Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Apr 28, 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
10:00 a.m.–U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Hearing: The State of the Insurance Industry and Insurance Regulation. For more information, click here.
11:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Safety Committee meeting. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin M. McCarty will testify today and tomorrow before both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. on domestic and international insurance issues.
- U.S. Senate Hearing–Click here to view a live webcast of the hearing and here to view a copy of Commissioner McCarty’s testimony.
- U.S. House of Representatives–Click here to view a live webcast of the hearing.
State Farm Sheds 10% After Saying It Will Write New Florida Home Policies
State Farm, once Florida’s largest home insurer, has parted ways with about one in 10 of its remaining homeowners, or more than 40,000, in the year since announcing it is writing new business in the state again, according to data requested by Charles Elmore of the Palm Beach Post.
Legislature’s Uber regulation efforts stuck in neutral
Advocates for ride sharing firms Lyft and Uber evidently did not reach an agreement this weekend with traditional taxi cab and limousine stakeholders, as a ride sharing policy bill sponsored by State Representative Matt Gaetz was temporarily postponed Monday for the second time in as many appearances on the House floor. SaintPetersBlog.com’s Ryan Ray reports.
Claims Bills Likely Headed to Governor Scott
Florida is one of many states that limit how much “sovereign” governments — including counties and cities — can pay plaintiffs without legislative approval. Lawmakers raised the caps in 2010 from $100,000 to $200,000 for individuals and $200,000 to $300,000 per incident for accidents that occurred after October 1, 2011. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
After four failed attempts, lawmakers pass new rules for Assisted Living Facilities
After trying for four years to improve conditions at the state’s assisted living facilities, the Florida Senate on Wednesday sent to the governor a proposal to improve enforcement and oversight at the homes that serve more than 86,000 senior residents. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Final week of Session starts at a snail’s pace
Paralyzed by a budget impasse, the Florida Legislature gave final approval to eight bills in brief afternoon sessions on Monday, a remarkably low total in the last week of an annual session with only four days left before the Friday deadline. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Lloyd Dunkelburger reports via the “HT Politics” blog.
Florida’s budget stalemate: A look at what’s happening
The Florida Legislature will end its annual session Friday, but legislators still have not reached a deal on a new budget. That’s because the Republican-controlled House and Senate are at odds about health care, including whether to accept federal money linked to President Barack Obama’s health overhaul. SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch reports.
- Senate President Andy Gardiner sends letters to state and feds on Medicaid expansion
- Georgetown healthcare professor fact checks Florida House’s position on Medicaid
- Impasse claims another casualty: Gardiner and Crisafulli’s joint work plan for special needs kids
House advances bill to regulate rather than ban fracking
The state House on Monday voted to approve a measure that would regulate hydraulic fracturing, despite repeated calls from environmentalists and some lawmakers to ban hydraulic fracturing in Florida. Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster reports for the Tampa Tribune.
Weakened tenant protection bill passes both Florida chambers
Legislation that aims to protect renters in foreclosed homes from swift evictions passed both Florida chambers last week by an overwhelming margin, but in a watered down state from what consumer advocates had first proposed. Kimberly Miller reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Planning Councils’ Role Fading In Legislature
Governor Rick Scott will have to decide soon whether he wants to give his Department of Economic Opportunity more power to green light planned communities, shopping malls and other large construction projects. As WFSU’s Jim Ash reports, environmentalists spent much of the session fighting the attempt by conservative Republicans.
Florida loan sharking law rarely enforced
Under Florida law, lenders are allowed to charge no more than 18 percent annual interest on loans of less than $500,000. For larger loans, the usury cap rises to 25 percent. Imposing a rate of 25 percent to 45 percent is a misdemeanor under state law; charging more than 45 percent is a felony. Jeff Ostrowski reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Higher-Ed Hustle: A Miami Herald investigation into for-profit colleges
In their zeal to fill classrooms, some schools do whatever it takes, Miami Herald reporter Mike Vasquez explains.
FSOC’s Woodall Warns of “Inappropriate” Global Influence On U.S. Policy
Roy Woodall, a member of the U.S. panel charged with preventing another financial crisis, said he is concerned that global regulators have too much influence over policy in Washington, Bloomberg’s Ian Katz reports.
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