Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Jun 30, 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
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10:00 a.m.—Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology (“FCHLPM”) public meeting. Agenda includes the election of FCHLPM Vice Chair, 2015 FCHLPM Committee assignments and Executive Committee appointments, and a discussion of topics for Executive Committee consideration. The FCHLPM Flood Standards Development Committee will meet beginning at 2:15 p.m. Teleconference: 888-670-3525 (US & Canada) or 720-389-1212 (International); conference code: 7135858151. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida International University launches Spanish-language hurricane warning website
As the height of the tropical storm season approaches, a new website run by Florida International University will provide hurricane warnings and advisories to Spanish-language speakers, the Miami Herald’s Rosalind Adams reports.
Lawsuit pits county against residents in Daytona beach-driving debate
The attitude in Daytona, some say, is that if Jesus had had a car, he would have been driving it on the beach. The Orlando Sentinel’s Susan Jacobson reports.
Miami residents arrested in separate PIP schemes
Three Miami residents were arrested for their involvement in separate personal injury protection schemes, the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud announced Monday. WPLG-TV’s Peter Burke reports.
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson Seeks Answers after SpaceX Explosion
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is sounding the alarm about the future of U.S. space flights but industry officials in Florida remained calm after the latest explosion of a cargo rocket on Sunday. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
U.S. Supreme Court: Execution drug used in Florida not “cruel and unusual”
Just hours after the high court ruled that a drug used for lethal injections in Florida is allowed under the Constitution, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed to lift a state court order blocking executions. Tampa Bay Times’ Michael Auslen reports.
Florida’s court clerks slash services, personnel, to deal with budget cuts
The Tampa Bay Times‘ Tony Marrero writes about pending budget cuts in court clerks’ offices statewide. Clerks are blaming the Legislature for failing to make up a deficit in the state trust fund that feeds their budgets.
GOP feud in Tallahassee likely to flare up again
Bitter resentment remains among Florida Republicans, the Orlando Sentinel’s Gray Rohrer explains. The feud could affect Florida residents in many ways, as lawmakers next year again consider slashing taxes, expanding health coverage and increasing education and environmental funding.
Family matters: Excitement builds for western Panhandle Senate primary
If everyone makes the moves they are posturing for right now, Florida’s western Panhandle could see a very exciting primary season. Under one potential scenario, the entire western Panhandle could soon be represented by a member of the Gaetz family. Matthew Isabell delves into deep analysis for SaintPetersBlog.com.
U.S. Supreme Court rules that independent commissions can draw Congressional districts
Arizona and California rely the most on independent commissions although several other states use the commissions in part. The Miami Herald’s Amy Sherman adds a Florida perspective to the McClatchy story on the “Naked Politics” blog.
Puerto Rican debt crisis could hit South Florida, say business leaders
As Puerto Rico’s government looms on the edge of a $72 billion default, local business and community leaders with ties to the island territory voiced concerns that a prolonged crisis on the island could hurt South Florida’s economy. The Miami Herald’s Nicholas Nehemas and Molly Duffy report.
Broward’s Port Everglades Cleared to Widen, Deepen Channels
Broward County’s Port Everglades has received a new report that clears the way for it to begin the next phase of deepening and widening its channels. The Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Grass-roots push could put solar energy in local homes
A small group that calls itself Central Florida Solar Advocates is holding community meetings aimed at forming a cooperative venture to reduce solar costs for homeowners through a bulk purchase of equipment and installation. Kevin Spear reports for the Orlando Sentinel.
Texas Court Denies Insurer’s Reinsurance Tax Break Argument
A Texas appeals court has ruled that an insurer can’t recoup premium taxes reluctantly paid on reinsurance agreements with two public employee self-insured risk pools on the grounds that the risk pools aren’t insurers. Stephanie K. Jones reports for Insurance Journal.
Marsh Reports on How Terrorism Reinsurance Law Uncertainty Affected Market
After a slight dip in the wake of the brief lapse of the U.S. federal terrorism reinsurance program in early 2015, terrorism insurance market conditions are steady again, although there have been some noteworthy changes in behavior, insurance broker Marsh said in a new report. Insurance Journal notes the story.
Watch Out for ERISAfication of All Retirement Money, Experts Warn
Legal experts with retirement plan companies and broker-dealers on Monday warned of the “ERISAfication” of individual retirement plans if the U.S. Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule proposal is adopted. Cyril Tuohy reports for InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Everledger uses “block chain” to combat insurance fraud
One of the main drives, since Bitcoin began gaining popularity have been the other possible uses of the block chain technology that drives it. Some have found ways to build other data layers on top of the block chain while others have found it possible to use the block chain to secure copyright notices. P.H. Madore reports for Cryptocoinsnews. com,
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