Topic: FL Dept. of Financial Services

If he gets it, Gov. Rick Scott could fill the Cabinet vacancy. The university's selection committee is expected to narrow its list of at least 48 candidates to eight applicants next week. The Florida Atlantic University board of trustees plans to select a president Jan. 17.

A report from the Department of Financial Services shows 56 percent of the 898 contracts reviewed had "deficiencies" that lack clear guidelines for scope of work or financial penalties for vendors. ... Related Research: July 1, 2013 CFO report, "Contract Review Detail by Agency, Review Period: 07/01/2012 through 06/30/2013," and Bureau of Auditing Activity website.

Before the EDR can determine the fiscal impact of a proposed medical marijuana constitutional amendment, it has to decide whether cannabis is exempt from taxes as an over-the-counter drug. Two more workshops are scheduled to try to calculate whether voter approval of a medical marijuana initiative would add or subtract from government's bottom line. ... Related Research: Public Notice of FIEC workshops and conference, and EDR Notebook from the FIEC public workshop.

The new statute absolves the state of city and county pension shortfalls and increases financial reporting requirements for the "defined benefits" retirement systems of local governments. ... Related Research: Senate Session Summary for S 0534 - Publicly-funded Defined Benefit Retirement Plans.

Staff changes are made in upper management at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, DOH picks a new chief for the Board of Medicine and the final three picks are made for the Florida Polytechnic University's Board of Trustees.

The Department of Management Services is taking CFO Jeff Atwater to court for refusing to pay for the historical photos in the 1st District Court of Appeal building. ... Related Research: Materials in Leon County Circuit Court Case: 2012 CA 003082: Sept. 24, 2012 Petition for Writ of Certiorari, and Sept. 25, 2012 Order to Show Cause.

The Office of Financial Regulation is faced with significant staff cutbacks and increased responsibilities as turnover abounds in the department. ... Related Research: The Office of Financial Regulation's organization chart and Long Range Program Plan for Fiscal Years 2012-13 to 2016-17.

Guido Hinojosa, who served as finance minister for an interim government in Bolivia in 1979, and who is an executive with a group of Bolivian financial firms, wants to purchase a controlling share of Sunrise Bank, a state-chartered bank based in Cocoa Beach.

The investigation found that nine MetLife subsidiaries used a Social Security Death Master File to find ways to discontinue payments to beneficiaries, but not to search for and find beneficiaries who were not receiving payments owed to them.

House passes two workers' compensation-related bills on Wednesday. No Senate companions are yet in sight.

A measure advancing rapidly through the Legislature could set up a collision between Gov. Rick Scott and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater over how to revamp the state's purchasing policies. Senate Bill 1626 would increase the CFO's authority over state contracting, giving the Department of Financial Services authority to set procurement rules for state agencies, as is now done by the Department of Management Services.

The 2012 legislative session opened this week, ramping up activity in the Capitol. After hearing speeches by the governor and legislative leaders, lawmakers immediately went to work on bills to revamp PIP no-fault insurance, to carve down the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and met with university heads to find focus for higher education.