Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, January 7
Jan 7, 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 insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida’s state-backed property insurer and state regulators have cleared the path for the insurer to begin issuing a new HO-8 policy by limiting it to low-value older homes, addressing concerns that the policies’ low rates could lead to a potential influx of policies into the insurer.
Florida governor sees new companies, capital as key to lower insurance rates
Governor Rick Scott wants to attract new property insurers to the Florida market to help drive down premiums, but new companies are hard to come by despite seven straight years without a hurricane.
Letter to the Editor: GOP Legislature, Governor Rick Scott choose insurers over consumers
Florida Today recently ran an article about property insurance rates going up, even though there are no recent storms causing such a need.
19 Fraudsters Nabbed As Florida PIP Reform Takes Hold
Authorities shut down yet another clinic specializing in bogus treatment. What will stricter guidelines portend for the flawed PIP system?
Red light cameras: Mixed feelings and 1 million citations
The first statewide study of red light cameras in Florida shows that drivers in Sarasota and Bradenton were hit with a total of 20,000 citations.
Cars being used as camouflage for criminals
Weldon Malveau, 37, was arrested last summer after fleeing police in a Porsche and getting pulled over 11 hours later in a Monte Carlo.
Editorial: Make auto insurance reductions mandatory
In Florida, the insurance industry never gives; it just takes. The Florida Legislature must be less giving.
Florida Brain-Injury Center Seeks Bankruptcy as Bank Sees Default
Florida regulators are demanding that a brain-injury treatment center with patients from across the U.S. prove that it’s financially viable, as the facility seeks bankruptcy protection.
Feds deal out penalties, bonuses to region’s hospitals for Medicare treatment
Several Southwest Florida hospitals may be making resolutions to improve medical care because Medicare is changing reimbursement to reflect which hospitals perform well against those that aren’t.
GOP state lawmakers aim to kill local sick-time measures
The brutal political fight over mandatory sick time for workers in Orange County is about to move to Tallahassee, as two Central Florida lawmakers want to block locally driven efforts supporting the idea.
Confie Seguros Buys 3 More Florida Brokerages
Hispanic market-focused insurance agency network Confie Seguros said it has acquired three insurance brokerages in Florida that will strengthen the company’s operations in that state.
Florida company purchases Tennessee’s Wade & Egbert Insurance Partners
Nashville’s Wade & Egbert Insurance Partners has been purchased by Florida-based AssuredPartners.
After surviving fiscal cliff, Florida still faces budget ax
You may already know your taxes are going up this year, even if you’re not in the top 2 percent of money makers.
Population growth likely to push Florida past New York, experts say
It was startling news for a state that gains about 3 million residents each decade.
GOP leaders offer hope to party faithful
Conceding that “we got our teeth kicked in” last year, Republican Party of Florida leaders began a 22-month countdown to the 2014 elections Saturday with a vow to shake a political “stigma” of blind opposition to President Barack Obama — while not retreating from a principled opposition to Obama Administration policies.
Blog: Brian Logan joins Representative Dana Young’s team as Staff Director for House Whip’s Office
Deputy Majority Leader and Whip of the Florida House, Representative Dana Young, announced that Brian Logan has joined her team as Staff Director.
Joe Biden: Patrick Murphy “did the country a favor” by beating Allen West
Hours after Representative Patrick Murphy officially took office, Biden performed his own ceremonial swearing-in for Murphy.
Guy Carpenter: Reinsurance Sector Generally Stable at January 1 Renewals
Reinsurance pricing at January 1, 2013 was generally stable, with only loss-affected lines and regions experiencing volatility, according to a Guy Carpenter report.
NOAA: 2012’s U.S. Billion-Dollar Extreme Weather Events Impressive
Last year may not have measured up to 2011 in terms total damages or havoc wreaked, but the nearly dozen recorded billion-dollar weather related events still ranks as impressive.
In New Jersey, New PIP Rules Go Into Effect After Court Denies Stay Request
New Jersey’s Superior Court has denied a medical group’s request for a stay of the new motor vehicle personal injury protection regulations last evening.
Tennessee State Senator, Insurance Agent Tracy to Run for Congress
State Senator Jim Tracy officially announced Wednesday that he will run for the congressional seat held by fellow Republican U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais, saying the embattled lawmaker has deceived his constituents and needs to be replaced with a more trustworthy representative.
South Dakota Court Rules Against “Owned-But-Not-Insured” Exclusion
“Burke’s Law,” a monthly column featured on www.claimsjournal.com, recently reviewed the South Dakota Supreme Court’s decision in Wheeler v. Farmers Mut. Ins. Co. of Neb., 2012 S.D. 83.
American Fire Marks: Insurance Treasures from a Bygone Era
Fire marks are lead or copper signs that during the 18th through early 20th centuries were affixed to the exterior of buildings and embossed with the logo of their insurance carrier.
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