Fellow Floridians:

As the year draws to a close, I wish you and your families a happy holiday season. Living in this beautiful state, we have much for which we can be appreciative.

I am especially thankful for a year of wonderful memories. It was just a year ago that I came to Tallahassee to begin my service as your Chief Financial Officer. I am so proud of the dedication and commitment to public service shown by the thousands of employees in the Department of Financial Services.

As I travel the state, I am often greeted by citizens who are appreciative of the work of the department to help make their lives better, whether it’s through effectively managing taxpayers' dollars, returning unclaimed property, helping homeowners learn how to mitigate their homes or enforcing many of our state’s laws. Our work is never finished, and we pledge to continue to do our part to help protect and safeguard Floridians and their assets every day.

I hope that you are able to spend time with your family and friends over the holidays. I am thankful for the opportunity to be your public servant in Tallahassee.

 

Sincerely,  

Alex

Since the Florida Legislature passed a bill to reform Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, citizens should know that Florida law will once again require drivers to carry personal injury protection insurance effective Jan. 1, 2008.

As part of the legislation restoring PIP coverage, insurance companies must notify policyholders how  the mandatory restoration of PIP/no-fault will impact them. The notice must clearly inform the policyholder on these points:

• Beginning on Jan. 1, 2008, Florida law requires drivers to maintain PIP insurance coverage which pays covered medical expenses for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash by the policyholder, passengers, and relatives residing in the policyholder's household. CONTINUED

Read the letter here.

WEEKI WACHEE PROPOSAL TO BECOME STATE PARK

This week, Mike Sole, Secretary for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced to the Cabinet that Weeki Wachee signed a preliminary agreement to donate its assets to the State of Florida. This agreement provides the framework for the District, Weeki Wachee and the DEP to continue a dialog and to come to a final resolution for the attraction. Under the terms of the preliminary agreement, the state could be in charge of the Weeki Wachee mermaid show and the water park by October 2008.

The state would turn Weeki Wachee Springs into a state park and would increase the acreage to allow for camping, hiking and interpretive trails.

In 2001, the Southwest Florida Water Management District bought over 800 acres in the Weeki-Wachee River watershed, including nearly 28 acres that includes the Weeki Wachee springhead and mermaid show. That 28 acres also consists of a several buildings and cottages. Weeki-Wachee is a first magnitude spring and is noted for its clear high quality water.

The District entered into a 30-year lease with Weeki Wachee Springs, LLC to allow it to continue running the mermaid shows, maintaining the concessions and providing upkeep of the buildings. Because the District felt the buildings were not being maintained in a safe condition and because other lease conditions were not being met, in 2003 the District filed a lawsuit to terminate the lease.

UNDERSTANDING IDENTITY THEFT

Identity theft, sometimes referred to as identity fraud, is a crime that involves someone using your personal information — such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other financial account information — without your permission to commit fraud and/or other crimes.

Identity theft occurs in many forms, such as someone using your stolen personal information to apply for loans or purchase items using your credit card number, along with many other fraudulent activities.

Tips to Protect Your Identity

• Know what’s in your wallet. Avoid carrying your Social Security number in your wallet or purse. This number provides access to personal information, and it should be stored in a safe and protected place. In addition, only carry the credit cards you need. This practice limits access to your accounts in the event that your purse or wallet is lost or stolen. It’s also a good idea to periodically photocopy your cards and keep a record of the customer service phone numbers associated with your financial accounts to speed up the process of canceling credit cards, if needed. CONTINUED

Veto-proof majorities in both houses passed the measure. The House passed the bill 314-100, with 95 Republicans joining Democrats in support of the legislation, after the Senate approved it last week 86-8. Bush signed the measure Wednesday morning at the Energy Department.

The new law requires the industry to achieve an average of 35 miles per gallon for all vehicles, including SUVs and small trucks, by 2020, about a 10 mpg increase from what these vehicles get today. While all vehicles from small sedans to large SUVS must make some improvement in fuel economy, the required improvements may vary among vehicle classes as long as the overall industry average is 35 mpg.

The bill also calls for:

• A sixfold increase in ethanol use to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022. Of that, 21 billion gallons will have to be from feedstock other than corn such as prairie grasses or wood chips.
• Improved energy efficiency of appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers, and a 70 percent increase in the efficiency of light bulbs.
• Energy efficiency improvements in federal building and new efficiency standards for construction of new commercial buildings with the idea that they produce as much electricity as they use.

THE BASICS OF FLOOD INSURANCE

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods are the most common, and most costly, natural disaster. Floods can happen anytime and anywhere, and they can happen fast. Also, the damage is not covered under a standard homeowners policy. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers some important tips on flood insurance to help you prepare.

What is a flood?

A flood is an excess of water (or mud) on land that’s normally dry. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) defines flood to be a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area, or of two or more properties (at least one of which is the policyholder’s property) from overflow of inland or tidal waters; unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; mudflow; or collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining, caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels. CONTINUED