Office for financial regulation becomes dept.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's office dealing with financial and insurance regulation has been elevated to a department.

The Department of Insurance and Financial Services aims to provide greater focus on the tasks  handled by the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulations.

Gov. Rick Snyder announced plans for the new department in January. Snyder said at the time that the new department will be "dedicated to industry sustainability" and committed to "removing red tape from economic growth."