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CFO Jimmy Patronis: Monitor Invest 90L, Prepare for the Worst and Understand Your Insurance Coverage

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Ahead of Invest 90L’s potential impact, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis stresses the importance of understanding insurance coverage and financial preparedness. As Floridians finalize their preparations, CFO Patronis reminds Floridians to include copies of insurance policies in your 2018 Hurricane Season disaster kits and to call the CFO’s Insurance Helpline for assistance with insurance-related questions or concerns.

“Invest 90L is capable of creating catastrophic flooding, and it is crucial for consumers to understand their insurance coverage as they prepare,” said CFO Patronis. “Insurance can be a complicated issue, and it’s easily misunderstood. Our team is standing by to take their calls.”

If possible, Floridians should complete the following as soon as possible:

Update your inventory – Take photos or video of high-value belongings, gather receipts and write down purchase dates (if known) and serial numbers.

Minimize losses – If it is safe to do so, take simple steps to secure your home or property. Prepare sand bags and secure any leaks or areas of your home where tropical rains or sitting water could be problematic.

Follow – Follow your insurance company on social media for important storm-related information. Also, save your insurance company’s or agent’s phone number along with your financial institution and mortgage company’s contact information for ease of filing future claims.

All homeowner’s insurance policies contain limitations and exclusions. You may need a separate policy for windstorm or flood if these coverages are not included in your homeowner’s policy. It is important to review your policy to understand your coverages and exclusions. While every insurance policy is different, some homeowner’s insurance policies may not cover flood damage.

Floridians with any insurance-related questions or concerns are encouraged to contact CFO Patronis’ Consumer Helpline by calling 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

PSC Commissioner Brown Appointed to NARUC/DOE Partnership

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Florida Public Service Commissioner (PSC) Julie Brown has been appointed to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Modernization Partnership (NGIMP) between the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Because of Commissioner Brown’s work on the national level and state regulatory experience, NARUC President John Betkoski III appointed her to the NGIMP. She will assist State Commissions’ efforts in exploring investments in natural gas infrastructure modernization and improving the U.S. natural gas pipeline infrastructure.

“As we continue to do in Florida, it is imperative to identify new technologies and cost-effective practices for enhancing pipeline safety, efficiency, and deliverability,” said Commissioner Brown.  “I look forward to the opportunity to partner with the Department of Energy to further strengthen the public interest in natural gas regulation.”

Commissioner Brown was reappointed to the PSC by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term beginning January 2, 2015 and ending January 1, 2019. She served as Commission Chairman from January 2016-January 2018.  She was first appointed to the Commission by Governor Charlie Crist and was reappointed by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term beginning January 2, 2011.

Commissioner Brown serves on NARUC’s Committee on Gas, Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues–Waste Disposal, and its Presidential Natural Gas Access and Expansion Task Force to help expand natural gas service in neglected and rural areas. She previously served on NARUC’s Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment.

Before being appointed to the PSC, she was Associate Legal Counsel of First American Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, where she handled a variety of legal issues in the Eastern, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions, including corporate compliance with regulatory authorities.  Previously an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tampa, Commissioner Brown specialized in contract, regulatory and administrative law while acting as legal advisor to the City of Tampa for wastewater, stormwater, land development coordination, and other matters. She also worked as a corporate attorney at Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP in Tampa, Florida, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and securities law.

Florida Forest Service Accepting Applications to Help Landowners Combat Devastating Southern Pine Beetle

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Eligible counties for Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program

To help combat the invasive Southern Pine Beetle, which is currently present in 52 infestation sites throughout six Florida counties, the Florida Forest Service is accepting applications for the 2018 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program from non-industrial, private forest landowners through June 29, 2018.  The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, the known range of the southern pine beetle.

The southern pine beetle is one of the most economically devastating forest pests of the southeast, with periodic outbreaks leading to deaths of millions of pine trees. In 2017, 260 SPB infestations were reported in Florida, killing trees on 1,768 acres. This pales in comparison to the last major outbreaks between 1999 and 2002, which caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses. Since it was first offered in 2005, the program has been implemented on more than 183,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners.

“These small infestations average less than an acre now, but they have the ability to expand rapidly this time of year,” said Jim Karels, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “It’s imperative that we remain vigilant to keep this invasive pest at bay.”

The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the United States Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning and offers partial cost reimbursement for activities, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than the loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. Qualified landowners can apply for up to two different practices per year, and funding requests may not exceed $10,000. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.

To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, click here.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.

Cortes Endorses Costello For Congress

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State Representative Bob Cortes today made the following statement endorsing Fred Costello for Congress in Florida’s 6th congressional district:

“As a colleague, as a friend, and as a Puerto Rican American, I strongly support Fred Costello’s candidacy for Congress. Sadly, his primary opponent has made it clear he does not believe Puerto Ricans should be allowed to exercise their rights as American citizens.

“This is an outrage. No candidate for office in this great country should be so woefully ignorant of the Constitution and the rights it protects for American citizens. Electing a candidate like that is dangerous and would be a disservice, not just to the Puerto Rican Americans he would disenfranchise, but to all freedom-loving Americans.

