On Tap In the Capital Monday, April 17, 2017

By the News Service of Florida

Legislature:

LATVALA AT TIGER BAY: Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is scheduled to speak to the Capital Tiger Bay Club. (11:30 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

'SPECIAL ORDER' CALENDAR SET: The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will meet to set the "special order calendar," which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. (1 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

STADIUM FUNDING AT ISSUE: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee is expected to take up a bill (SB 236), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, that would repeal a controversial 2014 sports-development program. The program set up a process for professional sports franchises to seek money for stadium projects. (1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION DEBATED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1662), filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bill would lead to civil penalties instead of criminal charges. (1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

GARDINER SCHOLARSHIPS CONSIDERED: The Senate Education Committee will take up a bill (SB 902), filed by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would expand the Gardiner Scholarships program, which helps parents pay for education services for children with disabilities. (1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FOSTER CHILDREN DISCUSSED: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will receive a presentation by the state Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or OPPAGA, about the characteristics of children in foster homes and group homes. (1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

INSURANCE FRAUD TARGETED: The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 1007), filed by Rep. Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo, that would place requirements on insurers to try to prevent fraud. (2 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

TRAUMA CENTERS CONSIDERED: The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 1077), filed by Rep. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, that would repeal limits on the numbers of trauma facilities across the state. (2 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

EXPRESS LANES ON THE AGENDA: The House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 1387), filed by Rep. Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami, that would make changes related to highway express lanes. (2 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HEALTH LEADERS UP FOR CONFIRMATION: The Senate Health Policy Committee will hold confirmation hearings for Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Justin Senior and state Surgeon General Celeste Philip, who is secretary of the Department of Health. (4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TAX REFERENDUMS AT ISSUE: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will consider a bill (SB 278), filed by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that would only allow local governments to hold sales-tax referendums during primary and general elections. Also, the bill would require referendums held during primary elections to get the support of 60 percent of voters for approval. (4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSED: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will consider a proposal (SB 600), filed by Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, that would make changes in the state's rural economic-development efforts. (4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FIRST RESPONDERS AT ISSUE: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up a bill (SB 1088), filed by Sen. Victor Torres, D-Orlando, that seeks changes that could help first responders receive benefits for mental or nervous injuries. (4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

TERRORISM TARGETED: The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee will consider a proposal (SB 476), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would address in state law a series of terrorism-related crimes. (4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WATER PROTECTION ON THE TABLE: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 573), filed by Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, that is dubbed the "Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act." The bill deals with water-protection issues in areas of Central Florida such as Green Swamp. (4 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

UTILITY SERVICES THEFT AT ISSUE: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 879), filed by Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, aimed at cracking down on the theft of utility services. Such thefts can occur, for example, in the operation of illegal marijuana grow houses. (4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION BILL CONSIDERED: The House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 907), filed by Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, that would make changes related to the Florida Endowment for Vocational Rehabilitation. (4 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

SCOTT DISCUSSES ZIKA PREPAREDNESS: Gov. Rick Scott will host a discussion in Bay County about preparedness for the mosquito-borne Zika virus. (9 a.m. Central time, Bay County Health Department, 597 West 11th St., Panama City.)

GROUP CALLS FOR PASSING MONUMENTS BILL A news conference will be held to call for passage of a bill known as the "Soldiers' and Heroes' Monuments and Memorials Protections Act." The bill (SB 418) has not moved forward in the Senate. Participants in the news conference are expected to include members of the group Save Southern Heritage Florida. (10:30 a.m., Florida Press Center, 336 East College Ave., Tallahassee.)

MURPHY MAKES APPEARANCES IN MAITLAND: U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., will tour the Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando and later hold a "coffee with your congresswoman" event. (Tour at 10:30 a.m., Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, 851 North Maitland Ave., Maitland. Also, coffee event, 2 p.m., Maitland Public Library, 501 Maitland Ave. South, Maitland.)

DESANTIS APPEARS AT EMBRY-RIDDLE: U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., is slated to take part in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Spring Speaker Series. (7 p.m., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Willie Miller Instructional Center, Daytona Beach.)