The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 18, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, APRIL 15, 2016…. Preparing to take over as Senate president in November, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has made clear he wants to bolster the state's universities. As part of that effort, Negron will start a "listening tour" Monday at the University of West Florida in Pensacola and then travel throughout the state to visit each university. He will end up Thursday afternoon at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

NEGRON STARTS UNIVERSITY TOUR: Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who is slated to become Senate president in November, will start a four-day tour of state universities. (Monday, 9 a.m. Central time, University of West Florida, Pensacola. Also, 3 p.m. Eastern time, Florida State University, Tallahassee. Also, 5 p.m. Eastern time, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee.)

GRIMSLEY HOLDS 'MOBILE' OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold "mobile office hours" in Okeechobee County. (Monday, 10 a.m., Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce, 55 South Parrott Ave., Okeechobee.)

MURPHY, TEACHERS MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy and the Florida Education Association teachers union are scheduled to hold a news conference to make an announcement. (Monday, 10:15 a.m. Reporters may contact Press@MurphyForFlorida.com.)

BERUFF CAMPAIGNS IN TALLAHASSEE: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carlos Beruff will speak to the Tallahassee Republican Women's Club Federated. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., A La Provence Restaurant, 1415 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee.)

MEDICAID DISENROLLMENT AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration is scheduled to hold a hearing about a rule related to "good cause disenrollment" from statewide Medicaid managed-care plans. (Monday, 2 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

LONG-TERM CARE PRIORITIZATION DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration is scheduled to hold a hearing about statewide Medicaid managed care and prioritization and enrollment in the long-term care waiver program. (Monday, 2 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

SCOTT TOUTS BILL TO CREATE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL: Gov. Rick Scott will hold a ceremonial bill-signing event for a measure (SB 716) that will lead to the creation of a Holocaust Memorial in the state Capitol Complex. (Monday, 3 p.m., Jewish Federation of Broward County, 5850 South Pine Island Road, Davie.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016

NEGRON GOES TO UNF, UF, UCF: Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who is slated to become Senate president in November, will continue a tour of the state's universities. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., University of North Florida, Jacksonville. Also, 12:30 p.m., University of Florida, Gainesville. Also, 4:30 p.m., University of Central Florida, Orlando.)

MEDICAID ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Medical Care Advisory Committee, which works on issues in the Medicaid program, will meet. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

PHYSICIAN PAY ON THE TABLE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about physician compensation in the statewide Medicaid managed-care program. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

WILCOX CAMPAIGNS IN HILLSBOROUGH: U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox is expected to appear at a meeting of the Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 East Fowler Ave., Tampa.)

FREEMAN SPEAKS IN NORTH PORT: Democrat April Freeman, who is running in Congressional District 17, is expected to speak to the North Port Democratic Club. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., 6207 West Price Blvd., North Port.)

SCOTT SPEAKS TO PASCO GOP: Gov. Rick Scott is expected to be the keynote speaker during the Republican Party of Pasco County's Reagan Day Dinner. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a candidate for U.S. Senate, also is expected to attend. (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

NEGRON CONTINUES HIGHER-ED TOUR: Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who is slated to become Senate president in November, will continue a four-day tour of the state's universities. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland. Also, noon, University of South Florida, Tampa. Also, 3 p.m., New College of Florida, Sarasota.)

CABINET AIDES MEET: Aides to Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will meet to prepare for an April 26 Cabinet meeting. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

GRIMSLEY HOLDS 'MOBILE' OFFICERS: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold "mobile office hours" in Polk County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Mulberry Library, 905 N.E. Fifth St., Mulberry. Also, 1:15 p.m., Fort Meade Community Center, 10 S.W. Third St., Fort Meade. Also, 3 p.m., Latt Maxcy Memorial Library, 15 North Magnolia Ave., Frostproof.)

CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SERVICES DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Health will hold a rule-development workshop related to the Children's Medical Services managed-care plan. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

WORKERS COMP AT ISSUE: The "Three-Member Panel," which discusses issues related to medical reimbursements in the workers-compensation insurance system, will meet. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Larson Building, 200 East Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

REBECCA NEGRON RAISES MONEY FOR CONGRESSIONAL BID: A fundraising reception is slated for Republican Rebecca Negron, who is running in Congressional District 18. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Consolidated Citrus Hammock House, 15950 S.W. Kanner Highway, Indiantown.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016

NEGRON FINISHES UNIVERSITY VISITS: Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who is slated to become Senate president in November, is slated to finish a tour of the state's universities. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers. Also, 1 p.m., Florida International University, Miami. Also, 4 p.m., Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.)

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

SOTO SPEAKS IN POLK COUNTY: State Sen. Darren Soto, an Orlando Democrat running for Congress this year, is slated to speak to the Democratic Women's Club of East Polk Ridge. (Thursday, noon, Dundee Diner, 28087 Highway 27, Dundee.)

GULF CONSORTIUM BOARD MEETS: The Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, which works on issues related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will meet in Hillsborough County. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Frederick Karl Center, 601 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.)

GALVANO KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN: Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, will hold a campaign kickoff event. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Dolphin Aviation, 8191 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.)

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN IN MARTIN: Republican candidates in Congressional District 18 will take part in a forum in Martin County. Expected to participate are Mark Freeman, Carl Domino, Rebecca Negron, Brian Mast and Rick Kozell. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Martin County Realtor Association, 43 S.W. Monterey Road, Stuart.)

JOLLY SPEAKS IN PINELLAS: U.S. Rep. David Jolly, who is running for U.S. Senate this year, is slated to speak to the North Pinellas Republican Club. (Thursday, 6 p.m., 33286 U.S. 19 North, Palm Harbor.)

SCOTT HONORED IN SARASOTA: Gov. Rick Scott will be honored as the "2016 Statesman of the Year" during a Sarasota County Republican Party dinner. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Hyatt Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota.)

WILCOX CAMPAIGNS IN PLANT CITY: U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox is expected to speak to the Plant City Republican Women Federated. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Uncle Mike's Smokehouse Grill, 106 East State Road 60, Plant City.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS HUDDLE: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will meet in Manatee County. (Friday, a committee meeting starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Council of Presidents meeting, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, 5840 26th St. West, Bradenton.)

ORTHOTISTS AND PROSTHETISTS AT ISSUE: The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists will hold a conference call. (Friday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7342425515.)

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

GAETZ TAKES CAMPAIGN BUS TOUR: State Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican who is running in Congressional District 1, will hold a campaign bus tour. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Grand Dunes Condominium, 219 Scenic Gulf Dr., Miramar Beach. Also, 11 a.m., KC's Sandbar and Grille, 190 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach. Also, 2 p.m., Helen Back Again, 8651 Navarre Parkway, Navarre. Also, 4 p.m., The Fish House, 600 South Barracks St., Pensacola.)

HAGER DISCUSSES SESSION: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, is scheduled to hold a "coffee and conversation" event to discuss the legislative session. (Saturday, 9:30 a.m., The Ambassador Center, 1237 East Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach.)

HOUSE CANDIDATES APPEAR IN PUTNAM: The Putnam County Republican Executive Committee will hold a forum for candidates in state House District 19, which Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, will vacate because of term limits. The GOP candidates in the race are Leslie Dougher, Bobby Payne and Katherine Van Zant. Also expected to take part in the forum is incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes. (Saturday, 11 a.m., Rodman Plantation, 298 County Road 310, Palatka.)

WILLIAMS HONORED BY EQUALITY FLORIDA: Equality Florida will honor state Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, with its 2016 "Voice for Equality Award." (Saturday, 7 p.m., Mission San Luis, 2100 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

DEMINGS TO SPEAK AT SEMINOLE EVENT: Democrat Val Demings, who is running this year in Congressional District 10, is expected to speak during the Seminole County Democratic Party's annual gala. Also expected to take part is state House candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith. (Saturday, 7 p.m., Sanford Civic Center, 401 East Seminole Blvd., Sanford.)