The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 14, 2014

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE -- Call it the calm before the storm. Florida lawmakers will take the coming week off because of the Passover and Easter holidays. They will return to the Capitol on April 21 for two frantic weeks before the May 2 end of the legislative session. Relatively little will happen during the holiday week in state government and politics, though the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will tackle issues such as lionfish and alligators.

MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC FINALISTS INTERVIEWED: A search committee will interview the finalists for the presidency at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s newest university. That will be followed by a meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees. The finalists are Randy Avent, associate vice president for research and associate provost at North Carolina State University, and Robert McGrath, vice president of the Georgia Institute of Technology and director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. (Monday, 9 a.m., Lakeland Center, 701 West Lime St., Lakeland.)

PROPERTY TAXES AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze ad valorem, or property tax, revenue. (Monday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GRADUATE ASSISTANTS RALLY: Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, is expected to join other speakers in support of Florida State University graduate assistants during a rally protesting what the graduate assistants describe as a “fees-to-work” system. (Monday, noon, steps of the Old Capitol.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

TAX DAY TARGETED: State Rep. Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo, and members of the Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition-Florida, will hold a media conference call to argue for federal tax reform and simplifying the tax code. The conference call will come on the day millions of Americans rush to file their federal income taxes. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-848-2216. Passcode: 2704235408.)

LICENSING AND REGULATION DISCUSSED: The James Madison Institute will host a panel discussion about issues involving industry regulations and licensing. (Tuesday, noon, The Governors Club, 202 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

FISH AND WILDLIFE PANEL TO START MEETING: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start three days of meetings and, in part, will hear presentations about interactions between wildlife and humans. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014

COMMISSION TAKES AIM AT LIONFISH: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take up a series of issues, including proposals to try to curb lionfish, which are an invasive species that threaten native species and ecosystems. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Parole Commission is scheduled to take up numerous cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

ALLIGATORS ON THE AGENDA: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider issues such as proposed rules dealing with the taking, possession and sale of alligators and the collection of alligator eggs and hatchlings. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC TRUSTEES TALK PRESIDENCY: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees will hold a conference call and is expected to discuss a contract for a university president. (Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 5656664913#)