Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Thursday, November 20, 2014
Nov 20, 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
3:00 p.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Operations Committee meeting. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Gunman killed after shooting at Florida State University
Florida State University police fatally shot a gunman at the campus library early Thursday in a shooting that left three others wounded as hundreds studying inside the library fled or took cover in panic. Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe (FIRM) still needs roughly 24 people to volunteer their homes for inspection in order to complete one of the most comprehensive windstorm rate studies ever conducted. Timothy O’Hara reports for KeysNews.com.
Florida’s Bill Nelson chairs U.S. Senate hearing today on exploding airbags
During a hearing today, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-Florida, will question the quality chief of an airbag manufacturer whose product has been recalled following the death of an Orlando woman. Palm Beach Post’s Laura Green reports for the “Post on Politics” blog.
South Florida Legislator Seeks To Toughen Texting-While-Driving Law
Florida lawmakers are looking to turn the heat up on people texting behind the wheel, Chris Stewart reports for WPTV.
Sarasota Memorial, United Healthcare dispute headed to court
Sarasota Memorial and United Healthcare are scheduled to meet in a Sarasota County courtroom December 1 to begin the legal process that will determine if thousands of United Healthcare policyholders will lose access to the hospital system at the end of the year. Maggie Clark reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Florida pension reform looms large
With a larger Republican majority, legislative leaders are expected to try again in the 2015 session to revamp the Florida retirement system. Lloyd Dunkelberger reports for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Governor Scott to scale back inaugural events
Governor Rick Scott isn’t going to hold an inaugural ball before he’s sworn into a second term in office. There won’t be a parade either, the Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Bill Hager files bill to tighten regulation of “sober houses”
Moments after being sworn in for a third term Tuesday, Rep. Bill Hager of Boca Raton filed HB 21, strengthening regulation of sober houses, once called transitional living facilities, SaintPetersBlog.com’s James Call reports.
Florida Elections Chief Concerned about Aging Election Equipment
Decade-old voting equipment is quickly aging in nearly half of Florida’s counties, and there has been a struggle at the local level to secure money to cover the replacement costs. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida senator seeks to require “patriotic film” in class
Central Florida senator wants to require middle- and high-school students throughout the state to see what his proposal describes as a “patriotic film.” THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Orlando Sentinel.
Libertarian may have hurt Rick Scott more than Charlie Crist
Initial data has shown that Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie had a far greater negative effect on Rick Scott, but almost no effect on Charlie Crist. Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith posts the story on “The Buzz” blog.
Top Florida lawmakers tout new parenting program
At their first joint press conference since becoming the state’s top lawmakers, Republican Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli touted a new parenting program that started in Brevard County. The Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
U.S. House Subcommittee Renews Call for Private Flood Insurance
A U.S. House Financial Services subcommittee held a hearing yesterday to focus attention on encouraging flood insurance sold by private insurers as an alternative to policies sold by the National Flood Insurance Program, Insurance Journal reports.
Hensarling keeps U.S. House Financial Services gavel
U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) will stay on as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Connecticut Insurance Commissioner stepping down
Thomas B. Leonardi is stepping down as commissioner of the Connecticut Insurance Department, TheDay.com reports.
New York’s Lawsky Leaving After $3 Billion in Fines Makes Mark
In three years as New York’s financial watchdog, Lawsky extracted more than $3 billion in fines from global banks, called for the firing of executives and questioned whether the lightly regulated nonbank servicers are properly handling modifications and defaults. Bloomberg’s Alexis Leondis, Kathleen M. Howley and Greg Farrell report via Insurance Journal.
NAIC to Congress: U.S. Regulators Protecting American Consumers and Markets
At a hearing on Capitol Hill, Michael F. Consedine, NAIC Vice-President and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner, testified on behalf of the NAIC on international insurance issues.
Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel; Kentucky Insurance Commissioner Sharon P. Clark; Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica J. Lindeen; Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael F. Consedine are the new National Association of Insurance Commissioners Officers for 2015.
Insurance Regulators Establish Cybersecurity Task Force
The NAIC has formed a special task force to help coordinate insurance issues related to cybersecurity.
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