Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Jun 3, 2014
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. to 10:30 a.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) Information Systems Advisory Committee meeting. Teleconference: (866) 361-7525; conference ID: 4869641229#. To view the meeting materials, click here.
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.–U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Executive Session to consider S. 2244, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014. To view the hearing notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Investigation sought into exodus of Citizens executives to vendors with contracts
Responding to a report by the Herald/Times on the exodus of executives that leave Citizens Property Insurance to work for companies that receive contracts, the head of a public watchdog group as well as the two top executives at Citizens called for an investigation on Monday, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Despite Record Surplus, Citizens Coastal Policyholders Likely To See Rate Increases
Now that the hurricane season’s begun, state-backed insurer Citizens Property Insurance assures everyone​ it’s in the best shape it’s ever been, Elaine Chen reports for WLRN.
Insurance rates should reflect Florida’s good fortune
When it comes to Florida’s property insurance rates, what a difference a little pressure from the state’s chief financial officer can make, the Panama City News-Herald’s Editorial Board writes.
Rick Scott Calls For Hurricane Readiness
With hurricane season starting this week, Gov. Rick Scott told Floridians to be prepared and gather plans to deal with potential emergencies, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Sunshine Health Rolling Out Florida’s Medicaid, Child Welfare Programs to New Members
The launch of Florida’s new Medicaid programs, the Statewide Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) and Child Welfare (CW) programs, continued Monday, with roll-outs in Regions 5, 6 and 8. The programs cover 14 Florida counties including Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough. Nancy Smith reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Rick Scott Inks Record Budget, Spares Most Projects
Without the public ceremony of past years, Florida Governor Rick Scott on Monday quietly signed into law a $77 billion, election-year budget, slashing just $68.9 million in pet projects from across the state, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’S Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
- Highlights from Florida’s new $77 billion budget
- Florida Senate leaders “thrilled” with newly signed state budget
- Compilation Of Statements And Reactions To Governor Rick Scott Signing $77 Billion Budget
As promised, Governor vetoes speed limit bill
Florida Governor Rick Scott said last month that the death of a state highway trooper who was killed investigating an interstate accident convinced him a speed limit increase was wrong for Florida. Yesterday, Scott made good on his promise to veto Senate Bill 392, which would have authorized state officials to raise the limit 5 mph to a maxium 75 mph if deemed safe. The Tampa Bay Times’ Tia Mitchell reports via the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.
Feds: Florida must cut carbon emissions 38 percent
The federal government is proposing that Florida cut its carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 38 percent by the year 2030, the Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
U.S. Representative Corrine Brown blasts court challenges to her district’s map
With her district essentially on trial in a Tallahassee courtroom, Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown on Monday ripped into a lawsuit brought by a coalition of voting-rights groups challenging the state’s congressional districts, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via the Florida Times-Union.
Pam Bondi Draws Fire and Applause for Defending State’s Traditional Marriage Law
After Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi looked to defend the state constitutional amendment which ensures the recognition of only traditional marriage in the Sunshine State, activists from both sides looked to rally supporters on Monday. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Fed Adds Ex-Regulator to Oversee Systemic Risk Insurers
The U.S. Federal Reserve has hired a former state insurance commissioner to help it oversee non-bank financial firms that a council of regulators identified for tougher scrutiny last year, Reuters’ Emily Stephenson reports via Insurance Journal.
U.S. Senate to Take Up TRIA Bill Today
The rubber will hit the road for the insurance industry on reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Tuesday when the Senate takes up legislation that would reauthorize the program for seven years, National Underwriters’ Arthur Postal reports for PropertyCasualty360.com.
Write-Your-Own Companies to Help FEMA Provide National Flood Insurance Program Refunds
Write-Your-Own insurance companies will be helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency provide refunds to National Flood Insurance Program customers whose rate hikes were reversed or reduced under March legislation rolling back the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act, National Underwriters’ Arthur Postal reports for PropertyCasualty360.com.
How Google got states to legalize driverless cars
About four years ago, the Google team trying to develop cars driven by computers – not people – became convinced that sooner than later, the technology would be ready for the masses. There was one big problem: Driverless cars were almost certainly illegal in the U.S. SaintPetersBlog.com tells the story.
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