Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, February 14

Feb 14, 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

 

Damaging Wind Came And Left Fast, Haines City Residents Say

What started as a light drizzle Wednesday quickly turned into a heavy storm with gusts reaching as high as 50 mph in parts of Polk County, according to the National Weather Service, Cody Dulaney reports for the Lakeland Ledger.

 

Fitch Downgrades Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida

Fitch Ratings announced yesterday that it has downgraded Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s (BCBSF) Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating to ‘A’ from ‘A+’ and the company’s Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘A-‘ from ‘A’. 

 

Patriot National, Stonewood Partner on Healthcare Program

Patriot National Insurance Group Inc., a workers’ compensation insurer based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has a new partnership with Stonewood National Insurance Co. for a healthcare industry program in the Midwest, Insurance Journal reports.

 

“Cash balance” state pension bill filed

A new bill would create a “cash balance” pension plan for state workers, one that’s a hybrid between a traditional pension and a (401)k, assuring them a set rate of return toward their retirement, Tampa Bay Times’ James Rosica reports.

 

Parasailing accident victims urge more state oversight

A mother whose teen-age daughter was killed and another severely injured in a South Florida parasailing accident, pleaded Thursday with a Senate committee to approve new oversight of the lucrative but largely unregulated industry, Palm Beach Post’s John Kennedy blogs in “Post on Politics.”

 

Growler bill gets Senate start, but beer battle still looms

Legislation to allow beer brewers in Florida to sell 64-ounce bottles known as “growlers” cleared the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Thursday by a unanimous vote after being delayed last week, The Florida Current’s Gray Rohrer reports.

 

Did the Florida Department of Revenue break the Sunshine Law? Executive director set to testify

A House panel last week grilled a Florida Department of Revenue official over whether or not committees housed within that department violated state Sunshine Laws, Florida Times Union’s Matt Dixon reports.

 

At capital book-signing, Crist says veto pen would be mightier than GOP disdain

Near the midpoint of a three-week tour, former Gov. Charlie Crist came to Tallahassee to sign copies of his new book Thursday for a few dozen fans about three miles from the state Capitol, Palm Beach Post’s John Kennedy blogs in “Post on Politics.”

 

Former Bush advisor becomes chairman of group backing conservation lands amendment

Allison DeFoor, a former environmental advisor to Governor Jeb Bush and former board member of statewide business and environmental groups, has been appointed chairman of the political committee backing a proposed constitutional amendment for conservation lands, The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie reports.

 

Federal Appeals Court:  U.S. Has Jurisdiction in Chinese Drywall Suits

U.S. courts have jurisdiction over claims that a Chinese drywall company’s defective product wrecked homes, and a company that failed to show up in court must pay $2.7 million for damage to seven Virginia couples, a federal appeals court in New Orleans has ruled, Associated Press’ Janet McConnaughey reports via Insurance Journal.

 

House Agrees to Vote on Flood Rate-Hike Delay Bill, but Will Craft Its Own

In a breakthrough, the House Republican leadership has agreed to allow a vote on modifying flood insurance rate hikes, National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com reports.

 

Study Looks at Options to Depopulate Texas Coastal Wind Insurer

Loss exposure for Texas’ wind and hail insurer of last resort along the coast increased by around 319 percent between 2005 and 2012 – from $23.26 billion to $74.17 billion, and its policy count grew by approximately 243 percent – from 109,693 to 266,726, Insurance Journal’s Stephanie K. Jones reports.

 

U.S. Submits 2015 Global Climate Wishlist to United Nations

The United States on Wednesday submitted to the United Nations its vision for a new international climate agreement that is “built to last,” outlining what it thinks should be the main elements of a climate deal to be agreed upon in Paris in 2015, Bloomberg reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Nothing Says “I Love You” Like the Valentine’s Day Gift of Insurance

“The word ‘insurance’ is not likely to be the first word on many lovers lips this Valentine’s Day,” explains says Jeanne M. Salvatore, the I.I.I.’s chief communications officer, in this PropertyCasualty360.com article by Christine Washburn.

 

 

 

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