Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Thursday, September 15, 2016

Sep 15, 2016

 

Heritage Proposes 15 Percent Rate Increase in Most of South Florida

Heritage, the third-largest Insurer in the Tri-County Region with 96,139 Personal Residential Policies at the end of March, this month filed for approval to increase rates an average 9.9 percent Statewide to insure houses and condos transferred from State-Run Citizens Property Insurance, the Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise reports.

 

Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Reforms Appear To Be Lowering Costs, Report Says

Legislation targeting Auto Insurance Fraud has produced savings on Personal-Injury Claims of 17. 5 percent, and reduced Premiums by a little more than 15 percent.  Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Julia Marks First-Ever Florida Tropical Storm to Form Over Land 

Here’s why Julia’s notable:  When it formed Tuesday night over the Jacksonville, Fla., area, it formed OVER the Jacksonville, Florida, area — the first time in recorded history that a Tropical Storm has formed over land in Florida.  Alex Johnson reports for NBC News.

 

 

Regulators Relent on Some Uber, Lyft Rules, but Stick by Fingerprint Requirement

In a move that Board Members said will open Hillsborough to all rideshare companies, the Pinellas Transportation Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday to adopt new rideshare rules without a $7 minimum or a 7-minute minimum wait.  Christopher O’Donnell reports for the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Judge Sinks Challenge to Florida Water-Quality Rules

Siding with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on procedural grounds, an Administrative Law Judge has rejected a series of challenges to controversial new State Water-Quality Standards.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Florida Prison Guards Again Call For Legislative Special Session

A private consulting firm reported pay for Florida Guards is “substantially below levels in another large state correctional system.” California and Illinois provide starting salaries that are 61 percent higher than Florida.  James Call reports for the Tallahassee Democrat.

While Floridians made economic strides last year, the State still lags behind the rest of the Nation on important Economic Indicators, according to new figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The Associated Press reports via the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Florida in 2070 — Development Will Dominate, Report Warns

Florida in 2070 will be a state brimming with almost 34 million residents — 70 percent bigger than current, but with many of the same growth problems, a statewide management organization concludes in a report released today.  The Palm Beach Post’s John Kennedy reports for the “Post on Politics” blog.


 

Holmes Beach OKs Moratorium on Chain Businesses

The moratorium in Holmes Beach comes months after plans for a new Baskin Robbins-Dunkin Donuts caused great worry among some island business owners and officials and also spurred conversations on the possible regulation of formula businesses.  Amaris Castillo reports for the Bradenton Herald.


 

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Clarifies Quake Coverage Moratoriums

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak wants to alleviate concerns about six-month moratoriums on purchasing earthquake insurance.  The concerns were raised after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Pawnee on September 3, Insurance Journal reports.

 

New Cayman Reinsurer Launched

Crosswinds Re, a specialty reinsurance business vehicle established by Crosswinds Holdings, has received approval from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as a Class B(iii) reinsurer.

 

Liberty Mutual Giving Consumers a Voice in Insurance via Amazon’s Alexa

The Safeco “Insurance Advisor” skill for Alexa is available now.  It provides access an “insurance glossary” with insurance terminology; locates a nearby Agent to obtain a quote on insurance and contacts an Independent Insurance Agent to get answers to questions, Insurance Journal reports.

Care.com Creates a $500 Limited Benefit for Gig-Economy Workers

In one of the earliest moves to bring employee benefits to workers in the so-called gig economy, an online marketplace that connects millions of families with babysitters, nannies and caregivers announced on Wednesday that it would provide up to $500 a year for workers to use for health care, transportation or education expenses.  The New York Times’ Noam Scheiber reports.

 


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