The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – June 2, 2014

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, June 2, 2014…..The wait is almost over. Gov. Rick Scott during the coming week will sign a roughly $77 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and --- maybe of most interest --- issue vetoes. Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court is poised to hear arguments in two cases that involve controversial issues about medical malpractice and workers-compensation insurance.

MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

REDISTRICTING BATTLE TO RESUME: Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is expected to resume hearing testimony in a case about whether the Legislature followed constitutional requirements when drawing new congressional districts in 2012. (Monday, Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

HAGER TO DISCUSS SESSION: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, will continue a series of updates for local officials about the 2014 legislative session. (Monday, 6 p.m., Town of Ocean Ridge, 6450 North Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge.)

DEMOCRATS DISCUSS 2014 SESSION: The Democratic Club of Greater Boynton is expected to receive a review of the 2014 legislative session from speakers including Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana; Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach; Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton; and Rep. Dave Kerner, D-Lake Worth. (Monday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach.)

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014

HAGER TO DISCUSS SESSION: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, is expected to make three appearances to update local officials and residents about the 2014 legislative session. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations, 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton. Also, 1:30 p.m., Town of Highland Beach, 3614 South Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. Also, 6 p.m., City of Lake Worth, 7 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth.)

SUPREME COURT WEIGHS CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear two cases, including a lawsuit filed against the Florida Parole Commission by an inmate serving a life sentence. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

FAMU PRESIDENT TO SPEAK TO ECONOMIC CLUB: Florida A&M University President Elmira Mangum will speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Tuesday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS MED MAL CASE: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in four cases, including a dispute about a law that placed limits on damages in medical malpractice cases. The dispute centers on a woman, Kimberly Ann Miles, who suffered complications in early 2003 after what she said was an unnecessary surgery on her leg. A jury awarded the woman and her husband $1.5 million in pain-and-suffering damages, but lower courts reduced that amount to $500,000 because of limits in the medical-malpractice law, which was passed later in 2003. Justices will consider whether the damages could be applied “retroactively” to incidents that took place before the law went into effect. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TAKES UP CASES: The Florida Parole Commission will consider numerous cases that primarily stem from crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Parole Commission, 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

FAMU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will meet in the Panhandle community of Crestview. (Wednesday, committee meetings start at 8:45 a.m. Central time; board meets at 1:45 p.m. Central time. FAMU Rural Diversity Healthcare Center, 153 West Woodruff Ave., Crestview.)

FLORIDA ATLANTIC TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will meet and discuss a performance funding plan. (Wednesday, 3 p.m. Florida Atlantic University, Administration Building, Room 339, Boca Raton campus.)

HAGER TO DISCUSS SESSION: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, will continue a series of updates for local officials about the 2014 legislative session. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., City of Riviera Beach, 600 West Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach.)

BUDGET DEADLINE: Gov. Rick Scott faces a Wednesday deadline for signing the state’s fiscal 2014-15 budget and issuing vetoes.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

WORKERS COMP AT ISSUE: The Florida Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments in a potentially far-reaching challenge to a state law that led to limits on workers-compensation benefits for an injured firefighter. The case stems from on-the-job injuries suffered in 2009 by St. Petersburg firefighter Bradley Westphal. The legal questions focus on a law that placed a two-year limit on temporary disability benefits. That limit cut off disability payments in 2011 to Westphal, who was unable to work because of his injuries but also couldn't meet a standard to qualify for permanent disability benefits. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

PSC TAKES UP WATER, ELECTRIC ISSUES: The Florida Public Service Commission will consider a series of issues involving water companies and electric utilities such as Tampa Electric Co. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

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

HAGER TO DISCUSS SESSION: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, will continue a series of meetings to update local officials and residents about the 2014 legislative session. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., South End Neighborhood Association, 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014

BOARD OF MEDICINE MEETS: The Florida Board of Medicine will consider disciplinary issues involving physicians from across the state. (Friday, 8 a.m., Tampa Marriott Airport, 4200 George J. Bean Outbound Parkway, Tampa.)

ETHICS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Ethics will take up cases involving officials from areas such as Clearwater, Fort Myers, Apopka and Sarasota County. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

UF TRUSTEES TO MEET: The University of Florida Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings Thursday. The Friday session will start with what an agenda describes as the president's "strategic discussion," which will be followed by the trustees meeting. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., University of Florida, Emerson Alumni Hall, Gainesville.)

TABLE SET FOR FAMILY CAFE CONFERENCE: The annual Family Cafe conference, which brings together people with disabilities, family members, non-profit organizations and providers, will begin. (Friday, opening session 11:30 a.m., Hilton Orlando, 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando.)

LATVALA TO SPEAK TO GOP GROUP: Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is expected to speak to the Belleair Women’s Republican Club. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., Belleair Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Belleair.)