“Thankfully, Fred Costello has made it clear that he holds the opposite view, because he understands our Constitution and the rights it gives Puerto Ricans and all Americans, among them the right to register to vote and to move anywhere they please within the United States. I urge all District 6 voters to reject prejudice and ignorance and support Fred Costello.”

Paid by Bob Cortes, Republican, for State Representative

Controversial Consumer Product Safety Commission Nominee Narrowly Approved by the Senate

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By a vote of 50-45, the U.S. Senate today narrowly confirmed the nomination of Dana Baiocco to serve on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The move is seen as a win for corporate America and a loss for consumers.

Among those leading the charge against Baiocc’s nomination was Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees the CPSC. Nelson’s opposition to Baiocc’s nomination hinged on her refusal to require portable generators be equipped with devices that limit carbon monoxide emissions or automatically shut off the machines when they reach dangerous levels.

The commission, which regulates the safety of thousands of products, from children’s toys to portable generators, is viewed as one the nation’s top consumer watchdog agencies.

In a floor speech moments before the vote, Nelson said carbon monoxide poisonings from generators were linked to as many as 12 deaths and numerous injuries in Florida following Hurricane Irma.

“Hurricane season begins on June 1st and every day the CPSC fails to act on portable generators equals more Floridians and other Gulf Coast residents at risk,” said Nelson. “Sadly, it seems with the administration’s recent appointments to the CPSC, the commission could soon become known as the ‘Commission to Protect Shareholders and Companies.’”

Baiocco, a lawyer at powerful corporate lobbying and litigation giant Jones Day, was nominated by President Trump to serve on the CPSC last September. Her nomination has in-part come under fire due to her refusal to disclose clients she’s represented or fully recuse herself from matters involving those companies. Previous news reports indicate she has defended a number of manufacturers with interests before the CPSC, including cases involving toys with lead paint and ATVs linked to numerous rollover-related injuries and deaths.

Nelson blasts Florida’s refusal to expand Medicaid

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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), in speaking on the Senate floor this afternoon, blasted the state of Florida for its refusal to expand Medicaid coverage to nearly 800,000 poor and disabled individuals in his state.

Nelson’s off-the-cuff remarks about Florida’s refusal to expand the program came in response to a speech Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) had just concluded about improving rural health care and Alabama’s “shortsighted decision” not to expand its Medicaid program.

“I also want to thank the senator for his comments about how shortsighted it is that the government, as he stated, of his state of Alabama and certainly the government of my state, the state of Florida, refuses to expand Medicaid and has so for almost seven years,” Nelson said.

“There’s almost $5 billion a year that is sitting on the shelf,” Nelson said, “that is Florida taxpayer money that is going elsewhere,”  “In my state of Florida, that is 800,000 people, almost a million people, poor people, disabled folks that would be getting health care,” Nelson continued. “What do they do? They end up going to the emergency room.”  “And of course, when treated at the emergency room – the most expensive place at the most expensive time – lo and behold it’s ‘uncompensated care’ and the hospital can’t eat all of that uncompensated care,” Nelson said. “What happens? All of the rest of us pay by increases in our premiums.”

Mast Builds Support to Revoke Brightline’s Bonds

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Following a committee hearing on Brightline’s use of tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds held at Congressman Brian Mast’s (FL-18) request, support is now building in Congress urging the Department of Transportation to suspend the allocation of the financing to Brightline.

Rep. Mast today released a letter (attached) with Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Mark Meadows and Members of Congress from Florida urging the Department of Transportation to “use your authority to suspend the allocation of the AAF PABs.” The letter continues, “failing to do so compromises the integrity of the entire PAB program, and we cannot support what amounts to blank-check authority for this program.”

The letter is signed by Subcommittee Chairman Mark Meadows (NC-11), Congressman Ron DeSantis (FL-6), Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-1), Rep. Mast and Congressman Bill Posey (FL-8).

Rep. Mast has fervently opposed Brightline’s expansion on the Treasure Coast, calling for increased transparency about their use of taxpayer dollars and improved safety measures.

“Taxpayers deserve the truth about who is paying for Brightline, and our community deserves answers about why they are refusing to address critical safety and economic concerns,” Rep. Mast said when the hearing was initially announced.

BACKGROUND

Because Brightline failed to qualify for public financing under the statutory definition of high-speed rail, Brightline instead sought and secured the public financing for this expansion (“Private Activity Bonds”) by claiming that their passenger rail train is actually a “highway.”  At Rep. Mast’s request, a hearing was held on April 19, 2018 to review this abuse of Private Activity Bonds, which circumvents the intent of Congress in creating the program.  

Despite their claim that Brightline is “not publicly funded at all,” in the hearing Brightline admitted that “there has been public funding granted.”  Moreover, there are at least four instances in which Brightline has sought public financial support:

  • All Aboard Florida applied for nearly $1.6 billion in publicly-subsidized federal loans in 2013.
  • Then, in 2014, All Aboard Florida applied for $1.75 billion in tax-exempt federal bonds. A U.S. District Court judge found that the cost to taxpayers would be up to $600 million.
  • In 2014, the State of Florida allocated $213.5 million in its budget for the construction of a facility at Orlando International Airport. All Aboard Florida would be the sole tenant of this facility.
  • Last year, Brightline was issued $600 million in tax-free bonds and then secured an additional $1.15 billion in tax-exempt bonds to pay for Phase 2 of the project.

