On Tap In the Capital- Wednesday, April 19, 2017

By the News Service of Florida

Legislature:

'ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS' AT ISSUE: The House Commerce Committee will take up numerous bills, including a proposal (HB 1421), filed by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, and Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, that would make changes in an insurance practice known as "assignment of benefits." The issue has been highly controversial, with insurers blaming assignment of benefits for increasing property-insurance rates. (8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE APPOINTMENTS AT ISSUE: The House Government Accountability Committee will consider a bill (HB 1225), filed by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, that would revamp the way administrative law judges are appointed, giving power to the governor and judicial nominating commissions. (8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE DEMOCRATS GATHER: The Senate Democratic caucus will meet in advance of a floor session. (9:15 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate will take up numerous issues during a floor session, including a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 76), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, that would extend a cap on increases in the assessed values of non-homestead properties. The proposal would go on the November 2018 ballot. The issue stems from a 2008 constitutional change that placed a 10 percent cap on annual increases in assessed values of non-homestead properties. The limit will expire Jan. 1, 2019, unless it is extended by voters.  (10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AT ISSUE: Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, Rep. Kristin Jacobs, D-Coconut Creek, and organizations such as Lauren's Kids and the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence will hold a news conference as part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. (12:30 p.m., Capitol rotunda.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session and could vote on a bill (HB 7085), filed by Insurance & Banking Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, that would make key changes to the workers' compensation insurance system. Also, it would vote on a bill (HB 1063), filed by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, that would repeal the no-fault auto insurance system. (1 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

DRONES TARGETED: The Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities 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. (1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BLACK BEARS AT ISSUE: The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee will take up a proposal (SB 1304), filed by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, that would prevent black bears from being hunted in Florida for a decade and set aside money to help with the purchase of bear-resistant trash containers. (1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HEARINGS HELD ON UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will hold confirmation hearings for trustees of all 12 state universities. (1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

LOTTERY WARNING PROPOSED: The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up numerous issues, including 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." (1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY SOUGHT: The Senate Transportation Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1622), filed by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, that would increase penalties for motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses. The bill is named after Cameron Mayhew, a 16-year-old from Fort Myers who died after being hit by a vehicle that illegally passed a stopped school bus. (1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATORS CONSIDER WORKERS' COMP: The Senate Rules Committee will take up a series of bills, including a proposal (SB 1582), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would make changes in the workers' compensation insurance system. (4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

BEAR MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start a two-day meeting and is expected to discuss issues related to managing the state' black-bear population. The issue has been controversial since 2015, when the commission approved a bear hunt. The management efforts are aimed at reducing potentially dangerous interactions between humans and bears. (8:30 a.m., Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

WORKERS' COMP PANEL MEETS: The state's "Three-Member Panel," which deals with health-care issues in the workers' compensation insurance system, will meet. (10 a.m., Larson Building, 200 East Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

HASTINGS MAKES APPEARANCES IN BOYNTON BEACH: U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., is scheduled to visit a Head Start program in Boynton Beach and later hold a town-hall meeting. (10 a.m., Lutheran Services Florida Head Start Center, 909 N.E. Third St., Boynton Beach. Also, town hall at 12:30 p.m., Boynton Beach Jewish Community Center, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach.)

ROONEY SPEAKS TO SOUTHWEST CHAMBER: U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., is scheduled to speak to The Chamber of Southwest Florida. (11:30 a.m., The Club at Pelican Preserve, 9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd., Fort Myers.)

PUTNAM DISCUSSES WILDFIRES: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and State Forester Jim Karels will hold a news conference to discuss wildfires across the state. (2 p.m., agriculture commissioner's office, the Capitol, PL-10.)

BUCHANAN SPEAKS TO LONGBOAT KEY GOP: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is expected to speak to the Republican Club of Longboat Key. (5:30 p.m., Longboat Key Club, 220 Sands Point Road, Longboat Key.)

LAWSON HOLDS TOWN HALL: U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., will hold a town-hall meeting in Gadsden County. (6 p.m., Gadsden County Commission chamber, 9-B East Jefferson St. Quincy.)

SANDERS, DNC CHAIR APPEAR IN MIAMI: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez will make an appearance in Miami as part of what has been dubbed the "Come Together and Fight Back” tour. (7 p.m., James L. Knight Center, 400 S.E. Second Ave., Miami.)