Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, May 02, 2017
May 2, 2017
Call Insurer Citizens “AOB Refugee Fund of Florida,” Amendment Says
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, but how about State-Run Citizens Property Insurance Corp.? A Proposed Amendment Filed Monday on a State Bill says, “The Corporation is Officially Recognized as the Assignment of Benefits Refugee Fund of Florida.” The Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports via the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.
Bad Condo Boards, Beware: Florida Legislature Passes New Laws Unanimously
The Florida Senate on Monday gave Unanimous and Final Approval to a Bill that imposes Criminal Penalties on Condominium Violations such as Electoral Fraud, Theft of Funds and Conflicts of Interests — all significant problems in Miami-Dade County. The Miami Herald’s Brenda Medina reports.
Miami Can Sue Big Banks for Predatory Lending, Supreme Court Rules
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the City of Miami can Sue the Nation’s Largest Financial Institutions over Allegations that Predatory Lending Practices in Minority Communities Violated the Fair Housing Act and contributed to a Real Estate Meltdown that nearly Bankrupted the City. The Miami Herald’s Lance Dixon and David Smiley report.
Florida May Lead Driverless Car Revolution
Florida Highway Building Agencies now face making sure the Roads can keep up with the Vehicles that Drive on them. The Ft. Myers News-Press reports.
Scott Signs Two Bills, Including One to Help Foster Kids Get Licenses
Senate Bill 60, known as the “Keys to Independence Act,” cements a Pilot Program Scott signed into Law three years ago and expands it to Children in settings outside Foster Homes, including Children living with Relatives or Non-Relative Caregivers. The Palm Beach Post’s Kristina Webb reports via the “Post on Politics” blog.
Glitch Drains Bank Accounts of Some Florida Blue Customers
Health Insurer Florida Blue is scrambling to fix an Auto-Pay Glitch that Drained Bank Accounts of some of its Customers on Monday. The Sun-Sentinel reports via Crain’s Miami.
Deal with Florida Would Reverse Critical Part of Obama’s Medicaid Expansion
Under the Obama Administration, the amount of the Florida Low-Income Pool fell to $608 Million a year, from $1 Billion. Governor Rick Scott, a Republican who had pushed for years to bolster the State’s Low-Income Pool, and the Trump Administration recently announced that the Pool would Grow to $1.5 Billion a year. The New York Times’ Robert Pear reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Budget Talks Continue Behind Closed Doors
Negotiations over a roughly $83 Billion Budget continued behind the scenes Monday, as other parts of the complicated maneuvering to successfully end the 2017 Legislative Session began to lock into place. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via SayfieReview.com.
- Legislature Proposes Fraction of Tax Cuts Rick Scott Wanted
- Session Extended After Friday? Democrats Warn it’s Possible.
- Joe Negron Sees “Good Progress” Toward Budget Deal as Session Enters Final Weeks
After Delay Florida Will Finally Hand Out Oil Spill Money
After keeping the Money locked up for nearly a year, Florida Legislators have finally agreed on a plan to hand out millions of dollars given the State for Damages related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via FloridaPolitics.com.
Florida Leaders Sound Alarm Over Expanded Offshore Oil Drilling
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fla., warned Monday that President Donald Trump’s embrace of Offshore Oil Drilling poses a threat to Florida’s Atlantic Coast — from both Distant Oil Spills that Ocean Currents could spread on nearby Beaches and from the possibility of Drilling Directly off the Southeastern part of the State. Anthony Man reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Senate Votes to Put $75K Homestead Exemption on 2018 Ballot
Six Democrats joined 22 Republicans as the Florida Senate Voted Monday to put on next year’s Ballot a Proposal to increase the State Homestead Property Tax Exemption to $75,000. The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Trump Names Scott to Governor’s Council
The Council is intended to serve as a mechanism for Governors and Key Federal Officials to address matters pertaining to the National Guard, Homeland Defense and Defense Support to Civil Authorities. The Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog reports.
Adam Putnam Files to Run for Governor in 2018
Putnam, a Former Congressman and State Legislator, is likely to face a Republican Primary Challenge from Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran of Land O’Lakes and possibly State Senator Jack Latvala of Clearwater. The Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith reports.
Republican State Representatives Grimsley, Caldwell to Vie for Florida Ag Commissioner
The Announcement was not a surprise: Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent months for a Political Committee that could play an important role in his Campaign. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via the Palm Beach Post.
Senate Gun Bill Goes Straight to House Floor Tuesday–After Zero Consideration
In an extremely rare move, House Leaders are rushing a Gun Bill that none of their Members have considered to the Floor during the Final Week of Session. Kristin M. Clark reports for the Miami Herald.
When Senator Artiles Resigned, What Happened to the 36 Bills He Sponsored? Most Died.
The Majority of Former Miami Republican Senator Frank Artiles’ Legislative Agenda was killed Monday, because few other Senators wanted to keep advocating for his Bills in the five remaining days of the 2017 Session. Kristin M. Clark reports for the Miami Herald.
Luetkemeyer Introduces Flood Insurance Reform Bill
U.S. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.)introduced the Taxpayer Exposure Mitigation Act, which includes several Flood Insurance Reform Policies. The American Bankers Association reports.
Federal Regulators Plan “Too Big to Fail” Meeting
The Heads of the U.S. Financial Regulators will meet next week to dive into the sensitive process of Labeling Companies “Systemically Important,” better known as “Too Big to Fail.” Reuters’ Lisa Lambert reports via Insurance Journal.
Legal Marijuana Stores Linked to Increased Property Crime
Researchers found that Crime isn’t higher in the area immediately surrounding Marijuana Outlets. But Adjacent Areas saw about 84 more Property Crimes per year than Neighborhoods without a nearby Marijuana Store. Insurance Journal reports.
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