Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, October 1
Oct 1, 2013
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 Office of Insurance Regulation Public Rate Hearing: National Council on Compensation Insurance (“NCCI”). Consideration of an NCCI workers’ compensation filing for an overall average increase in rate levels of 1 percent for the voluntary market for all new and renewal policies written in Florida, effective January 1, 2014. To view the hearing notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Blog: Congressional inaction on flood insurance also spawns trouble for Florida starting today
On the same day the federal government grinds to a halt, more than 268,000 Florida homeowners will face a hit to their pocketbooks because of federal inaction on another front – rising flood insurance rates, Mary Ellen Klas reports for the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.
- Flood Insurance Sticker Shock Hits Floridians with New, Secondary Homes
- Author of Flood Reform Act Calls for Delay in Implementation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved seven private companies to potentially acquire up to 220,649 policies, including about 10,000 coastal accounts, in December from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, reports THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA.
Officials examine possible sinkhole near Tampa
Officials in Hillsborough County are trying to determine whether a hole behind a shopping center in Brandon is a sinkhole, according to ABC Action News in Tampa via Orlando Sentinel.
Heritage Insurance Announces Mel Russell as New Executive
Heritage Insurance welcomes Mel Russell as its new Chief Underwriting Officer, Executive Vice President and Director of Sales & Marketing. Mr. Russell has 36 years of experience in the property and casualty business, and most recently served as President of United Property & Casualty Insurance Company, a company news release explains.
Critics to try to repeal red-light cameras
Just three years after voting to allow red-light cameras throughout the state, the Florida Legislature is now taking a serious look at banning them altogether, Kathleeen Haughney reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Blog: HCA wants trauma center fight bumped to Florida Supreme Court
Hospitals affiliated with the HCA health-care chain are seeking a rehearing in the 1st District Court of Appeal after a ruling this month cleared the way for challenges to the continued operation of trauma centers at Blake Medical Center in Manatee County and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Pasco County, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.
Study: Gambling Wonderland Would Do Little For Florida Economy
Doubling down on gambling by turning Florida into the next Las Vegas would have just a minimal impact on the state’s economy and wouldn’t do much to create new jobs, according to an analysis by Spectrum Gaming Group set to be released today, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports in this exclusive via SunshineStateNews.com.
State agency hasn’t filed legal challenges against any local growth decisions since 2011
The State of Florida has filed no legal challenges against any local comprehensive plan amendments since sweeping growth law changes passed the Legislature in 2011, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.
An obituary for Florida’s Committees of Continuous Existence, 1973-2013
Committee of Continuous Existence, a colorful figure in Florida’s world of campaign finance regulation, died today after the Florida Division of Elections revoked all CCE certifications in compliance with legislation passed earlier this year by state lawmakers. Committee of Continuous Existence had just celebrated its fortieth birthday, writes Peter Schorsch for SaintPetersBlog.com.
George Sheldon Could Help Old Rival Charlie Crist by Taking on Pam Bondi
George Sheldon will be leaving Washington and heading home to Florida as buzz continues to grow that he will challenge Pam Bondi in 2014, Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
If It Happens: Federal Government Shutdown Effect on Insurance Industry
If Congress fails to agree by midnight tonight on a resolution to continue funding the federal government, the property/casualty insurance industry should not be seriously affected by the resulting shutdown, Insurance Journal reports.
New York to Compensate Storm Victims for Obscure National Flood Insurance Program Exclusion
New York will use part of its share of billions of dollars in federal Superstorm Sandy aid to “fully compensate” storm victims who had flood insurance claims denied because of a hard-to-understand rule barring payments for damage caused by earth movement during a flood, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday, David B. Caruso reports for Insurance Journal.
NAPSLO Legislative Update: The Latest from Washington
NAPSLO officials are voicing strong support for the enactment of federal legislation that would create a national clearinghouse that would serve as a one-stop licensing system for agents and brokers operating outside of their home state, Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
European Risk Managers State Positions on Captives, Niche Companies and Solvency II
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) released a bulletin detailing the organization’s position on how captives and “niche insurers” could be adversely affected by Solvency II.
Wall Street Journal Tech Blog: London Startup Wants to Shake Up Reinsurance
Insuring pretty much anything more complicated than your home or car is a slow, expensive, and labor-intensive process that is likely to be done in a way that has changed little in hundreds of years, Ben Rooney writes for the Wall Street Journal.
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