Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, May 10

May 10, 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

 

There are no Florida insurance-related events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

National Hurricane Center Working to Improve Storm Surge Forecasts After Wet 2012

Last year’s hurricane season drove home some big lessons, according to the nation’s chief hurricane forecaster: Storm surge and flooding are dangerous and difficult to predict, and sometimes it’s even harder to communicate that sense of urgency to the public, Insurance Journal’s Jennifer Kay reports from the Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Florida.

 

Hernando County to ask FEMA for sinkhole relief

The Tampa Tribune’s Michael Bates reports that sinkholes are a drain on the local economy, and the outlook for 2013 remains grim, said Kevin Johnston, a valuation services supervisor with the Hernando County Property Appraiser’s Office.

 

Public Rate Hearing Scheduled for American Security Insurance Company’s Florida Lender-Placed Insurance Program

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is conducting a public hearing to review the proposed rate filing for American Security Insurance Company’s property collateral protection program, also known as “lender-placed” or “force-placed” insurance, reports CapitalSoup.com.

 

Water Line Emergency Service Repair Company Plans Florida Campaign

HomeServe USA a leading provider of home emergency repair service plans, today announced that it, in association with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his team at Giuliani Partners, will be launching a campaign directed at Florida homeowners to educate them on their water service line responsibilities and ways they can protect themselves from the cost and inconvenience of a water service line emergency.

 

Spray Foam Adhesive for Roof Decks Scores Highest in Approval for Miami-Dade High-Velocity Hurricane Zones 

In a news release issued today, InsulStar explained that its product enhances the connection strength of the existing roof system, which helps mitigate the effects of wind uplift pressure.

 

Affordable Care Act funds to help Florida health centers enroll uninsured for coverage

The Miami Herald’s Dan Chang reports that dozens of Florida community health centers serving the poor and uninsured – including 10 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties – are eligible for a share of $8 million in federal funds to help uninsured individuals obtain health coverage when new marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act open Oct. 1, U.S. Health and Human Services officials announced Thursday.

 

Blog:  Governor’s “victory tour” touts rule repeal, end of teacher tenure, for economic rebound

Gov. Rick Scott has been on a “victory tour” of schools this week to tout the $480 million in merit-based raises for teachers that lawmakers agreed to fund in their $74.5 billion budget passed last week, Orlando Sentinel’s Aaron Deslatte reports.

 

Florida Attorney General Bondi Hails Historic Investment Advisory Council Appointment

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi voiced her support for the historic appointment of MaryEllen Elia to the State Board of Administration Investment Advisory Council.

 

Florida Supreme Court declines to hear case involving environmental group sanctions

The 1st District Court of Appeal in a Martin County land-use case ordered that an administrative judge impose legal fees and sanctions against 1000 Friends of Florida and the Martin County Conservation Alliance.  The case, which a dissenting judge said could have a “chilling effect” on citizen participation in land-use disputes, was dismissed Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court without a ruling on its merits reports The Florida Current’s Bruce Ritchie.

 

The Florida Current’s 2013 Session Summary:  Economic Development

There was more money to maneuver with this year as lawmakers enjoyed the first projected surplus in three years, but Gov. Rick Scott didn’t get near his desired amount of incentive funds nor did sports teams make the cut for tax credits, The Florida Current’s “PolicyNote” explains.

 

The Florida Current’s 2013 Session Summary:  State and Local Administration

State employees’ gained their first pay raise in six years, health insurance coverage was extended to part-time state employees, and the people’s “right to be heard” at meetings conducting public business was approved by lawmakers and sent to Gov. Rick Scott for his decision, The Florida Current’s “PolicyNote” explains.

 

Florida Senator Nancy Detert testifies on foster care in Washington D.C.

State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, told a subcommittee of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in Washington, D.C., that regulations aimed at protecting children are often doing more harm than good, Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Jeremy Wallace reports.

 

Almost 200 Florida Assisted Living Facilities accused of cheating on property taxes

Already the focus of intense scrutiny by lawmakers and elder advocates, Florida’s troubled assisted-living industry has taken another hit: Miami-Dade’s new property appraiser has accused scores of assisted living facilities’  owners of gaining improper homestead exemptions that could cost taxpayers millions of dollars, The Miami Herald’s Carol Marbin Miller continues in her award-winning report “Neglected to Death.”

 

Demotech Publishes Analysis of Risk Retention Groups – Year-End 2012

Demotech, Inc. recently published Analysis of Risk Retention Groups – Year-End 2012 which contains expert analysis from Douglas A. Powell, Senior Financial Analyst, along with industry perspective on other topics pertaining to risk retention groups.

 

Federal Bills Encourage States to Adopt, Enforce Uniform Building Codes

Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate aimed at providing additional incentives for states to adopt and enforce uniform building codes, PropertyCasualty360.com‘s Arthur Postal reports.

 

Terrorism Risk Insurance Debate Heats Up with Subsidy Charge 

A consumer advocacy group says the property/casualty insurance industry has been getting a sweet deal worth about $7 billion as a result of the federal government’s program to help pay terrorism insurance claims after private insurance is exhausted, Insurance Journal’s Andrew Simpson reports.

 

NAIC Members to Lead International Insurance Dialogue

U.S. and International Regulators Advance Global Framework

The NAIC will host the 6th annual International Insurance Forum May 9-10 in Washington, D.C.

 

Insurance companies must now summarize policies for consumers in New Jersey

Legislation co-sponsored by Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. of Hoboken that will require insurance companies to provide consumers with one-page summaries of their policies was signed into law this week, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports.

 

Louisiana Citizens concerned by proposed rate cap 

A proposed law that would limit rate increases for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation could make it harder to effectively manage the state-backed insurer of last resort, according to the company’s chief executive officer, reports The Advocate’s Ted Griggs.

 

North Carolina State Representative seeks to broaden base for setting insurance rates

 Rep Paul Tine, who represents Beaufort County in the North Carolina House was reported by the Beaufort News & Observer as having worked to amend H 519 in the House Insurance Committee to broaden the base upon which homeowners’ insurance rates are based.


New York Times:  Hurricane Sandy Leaves Residue of Questions

The New York Times’ Stacy Stowe writes that last fall, after Hurricane Sandy sent water sloshing through her storage container in New Jersey, Ulla Pitha began to worry whether any of her 27 artworks had been damaged.  But she worried in particular about one piece: a Mary Cassatt etching.

 

 

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.