On Tap in the Capital:  Monday, March 27, 2017

by The News Service of Florida

Legislature:

TRAUMA SYSTEM AT ISSUE: The House Health Innovation Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 1077), filed by Rep. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, that would repeal limits on the number of trauma centers across the state. The bill comes after years of legal and political fights in the hospital industry about whether more trauma centers should be built. (12:30 p.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

'PIP' INSURANCE REPEAL PROPOSED: The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 1063), filed by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, that would repeal the state's no-fault auto insurance law, which requires motorists to carry personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage. (12:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

TOUGER PENALTIES SOUGHT FOR UNDOCUMENTED CRIMINALS: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 83), filed by Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, that would increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit types of violent crimes. (12:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HIGHER ED BUDGET ON THE TABLE: The House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee is slated to receive the chairman's budget proposal for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. (12:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

COMPUTER CODING PITCHED IN SCHOOLS: The House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 265), filed by Rep. Elizabeth Porter, R-Lake City, and Rep. Patricia Williams, D-Lauderdale Lakes, that would allow high-school students to take computer-coding courses to satisfy two credits of foreign-language requirements. (12:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SEPTIC TANK INSPECTIONS CONSIDERED: The House Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 285), filed by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, that would require septic-tank inspections as part of the sales of property in areas with "impaired" waterways. (1 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

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

EXPECTANT MOTHERS AIDED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will consider a bill (SB 650), filed by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, that would require many retailers and shopping centers to set aside parking spots for expectant mothers and provide breastfeeding areas. (1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SEXUAL ABUSE TREATMENT PROPOSED: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will take up a bill (SB 1318), filed by Chairman Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, that would direct the Department of Health Children's Medical Services program to develop and coordinate one or more sexual-abuse treatment programs. (1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DEATH BENEFITS CONSIDERED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1626), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that deals with a series of issues at the Department of Legal Affairs, including allowing the department to award up to $50,000 to surviving family members of emergency responders who, as a result of crimes, are killed while answering calls for service. (1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL TESTING AT ISSUE: The Senate Education Committee will take up a bill (SB 926), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would make a series of changes in public-school student assessments. (1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CREDIT UNIONS DISCUSSED: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will consider a series of issues, including a bill (SB 1620), filed by Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, that would exempt credit unions from regulation under a law known as the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. (4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY DRAWS DEBATE: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will take up a bill (SB 596), filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, that would set statewide rules for wireless carriers on the installation of "small wireless facilities" used for new 5G technology. (4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

NURSING HOME EXEMPTION SOUGHT: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a proposal (SB 682), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that would exempt some nursing-home residents from the statewide Medicaid managed-care system. The exemption would apply to residents who have been in nursing homes for at least 60 consecutive days and residents who receive hospice care. (4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

ZIKA PREPAREDNESS DISCUSSED: Gov. Rick Scott will host a roundtable discussion about preparation for the mosquito-borne Zika virus. (9:30 a.m., Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, 1350 N.W. 14th St., Miami.)

SCOTT HONORS VETERANS A Governor's Veterans Service awards ceremony will be held in Suwannee County. (2 p.m., Louie C. Wadsworth Armory, 1416 11th St. S.W., Live Oak.)

STATE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS TO LEON DEMOCRATS: Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel is expected to speak during a meeting of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee. (7 p.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)