Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Thursday, October 2, 2014
Oct 2, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Another 215,000 Citizens Policies Approved For Florida Private Market
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced Wednesday that up to 215,488 customers of Citizens Property Insurance could be shifted in December to nine private carriers, NorthEscambia.com reports.
Flooding Damage to 36 Homeowners Totals $380,000 as Calm Returns to Region
After two days of torrential rain in places and a maximum-recorded reading of 16 inches in central Palm Coast, two days of calm have restored normalcy to the city’s sewer system, lifting restrictions on water usage and ending cases of isolated flooding, FlaglerLive.com reports.
Roofing company stole insurance money from homeowners, officials said
Employees at a roofing company that officials say stole insurance money from nearly 100 homeowners have been arrested, the Florida Department of Financial Services said Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Times reports.
Florida insurance officials appeal for potential victims to step forward
Florida insurance regulators say they are searching for more potential victims of a Plant City insurance agent who was arrested on a fraud charge, the Tampa Tribune reports.
U.S. Senate climate change delegation to see Ft. Lauderdale street flooding firsthand
On October 9, the start of South Florida’s seasonal high tide, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is bringing colleagues to South Florida to see for themselves how the streets flood when seas swell, the Miami Herald’s David Smiley reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
- South Florida climate change summit opens
- NPR: When Can A Big Storm Or Drought Be Blamed On Climate Change?
Hub International Announces Central Florida Acquisition of Assets of Kuykendall Gardner
Acquisition continues the strategic expansion of Hub International in the Southeast and Florida, the company reports.
Senator Maria Sachs will take to the sky to commemorate new parasailing regulations
After years of struggle, a new law takes effect today that regulates operators in the parasailing industry. Democratic state Sen. Maria Sachs, who sponsored the bill, is celebrating the bill by going parasailing herself, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Activists call on Jeff Brandes to change position on Medicaid expansion
Supporters of Medicaid expansion are continuing to take their fight to Republican legislators who have rejected federal funds to implement a program that would extend health-care benefits to some 1 million low income Floridians, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Janelle Irwin reports.
Florida Supreme Court asked to decide new map for Congress
A divided appeals court wants the Florida Supreme Court to decide if the state’s new congressional map is legal. Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Medical pot panel issues loophole-closing ideas
Florida For Care, an offshoot of the pro-Amendment 2 campaign committee United For Care, issued a report on dozens of proposed laws and regulations that the Florida Legislature and Department of Health could adopt to make sure production, sales and use of medicinal marijuana in Florida is regulated against widespread abuses, Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Powers reports.
FBI: Florida Leader and Organizer of $49.6 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme Sentenced
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the conviction and sentencing of persons masterminding a complex $49.6 million mortgage fraud scheme against various FDIC-insured lenders, including Bank of America, Regions Bank, SunTrust Bank, and Wachovia Bank.
Senator Latvala, State Representative Peters plan legislation to regulate utility industry
Senator Jack Latvala and State Representative Kathleen Peters plan to file legislation that would impose tougher regulations an higher accountability to Florida utility companies, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Janelle Irwin reports.
Bills filed for 2015 to increase security for after-school programs
A bipartisan pair of state lawmakers filed some of the first bills in the 2015 Legislative Session on Tuesday, with measures to increase protections for children in Florida’s after-school programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch reports.
Latest scam letter assumes Florida financial regulatory spokeswoman’s identity
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation issued an alert yesterday, warning consumers of yet another fake, something-for-nothing letter going around. The Tampa Tribune’s James Rosica reports via the “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Adam Putnam Makes a Play for Conservatives, Both for Now and Later
Adam Putnam is trying to rally conservatives and get some notice as he continues his campaign for a second term, Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Closely watched Florida House race heats up
Both Democratic State Representative Jose Javier Rodriguez and his Republican challenger Daniel Diaz Levya have debuted new television ads, the Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory writes for “The Buzz” blog.
Tom Goodson, Kevin Rader file for 2016 runs
Coming off primary victories in August, State Representatives Tom Goodson and Kevin Rader have filed paperwork Wednesday to run in 2016, according the Florida Division of Elections web site, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Federal Reserve to Study Effect of Banks’ Systemic Risk Rules on Insurers
The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday announced plans to study the potential effects of forcing big insurance companies to meet tough funding restrictions required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, Reuters’ Emily Stephenson reports via Insurance Journal.
Speculation on the Likely Path for TRIA Renewal
The most likely path to enactment of legislation reauthorizing a federal backstop for terrorism risk insurance that insurers can live with is House de facto acceptance of the preferable Senate bill, through inclusion of it in a must-pass congressional resolution needed to keep the government running through the transition to a new Congress, National Underwriter’s Arthur Postal reports via PropertyCasualty360.com.
Texas Windstorm Insurer Says Finances Are Shaping Up
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association announced it has successfully obtained $500 million in funds to assist in paying future catastrophic claims and that the association is now in its best financial position since Hurricane Ike in 2008. The funds come from the issuance of pre-event Class 1 bonds by the Texas Public Finance Authority on behalf of TWIA, Insurance Journal reports.
Washington prepares to enact state insurance requirements for Uber, Lyft
Colorado already has its own set of state-level regulations for companies like UberX and Lyft. California just enacted its own laws earlier this month, Taylor Soper reports for GeekWire.com.
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