In addition to these financial concerns, Brightline trains have been involved in six deaths since they began running, raising serious safety concerns ahead of the proposed expansion through the Treasure Coast to Orlando.

Gov. Scott: Floridians Must be Prepared for Significant Rain, Possible Flooding

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Directs FWC to Pre-Position and Stage
High Water Vehicles For Rapid Deployment

Governor Rick Scott today urged Floridians to prepare for significant rain and possible flooding as the state continues to monitor the development of a weather system in the Caribbean Sea. In anticipation of heavy rain and flooding across Gulf Coast communities this week, Governor Scott today also directed Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Executive Director Eric Sutton to pre-position and stage the agency’s high water vehicles and other flood response resources for rapid deployment if needed. The weather system, now designated as Invest 90L by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), is currently east of Belize and producing a large area of disorganized weather as it slowly moves north into the Gulf of Mexico. The Governor received a briefing from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) on the weather system this morning.

Governor Scott said, “As we continue to monitor the developing weather system in the Caribbean Sea, we know that families can never be too careful or over-prepared when it comes to severe weather. Although the storm currently has a relatively low chance of development into a tropical system, we must take it seriously. That’s why it is critically important that all Floridians take this opportunity to get prepared and make a plan that ensures the safety of their family and loved ones. To make sure we are absolutely prepared, today, I also directed FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton to pre-position and stage its high water vehicles and all other flood response resources so they may be rapidly deployed to assist Floridians in need in the event of any flooding. FDEM is working hand-in-hand with the NHC to track this weather and we will continue to release regular updates on Florida’s preparation for severe weather and flooding as this system develops. I encourage all Floridians to follow @FLSERT on Twitter and visit FloridaDisaster.org to create an emergency preparedness plan for their family today.”

Gov. Scott: Florida’s crime rate hits 47-year low

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Since 2011, Florida’s crime rate has dropped 27 percent

Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida’s crime rate is now at a 47-year low. The crime rate has dropped six percent since 2016, and since Gov. Scott took office, the crime rate has dropped 27 percent. In 2017, there were 28,640 fewer crimes than in 2016, which is a 4.5 percent decrease. This year, Governor Scott was proud to invest more than $5.2 billion in public safety in the Securing Florida’s Future budget.

Governor Scott said, “We continue to make investments each year to keep our communities safe, and these investments are working. Today, I’m proud to announce that crime is at a 47-year low in our state. Our state’s continuously decreasing crime rate is a reminder of the dedication and hard work of Florida’s law enforcement officers. We must continue to support and thank them every day for their commitment to keeping Florida families safe.”

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “Our crime rate continues to decline because of our brave law enforcement officers and dedicated prosecutors. Sadly, Florida has lost five law enforcement heroes this year, and while we celebrate the state’s lowest crime rate in 47 years, let’s not forget the high price of our safety and the heroes who pay it.”

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said, “Florida’s 47-year low crime rate is due to the tireless and selfless efforts of our law enforcement officers. Our law enforcement officers face unprecedented challenges, yet continue to courageously protect Floridians and visitors. Let us all be grateful for the brave men and women who protect our communities and make our state the best place to live, work and raise families.”

Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “The men and women behind the badge lay their lives on the line every day as they answer our calls for help. Law enforcement officials are the fabric of our communities. As a result their steadfast commitment to protecting Floridians, our state has now embraced the lowest crime rate we’ve seen in 47 years – an accomplishment that is nothing short of remarkable. While there is always more work to be done, Floridians have a lot to be thankful for and we couldn’t be any happier with this most recent accomplishment.”

FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “I want to thank Florida’s more than 45,000 law enforcement officers working to keep our communities safe. These officers are routinely called into dangerous and volatile situations risking their own lives to protect ours.”

Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Florida Sheriffs Association President, said, “This marks another year of lower crime rates due to the dedication and expertise of law enforcement across the state. The 67 Sheriffs of Florida salute the hard-working men and women who hold the line every minute, of every day, to keep Floridians and our visitors safe. We will continue to protect and serve, and conduct annual strategic operations through the Florida Sheriffs Task Force to set the bar for the rest of the nation.”

Miami Shores Police Chief Kevin Lystad, Florida Police Chiefs Association President, said, “Each and every day, law enforcement officers are working in their communities to reduce crime and keep Florida safe. The good news is that we’ve seen the overall crime rate continue to decrease, but there’s been an uptick in domestic violence and forcible sex offenses. These are issues every community faces and we encourage citizens to continue to report these crimes so law enforcement officers can get offenders off the street.”

R.J. Larizza, President of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said, “State Attorneys across Florida work every day to ensure that Florida communities are safe. We would like to thank Governor Scott, the Florida Cabinet, FDLE and all of our law enforcement partners for working together to reach today’s achievement.”

View the 2017 Annual Uniform Crime Report HERE.