Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Monday, February 9, 2015

Feb 9, 2015

 

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

 

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.–Florida House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee meeting;   To view the meeting notice, click here.

  • Workshop on assignment of benefits for property and casualty insurance 

     

     

    Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

     

    Letter of the Day:  Assignment of Benefits are an essential tool for homeowners

    Assignment of Benefits is backed by over a hundred years of Florida insurance law, a plaintiffs’ and restoration companies’ attorney writes to the Tampa Tribune in response to State Representative David Santiago’s recent editorial opinion.

     

    Florida’s Expanding Sinkholes Won’t Deter Fracking

    If Florida’s industrial and environmental history is anything to go by, even the increasing risk of sinkholes may not be enough to convince lawmakers to vote against fracking in a state whose greatest resource – and possibly its greatest commodity – is its fresh water.  Jan Lee writes for TriplePundit.com.

     

    Florida’s Citizens’ to Consolidate Workforce to Jacksonville Site

    Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors has approved a contract to consolidate the company’s information technology and other functions at the EverBank Center in downtown Jacksonville, Insurance Journal reports.

     

    Charlotte’s Web Rule published; clock ticking on 21-day comment period

    If the latest version of proposed medical marijuana rules survives February without a challenge, then by late August, legal marijuana plants will be sprouting at five Florida nurseries, James Call reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.

     

    How Republican Party of Florida could be moving toward Republican Party of Marco Rubio

    Imagine Marco Rubio vs. Adam Putnam for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.  Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith blogs on “The Buzz.”

     

    Florida agriculture not on board with Cuba trade

    Most of U.S. agriculture is eager for the embargo against Cuba to end but Florida agriculture is not, Susan Salisbury reports for the Palm Beach Post.

     

    Zombie foreclosures create problems for Florida sellers

    More than 3,700 houses in Metro Orlando are considered “zombie foreclosures” – properties abandoned by owners before banks reclaim them, the Orlando Sentinel’s Mary Shanklin reports.

     

    NAIC Calls for Multi-State Examination of Anthem

    Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced immediate action calling for a multi-state examination of Anthem, Inc. and its affiliates, following the discovery of a cybersecurity breach at the health insurance company.

     

    Cyber risks too big to cover, says Lloyd’s insurer

    Cyber attacks now present such a danger to global business that governments should step in to cover the risks, the head of the largest Lloyd’s of London insurer has warned.  Allistair Gray reports for Assinews.it.

     

    Anthem Cyber Attack Clouds Insurer’s Obamacare Bounty

    Despite myriad health information standards and a landmark law to protect patient privacy, it appears  insurance giant Anthem didn’t encrypt personal data of 80 million of its customers, Forbes’ Bruce Japsen reports.

     

    Michigan Supreme Court may take insurance records appeal

    A coalition of medical, labor and consumer groups wants to know how a Michigan catastrophic auto insurance fund calculates rates.  Motorists are paying $186 per vehicle per year on top of their regular insurance, the Associated Press reports via the Detroit Free Press.

     

    North Carolina Governor Faces Backlash Over Workers’ Comp Fraud Claim

    North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory is taking heat after saying in his annual State of the State address last week that nearly half of workers’ compensation claims paid to state employees are the result of abuse or fraud.  The Associated Press’ Michael Biesecker reports via Insurance Journal.

     

    NAIC Nears Indexed Universal Life Insurance Illustration Path

    The illustrations that insurers and advisors can use when selling indexed universal life insurance continue to be the subject of discussion by a National Association of Insurance Commissioners task force, Arthur Postal reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.

     

     

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