Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, February 5

Feb 5, 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

 

There are no events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News


Florida’s “Operation Leaky Pipes” Leads to 12 Property Insurance Fraud Arrests

Florida CFO Jeff Atwater said an ongoing insurance fraud investigation uncovered a scheme between a licensed public adjuster and a plumber to coach homeowners on how to file fraudulent insurance claims for pre-existing or non-existent water damage, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Florida House Panel Backs Ban on Insurers Discriminating Against Gun Owners

Insurance companies could face tougher penalties if they impose higher rates, refuse to issue or cancel auto or homeowner policies due to gun ownership, under a measure backed by a House committee Tuesday, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Scott now urges Boehner to support flood insurance bill

In a shift from his former stance, Florida Governor Rick Scott urged House Speaker John Boehner to take up legislation to provide relief to Florida homeowners getting rocked by higher flood insurance rates, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports for “Naked Politics.”

 

Prescription drug database overhaul moving in Senate

The Senate Health Policy Committee approved changes to the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in the wake of concerns about patient privacy, despite objections from law enforcement officials that Senate Bill 7016 could weaken a tool intended to curb controlled substance abuses. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.

 

House Democrats slam Scott budget; Republicans supportive

House lawmakers got their first in-depth look at Governor Rick Scott’s $74.2 billion budget proposal Tuesday, and gubernatorial election-year politics played out, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.

 

Developments of Regional Impact bill clears first Senate stop

A bill that would expand the list of counties where larger developments are excluded from a state review process passed its first committee stop Tuesday despite opposition from environmentalists, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.

 

Kathleen Peters Faces Major GOP Threat in Leo Govoni

After losing out to David Jolly, Kathleen Peters should not expect an easy 2014 as she turns to defending her Florida House seat, Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Gainesville-Based Private Flood Insurance Provider Steps Into Connecticut Market

The Flood Insurance Agency of Gainesville, Fla., is offering flood insurance policies in Connecticut, Stephen Singer reports for Insurance Journal.

 

Florida Home Insurer Universal Property & Casualty to Enter Indiana, Minnesota, Delaware

Florida-based Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co. (UPCIC) has applied to expand into Indiana, Minnesota and Delaware, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Nan Rich Claims Lawton Chiles’ Legacy With Buddy MacKay’s Endorsement

Former Gov. Buddy MacKay, the last Democrat to hold that office, on Tuesday endorsed former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich, the “true Democrat,” for governor, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Federal Insurance Office chief tries to quell state v. federal regulator debate

The time has come to “move away” from the state versus federal debate over the best way to regulate insurance, the head of the Federal Insurance Office told a U.S. House panel on Tuesday, Mark Hofmann reports for Business Insurance.

 

 

Click here to follow Colodny Fass& Webb on Twitter (@CFTLAWcom)

 

 

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.