The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 7, 2014

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE - The House and Senate approved their proposed budgets Thursday, setting the stage for negotiations on a final spending plan. But negotiations often take a while to start --- well, at least publicly. And that should leave time for lawmakers during the coming week to try to push bills through committees. Meanwhile, across the street from the Capitol, the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in cases ranging from death-penalty appeals to insurance disputes.

MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

Legislature:

SENATE PANEL HOLDS CONFIRMATION HEARINGS: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will hold confirmation hearings for dozens of people appointed to state, regional and local positions. (Monday, noon, 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL ROLLS OUT CARPET FOR FILM INDUSTRY: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will consider a bill (SPB 7128) that seeks to bolster Florida’s film and entertainment industry. (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SEXUAL OFFENDERS TARGETED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a bill (SB 1416), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would set up a “strike force” in the attorney general’s office to locate sexual predators and offenders who have absconded from state supervision. (Monday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

METAL RECYCLERS AT ISSUE: The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up three bills, including a proposal (SB 1182), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would revamp the regulation of secondary metal recyclers. (Monday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE RULES & CALENDAR SETS AGENDA: The House Rules & Calendar Committee will meet to set the special order calendar. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE ANALYZED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will consider costs in the state-employees health insurance program. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HEALTH GROUPS CRITICIZE PREEMPTION BILL: Health groups will hold a news conference to criticize part of HB 169, which would take away local governments’ power to regulate the sale of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes --- a legal concept known as state "preemption." The bill also would ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. (Monday, 10:15 a.m., Old Capitol, Tallahassee.)

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AT ISSUE: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze information about public-school enrollment. (Monday, 1 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014

Legislature:

HOUSE TARGETS HUMAN TRAFFICKING: The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 7141), filed by Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, that would take a series of steps to try to curb human trafficking and help sexually exploited children. In part, it would provide sexually exploited children with specially trained child protective investigators and case managers. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

‘POP-TART’ BILL HEARD IN SENATE: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a long list of bills, including a proposal (SB 1060), filed by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, that would prevent schools from disciplining children for simulating guns while playing or wearing clothes that depict firearms. The proposal has been dubbed the “Pop-Tart’’ bill because of reports about a Maryland child who was suspended from school for chewing his toaster treat into the shape of a gun. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

GREYHOUND RACING DEBATED: The Senate Gaming Committee will consider a proposal (SB 742), filed by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, that calls for maintaining records about injuries suffered by racing greyhounds. The bill comes as some lawmakers look to eliminate or reduce greyhound racing in the state. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

‘GROWLERS’ ON TAP: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will take up a bill (SB 1714) that wades into a long-running debate about whether the craft brewing industry should be able to sell 64-ounce “growlers” of beer. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MANAGED CARE DRUGS AT ISSUE: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up a controversial proposal (SB 1354), filed by Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, that addresses pharmaceutical issues with managed-care plans. The bill involves issues such as plans’ preferred drug lists and a practice known as “step therapy.” (Tuesday, 3 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE BILL DEALS WITH VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL INCARCERATION: The House Criminal Justice Committee will consider a bill (HB 227), filed by Rep. Dave Kerner, D-Lake Worth, that deals with compensating victims of wrongful incarceration. The bill stems from the case of James Richardson, who spent 21 years in prison on a murder charge before his sentence was vacated. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER HOUSE MEETINGS:
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SENATE MEETINGS:
--- Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Special Order Calendar Group (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Health Policy Committee (Tuesday, 3 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)


Also:

SUPREME COURT HEARS BROWARD MURDER CASE: The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in three cases, including an appeal by Pablo Ibar, who was sentenced to death in the 1994 murders of three people in Broward County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

RICH TO SPEAK AT GENERAL BAPTIST EVENT: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is expected to speak at a Florida General Baptist Convention event. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Embassy Suites Orlando, 4955 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee.)

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC BOARD TO MEET: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. Before the full board meeting, a presidential search committee will review applications and discuss the selection of finalists for the university’s presidency. (Tuesday, presidential search committee expected to start at 9:30 a.m., full board meeting will follow, Florida Polytechnic University Board Room, 439 South Florida Ave., Suite 300, Lakeland.)

