On Tap in the Capital- Tuesday, April 4, 2017

By the News Service of Florida

Legislature:

UTILITY REGULATION AT ISSUE: The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 7071), filed by Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-Treasure Island, that would revamp regulation of electric utilities. In part, the bill would require that members of the Florida Public Service Commission be appointed from five different regions of the state and would move the state Office of Public Counsel under the attorney general. (8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

BARAHONA CASE CONSIDERED: The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a series of "claim" bills, including a proposal (HB 6523), filed by Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, and Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, that would lead to paying $3.75 million in the settlement of a high-profile case involving children Nubia and Victor Barahona. A lawsuit was filed against the Florida Department of Children and Families after Nubia Barahona's decomposing body was found in February 2011 in the bed of her father's pickup truck on Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County. Victor Barahona was in the truck, as both children had been doused with toxic chemicals, authorities said. (8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS CRITICIZE ORLANDO PROSECUTOR: Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, will hold a news conference to call for the removal of Central Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala, who announced recently that she will not pursue the death penalty in murder cases. Also expected to take part in the news conference are Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park; Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando; Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood; and Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora. (8:45 a.m. Room 333, the Capitol.)

ENVIRONMENTAL PANEL EYED: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will take up bill (SB 198), filed by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, that would tighten requirements for the state Environmental Regulation Commission. The bill would require approval from five of seven commission members before proposed rules could go forward on issues such as air- or water-quality standards. (9:30 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DOZIER ABUSE CONDEMNED: The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a proposal (SR 1440), filed by Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, that would apologize for abuse that occurred at the now-closed Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Jackson County. Information has emerged in recent years about boys who were abused at the reform school, and University of South Florida researchers found remains of boys buried in unmarked graves. (9:30 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DRONES TARGETED: The Senate Transportation Committee will consider a bill (SB 832), filed by Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa, that would make it a misdemeanor to operate drones around "critical infrastructure facilities," such as power plants and gas or oil pipelines. (9:30 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FIRST LADY, STATE LEADERS FIGHT CHILD ABUSE: Florida First Lady Ann Scott, lawmakers and other state leaders will help launch Prevent Child Abuse Florida's annual "Pinwheels for Prevention" campaign. Participants in the event are expected to include Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville; Rep. Al Jacquet, D-Lantana: Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll; state Surgeon General Celeste Philip; Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Justin Senior; Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Christina Daly; and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. (10 a.m., governor's mansion, 700 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)
 

REFORM SCHOOLS AT ISSUE: Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and Rep. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, will hold a news conference to discuss abuses in the past at juvenile-reform schools in Jackson and Okeechobee counties. Also expected to take part in the news conference are former Gov. Bob Martinez, House Speaker Richard Corcoran and House Minority Leader Janet Cruz. (10:30 a.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)

SENATE DEMOCRATS HUDDLE: The Senate Democratic caucus will meet. (12:30 p.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MILITARY BILLS DISCUSSED: Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, will host a news conference to discuss "military friendly" bills in the Legislature. A dozen other lawmakers also are expected to take part. (12:30 p.m., Room 333, the Capitol.)

RIDESHARING REGULATION AT ISSUE: The House will hold a floor session and take up numerous bills, including a proposal (HB 221), filed by Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, that would create statewide regulations for ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. The proposal, backed by ridesharing companies, has been controversial because it would prevent local governments from imposing regulations. (1:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

RECESS REQUIREMENT PROPOSED: The Senate will hold a floor session and is expected to approve a bill (SB 78), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would require public elementary schools to provide at least 20 minutes of recess each day for students. (1:30 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

LOTTERY WARNING PROPOSED: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider a bill (SB 1370), filed by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, that would require a warning to be placed on lottery tickets. The warning would say, "WARNING: GAMBLING CAN BE ADDICTIVE." (4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

GULF POWER RATES AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a hearing to consider a proposed settlement in a request by Gulf Power Co. to raise base electric rates. The proposed settlement would lead to a net base-rate increase of $54.3 million and would take effect in July. The commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting after the Gulf rate hearing. (9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS DEATH CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in two death-penalty cases. One of the cases is an appeal by Terry Ellerbee, who was sentenced to death in the 2006 fatal shooting of a man in Okeechobee County. The other is an appeal by Ralph Wright Jr., who was convicted of murdering a woman and her son in 2007 in Pinellas County. (9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

SCOTT DISCUSSES ENTERPRISE FLORIDA, VISIT FLORIDA: Gov. Rick Scott will host a roundtable discussion to talk about the benefits of programs such as the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida and tourism-marketer Visit Florida. Scott and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, are locked in a battle about funding for the programs. (10 a.m., Florida State College at Jacksonville, Advanced Technology Center, 401 West State St., Jacksonville.)

TRAUMA CARE DISCUSSED: The Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida will host a media availability to discuss trauma care. (10:30 a.m., Room 231 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

GILLUM SPEAKS TO BAPTIST CONVENTION: Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democrat running for governor next year, is scheduled to speak to the Florida General Baptist Convention. (10:30 a.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, 4955 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee.)

REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE MEETS: The Revenue Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an "impact conference." (11 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OPA-LOCKA FINANCES AT ISSUE: The Financial Emergency Board for the City of Opa-locka is scheduled to meet. (11 a.m., City Commission chamber, 215 North Perviz Ave., Opa-locka.)

BOARD OF PHARMACY MEETS: The Florida Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet in Hillsborough County. (1 p.m., Sheraton Tampa East, 10221 Princess Palm Ave., Tampa.)

SCOTT TOUTS JOBS: Gov. Rick Scott will appear at a Volusia County business to discuss job growth. (2:15 p.m., Boston Whaler, 100 Whaler Way, Edgewater.)

IMMIGRATION DETAINERS AT ISSUE: Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, president of the Florida Sheriffs Association, and other sheriffs will hold a news conference to discuss Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers. (3:30 p.m., Orange County Sheriff's Office, 2500 West Colonial Dr., Orlando.)

KING KICKS OFF GUBERNATORIAL RACE: Orlando Democrat Chris King will formally announce his candidacy for governor. (6 p.m., Hillcrest Hampton House, 2000 Hillcrest St., Orlando.)

RING SPEAKS TO MARTIN DEMOCRATS: Former state Sen. Jeremy Ring, who is considering a run for state chief financial officer, is expected to speak to the Martin County Democratic Club. (6:30 p.m., Best Western, 1209 S.E. Federal Highway, Stuart.)