Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis issued a warning to residents and first responders about an alarming fire hazard with Lithium-ion batteries, Electric Vehicles (EV), as well as hybrid and fuel cell vehicles developing in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The CFO's Division of State Fire Marshal has confirmed 16 lithium-ion battery fires related to storm surge from Helene, with six of those fires associated with EVs. State fire officials believe these statistics to be conservative figures and are working with fire departments statewide to gather more data and determine any structural impacts related to EVs and lithium-battery fires following this storm. The State Fire Marshal Office is also coordinating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for guidance on proper lithium-ion battery disposal.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis activated his Disaster Fraud Action Strike Teams (DFAST), which have been deployed to the affected counties to protect Floridians from storm-related fraud following the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a directive, which bolsters his anti-fraud fighting teams in the affected counties following Hurricane Helene. Currently, there are 80 law enforcement officers from the CFO’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) who have been deployed. These law enforcement officers will take appropriate legal action, including arrest, prosecution, and/or issuance of civil penalties for anyone who is engaging in fraudulent insurance practices.

In response to Hurricane Helene, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) reminds all insureds and industry licensees of certain rights and obligations that arise during a declared state of emergency, including:

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis provides important recovery information and resources for Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis urges Floridians to take the necessary precautions to prepare their homes and property ahead of Tropical Storm Helene. This tropical storm is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and bring devastating wind, rain, and flooding to communities along the Florida Gulf Coast.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the appointment of David Chapman, Andrew Clark, Sanjena Clay, Christian Jensen, and William Quinn to the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services. The Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services was created within the Department of Financial Services and consists of 10 members, 9 of whom are appointed by the Chief Financial Officer and confirmed by the Senate. The remaining member of the Board is the State Health Officer or his/her designee.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a statement supporting Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order to investigate the second assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. As a member of the Florida Cabinet, CFO Patronis helps oversee the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. CFO Patronis’ statement was first posted on X, HERE.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis proclaimed September 15 – September 21, 2024 as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and acknowledged the contributions American truckers make towards our national and state economy. Trucking careers serve as one out of every 18 jobs in the state of Florida, with more than 453,000 Floridians employed in the trucking industry. Florida’s truckers are essential to Florida commerce and ensuring that Floridians receive the goods and services they need to live or start and grow a business.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis gave opening remarks at the 2024 Lithium Ion Battery Symposium hosted at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. The two-day symposium covers a broad range of lithium ion battery related topics and included a battery burn demonstration to highlight the serious fire risk they pose to Florida communities.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Jasiel Mena, a previously licensed home inspector, for allegedly falsifying home inspections in various Florida counties and defrauding Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) out of approximately $88,000. Mena was charged with one count of Scheme to Defraud, a first-degree felony.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis highlighted efforts to bolster Florida’s apprenticeship programs and the work-based learning programs for students 18 years old or less throughout the state by reimbursing the cost of workers’ compensation insurance to participating employers. During the 2024 Legislative Session, lawmakers provided $2 million to the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) to permit employers, including eligible school districts and Florida College System institutions, to apply to DFS for reimbursement of the proportionate cost of workers’ compensation premium paid during the fiscal year for students participating in work-based learning programs.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrests of Yanirma Toledo, Lensky Jose Hernandez-Santiago and Maylett Leiva-Santana. These individuals are charged with intentionally defrauding United Auto Insurance Company to allegedly exploit the personal injury and protection (PIP) benefits associated with the auto policies for financial gain. Toledo, Hernandez-Santiago, and Leiva-Santana allegedly defrauded United Auto Insurance Company more than $47,000 in total.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced that more than $39 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians during the month of August. Since CFO Patronis took office in 2017, nearly $2.5 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to Florida citizens.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the appointment of Melvin Pope to the Florida Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association (FLHIGA) Board of Directors. Created in 1979 by the Florida Legislature, the FLHIGA is composed of all insurers licensed to sell direct life insurance, accident and health insurance, and certain annuities in the state of Florida. If a member insurer is found to be insolvent and is ordered to be liquidated by a court, FLHIGA provides protection to Florida residents who are holders of life and health insurance policies and certain annuities with the insolvent insurer.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the appointment of Thomas Koval to the Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association (FWCIGA) Board of Directors. The FWCIGA provides a mechanism for the payment of covered claims, to avoid excessive delay in payment and to avoid financial loss to claimants in the event of the insolvency of a member insurer. Among other tasks, the FWCIGA also evaluates workers’ compensation claims made by insureds against insolvent member companies or funds and determines if such claims are covered claims which should be paid or settled with funds from FWCIGA.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the appointment of Randall Jenkins to the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) Board of Directors. NICA is a statutory organization that manages state funds used to pay for the care of children and adults born with certain neurological injuries. NICA’s mission is to get birth-injured children and adults the care they need while reducing the financial burden on medical providers and families.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the State of Florida has secured a portion of a $157 million settlement with the State of Delaware following an unclaimed property dispute regarding funds abandoned by MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. Under the terms of the settlement, Delaware will transfer more than $12.2 million of the funds that MoneyGram reported to Delaware from 2011 to 2017 to the State of Florida. Following a Supreme Court decision in 2023, CFO Patronis wrote a letter to the State of Delaware demanding the return of millions of dollars held in the form of unclaimed property that belongs to residents of Florida. The property includes proceeds from financial instruments that, according to the Supreme Court decision, should have been allocated to the state where the instrument was purchased. Since 2017, CFO Patronis’ Division of Unclaimed Property has returned more than $2.5 billion to Floridians.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is urging Floridians to take advantage of the 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday to save money and prepare now by stocking up on essential hurricane supplies. Between August 24 – September 6, 2024, consumers will be able to purchase much needed hurricane-preparation supplies without paying taxes. This 14-day tax holiday allows Floridians to prepare for hurricane season while saving money on disaster preparedness items such as flashlights less than $40, batteries less than $50, tarps and pet food under $100, generators less than $3,000, and much more.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced that a record $2.51 million was generated by the state's unclaimed property auction in West Palm Beach this weekend, including the sale of 505 lots consisting of more than 66,000 items. Some of the items auctioned included a men’s gold ruby and diamond ring and a ladies platinum and diamond Hamilton watch. Until claimed, unclaimed funds are deposited into Florida's school fund for the benefit of public education. There is no statute of limitations and consumers have the right to claim their unclaimed funds at any time, at no cost. During the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year, the Division of Unclaimed Property also returned an annual record of more than $433 million to Floridians.