YOUNG TO SPEAK TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS: Republican Bill Young II, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Dwight Dudley in state House District 68, is scheduled to talk to the Pinellas County Young Republicans. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Yard of Ale Gastro Pub, 2675 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater.)

SPECIAL ELECTION IN HD 44: Republican Eric Eisnaugle and Democrat Shaun Raja will compete in a special election in Orange County’s House District 44. Eisnaugle and Raja are seeking to replace former Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, who resigned earlier this year.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

Legislature:

IMMIGRANT TUITION GETS AIRING: The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a high-profile bill (SB 1400), filed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, that would allow undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates at Florida colleges and universities. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CRIMINALS TARGETED FOR CROSSING COUNTY LINES: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a bill (SB 550), filed by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, that would make it a third-degree felony for a person to cross county lines to commit certain crimes. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE IN SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session for much of the day. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SENATE LOOKS AT HOUSE TAX CUTS: The Senate Finance and Tax Subcommittee will hold a workshop to consider a package of tax cuts (HB 5601) approved by the House. Among other things, the package includes a series of sales-tax holidays and raising the exemption on corporate income taxes. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DRUG DATABASE AT ISSUE: The Senate Rules Committee will take up numerous bills, including a proposal (SB 862), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, aimed at better protecting the confidentiality of information in the state’s prescription-drug monitoring database. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SENATE MEETINGS:
--- Senate Transportation, Tourism & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

GAETZ, LOPEZ-CANTERA, PUTNAM AT CHAMBER EVENT: Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are among a list of state and private-sector officials expected to speak as part of the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 International Days. (Wednesday, Gaetz speaks at 8:30 a.m., others are later in the morning. Florida State University Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

JUSTICES TO CONSIDER CASE ABOUT CIVIL COMMITMENTS: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including a challenge to the constitutionality of a law dealing with the involuntary civil commitments of people with intellectual disabilities. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Parole Commission will consider numerous cases stemming from crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

LEAGUE TO HONOR GARCIA, SIMMONS: The League of Women Voters of Florida will honor Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, and Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, during the organization’s Old Capitol Gala. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Historic Capitol Museum, Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

Legislature:

POTENTIAL HOUSE MEETINGS (meeting notices had not been posted as of Friday):
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Regulatory Affairs Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Committee (Thursday, 10 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Subcommittee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Appropriations Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Houses Rules & Calendar Committee (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.

POTENTIAL SENATE MEETINGS (meeting notices had not been posted as of Friday):
--- Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Regulated Industries Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Appropriations Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

WEATHERFORD, PUTNAM AT PRAYER BREAKFAST: House Speaker Will Weatherford, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Rep. Dennis Baxley and Sen. Anitere Florida are expected to speak during the Florida Faith & Freedom Coalition and Florida Right to Life 2014 Prayer Breakfast. (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Doubletree Hotel, 101 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

JUSTICES TO TAKE UP INSURANCE CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in two insurance-related cases, including a case from Columbia County about uninsured-motorist coverage. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

PSC TO MEET: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a wide range of issues, including issues involving Florida Power & Light, Tampa Electric Co., Gulf Power Co., and Duke Energy Florida. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

SUPREME COURT TO RELEASE OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

BOARD OF ED TO MEET: The State Board of Education will hold a workshop, which is expected to include discussion about how to prepare teachers who are early in their careers. The workshop will be followed by a meeting that will include updates from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and the Florida State College System Council of Presidents. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Department of Education, Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines St., Suite 1703/07, Tallahassee.)

RICH TO RAISE MONEY IN BROWARD: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich will raise money during a reception Broward County. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Carolina Ale House, 2618 Weston Road, Fort Lauderdale.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE DEADLINE: Political candidates and committees face a Thursday deadline for filing campaign-finance reports for the period ending March 31.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Legislature:

SENATE IN SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to be in session and could consider issues such as a bill (SB 864), filed by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, that would shift responsibility for instructional materials from the state to local school boards. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE IN SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold an afternoon floor session. (Friday, 12:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER POTENTIAL HOUSE MEETINGS (meeting notices had not been posted as of Friday):
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Friday, 8 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Friday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House State Affairs Committee (Friday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

COLLEGE SYSTEM PRESIDENTS GATHER: The Florida College System Council of Presidents is expected to meet to discuss issues in the system. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., TCC Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

BOARD OF ED TO MEET: The State Board of Education will meet. (Friday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)