned by the homeowners from their land. Insurance Journal explains.
New Law in Oklahoma Sets Requirements for Public Adjusters
Oklahoma’s governor has signed legislation proposed by the state insurance department that specifies certain required and prohibited actions of public adjusters, Insurance Journal reports.
Who’s Responsible when a Driverless Car Crashes? Tesla’s Got an Idea
Tesla Motors Inc. is looking at the good old-fashioned turn signal as a potential solution to a liability debate associated with driverless vehicle technology. The Wall Street Journal’s Mike Ramsey reports.
Flood, Flood or Flood! Who Responds: AAIS, ISO or NFIP? – Part III
Insurance Journal Academy’s Christopher Boggs continues his series on flood insurance regulatory nuances.
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