Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, October 15, 2015

Oct 15, 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


There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

How Rising Sea Levels Will Reshape Florida and Others

Millions of Americans live on land destined to be reclaimed by rising sea levels, and that number rises dramatically if carbon dioxide emissions continue unchecked or if West Antarctica’s ice sheet is as unstable as recent studies suggest, according to a new report.  The Washington Post’s Chris Mooney reports via the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Florida Lawmakers Push for Ride Sharing Service Regulations on 2016 Agenda

Some lawmakers in the Sunshine State are pushing for regulations that they say would help consumers when it comes to services such as Uber and airbnb.  WCTV reports.

 

Broward OKs new rules; Uber could be back in county by today

Even as their Palm Beach County counterparts have pushed the issue to Tallahassee, Broward commissioners Tuesday approved a sweeping package of rules for app-based freelance ride services that likely will draw transportation giant Uber, which left in July, back to the county.  Elliot Kleinberg reports for the Palm Beach Post.

 

El Faro lawsuit in Florida likely just the first step in a long legal process

The family of a crew member on the cargo ship sues its owner and the vessel’s captain, one of 33 people who died in the sinking.  The Portland Press-Herald reports.

 

Expert witnesses up for debate

Florida adopted the Daubert Standard a couple of years ago and Scott signed it onto law.  But the separation of powers means the Florida courts are still using the old standard, known as the Frye Standard until the change is ordered by the Florida Supreme Court.  Columnist John Torres writes for FloridaToday.com.

 

Surprise medical bills forum takes on issues consumers want solved

Consumers from Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast have joined others from across Florida to let a state advocate know about their problems with surprise medical bills ahead of a forum in Tallahassee Thursday.  Charles Elmore reports for the Palm Beach Post.

 

Governor Scott and Legislature could collide again over State budget

Both of the Florida Democrats representing “Romney districts” and two of the three Republicans in “Obama districts” could be on their way out in 2016.Setting up another potential tug-of-war over spending, Florida Governor Rick Scott has vowed to push for another hefty package of tax cuts in the coming year.  The Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via the Tampa Tribune.

 

Scott to push again for increased Medicaid funding

The 2016 Session could be a repeat for Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature with regard to federal health care funding, PoliticoFlorida.com’s Christine Jordan Sexton reports.

 

Proposed Senate maps more compact, likely to face race questions

Legislative redistricting staff released six proposed maps on Wednesday, setting the stage for next week’s start to a much-anticipated special redistricting session needed to redraw Florida’s state Senate districts.  Matt Dixon reports for PoliticoFlorida.com.

 

Florida’s Moderate Lawmakers Are in Trouble Thanks to a New Congressional Map

Both of the Florida Democrats representing “Romney districts” and two of the three Republicans in “Obama districts” could be on their way out in 2016, Jack Fitzpatrick reports for the National Journal.

 

Governor Rick Scott declines to weigh in on Legislature’s gun bills 

As the Florida Legislature considers several highly consequential gun bills this fall in the run-up to the 2016 session, Republican Governor Rick Scott won’t say how he feels about them, the Miami Herald’s Kristin M. Clark reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.

 

How Monkeys Became Big Business In Florida

The breeders are proud.  The activists are mad.  The neighbors are confused.  And the monkeys still have good aim.  Felix Gillette reports for Bloomberg.com.

 

ProPublica, NPR:  Inside Corporate America’s Campaign to Ditch Workers’ Comp

Standing before a giant map in his Dallas office, Bill Minick doesn’t seem like anyone’s idea of a bomb thrower.  But backed by some of the biggest names in corporate America, this mild-mannered son of an evangelist is plotting a revolution in how companies take care of injured workers.  Insurance Journal reprints the ProPublica/NPR story.

 

 

 

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