Hurricane Sandy triggers responses by federal and state agencies, a federal judge curtails contraception mandate, and more.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) came together with other federal agencies in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to supplement state and local responses in eleven east coast states and the District of Columbia.
- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) asked banks to work with borrowers in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, leading some banks to waive overdraft and late fees until October 31, 2012.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned consumers about the appearance of charity and home-repair scams after Hurricane Sandy.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspended clean fuel requirements on gasoline sold in northeastern states to mitigate anticipated shortages in the hurricane-stricken region.
- The Department of Transportation (DOT) pledged $17 million in emergency relief funds to three states affected by Hurricane Sandy.
- Six top financial regulators warned U.S. senators that the proposed Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act of 2012 would give the President unprecedented authority to influence rulemaking.
- The FTC prescribed best practices for companies using facial recognition technology, stipulating that products must be designed to take consumer privacy into account.
- Pennsylvania became one of twelve states to pass benefit corporation legislation, which allows corporations with a specific public benefit purpose.
- California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced plans to penalize mobile application developers and those behind apps that infringe on mobile device users’ privacy unless app developers respond to privacy concerns.
- A federal judge exempted a Michigan company from the contraception mandate imposed earlier this year by the Department of Health and Human Services. See related The Regulatory Review essay.
