On Tap In the Capital - Wednesday, April 12, 2017

By The News Service of Florida

Legislature:

JONES, GILLUM CRITICIZE EDUCATION PROPOSAL: State Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will hold a news conference to criticize a House education proposal known as "Schools of Hope." The proposal, in part, would help non-profit charter school operators quickly open campuses in areas where traditional public schools are considered "persistently" low-performing. (10 a.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)

SENATE DEMOCRATS HUDDLE: The Senate Democratic caucus will meet before the start of a floor session. (11:15 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE TAKES UP BUDGET, WATER PLAN: The Senate will hold a floor session and consider a proposed budget (SB 2500) for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Also, it will take up a major water bill (SB 10) that is a priority of Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart. (Noon, Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TAKES UP BUDGET: The House will hold a floor session and take up a proposed budget (HB 5001) for the fiscal year that starts July 1. It also will consider a series of other budget-related bills. (1 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

NATURAL GAS INVESTMENTS DEBATED: The Senate Rules Committee will take up a series of bills, including a proposal (SB 1238), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would allow electric utilities to invest in natural-gas reserves and recoup the money from customers. The bill was filed after the state Supreme Court last year rejected a move by Florida Power & Light to invest in an Oklahoma natural-gas project. (5 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

NEGRON, CORCORAN HONORED AT 'CARIBBEAN DAY' EVENTS: Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, are expected to receive awards during the annual "Caribbean Day at the Capitol." (Awards ceremony at 5 p.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

Also:

CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS AT ORLANDO BREAKFAST: Democratic U.S. House members Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto will be guests at an Orlando Economic Partnership breakfast. (8:15 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Downtown, 60 South Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando.)

MEDICAID DATA BOOK AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will host a meeting about the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Data Book. (8:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

SCOTT TOUTS ENTERPRISE FLORIDA, VISIT FLORIDA: Gov. Rick Scott will hold an event in Orlando to discuss the economic impact of tourism-marketer Visit Florida and the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida. Scott has been locked in a battle with House Speaker Richard Corcoran about funding for the agencies. (9 a.m., USTA National Campus, Champions Lodge Dining Area, 10000 USTA Blvd., Orlando.)

FEA LEADERS HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE: President Joanne McCall and other leaders of the Florida Education Association will hold a news conference to discuss legislative issues such as student testing, school funding and teacher retention. (9:30 a.m., Doug Jamerson Building, 213 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ DISCUSSES HUMAN TRAFFICKING: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., will host a roundtable discussion about human trafficking. (10:30 a.m., Wasserman Schultz office, Sunrise Utilities Administration Building, 777 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise.)

LAWSON MAKES JACKSONVILLE APPEARANCES: U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., is expected to speak at a Democratic Women's Information Network luncheon and hold a town-hall meeting in Jacksonville. (Luncheon at noon, River City Brewing Company, 835 Museum Circle, Jacksonville. Also, town hall at 6 p.m., Florida State College at Jacksonville, Downtown Campus, 101 West State St., Jacksonville.)

CONSTITUTION REVISION PANEL MEETS: The Florida Constitution Revision Commission will hold a hearing as it prepares to put recommendations on the November 2018 ballot. (5 p.m., Florida A&M University, Student Union, Grand Ballroom, 1628 South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tallahassee.)