The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 20, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, APRIL 17, 2015…..With the House and Senate divided over health-care issues, the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a relatively unusual workshop Tuesday for all senators. The workshop is expected to include discussion about a Senate proposal to expand health-care coverage and information about a critical funding program known as the Low Income Pool. Meanwhile, the House and Senate could move forward during the coming week with a controversial proposal that would require a 24-hour waiting period before women could have abortions.

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

Legislature:

SENATORS CONSIDER "CONSCIENCE PROTECTION:" The Senate Rules Committee is expected to take up a controversial House bill (HB 7111) that would allow private adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples. The proposal, which supporters describe as the "conscience protection" bill, is primarily designed for religiously affiliated adoption agencies whose beliefs prevent them from placing children with gay and lesbian prospective parents. Critics contend the bill would lead to discrimination. (Monday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

ABORTION WAITING PERIOD AT ISSUE: The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will take up numerous bills, including a proposal (SB 724), filed by committee Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would require a 24-hour waiting period before women could get abortions. (Monday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

RAIL PROJECT DEBATED: The Florida Development Finance Corporation will hold a public hearing about issuing $1.75 billion in transportation facilities revenue bonds that would be used in financing the All Aboard Florida rail project. The passenger-rail service is eventually planned to go from Miami to Orlando. (Monday, 9 a.m., Residence Inn, 600 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE FINANCE & TAX COMMITTEE TO MEET: The House Finance & Tax Committee is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HEALTH CARE ISSUES GET SENATE AIRING: The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a day-long meeting that will include a workshop on critical health-care issues. The Senate has proposed a plan that would use $2.8 billion in federal money to expand health coverage to about 800,000 low-income Floridians, but the House and Gov. Rick Scott oppose it. Also, the Senate plan involves an extension of a major health-funding program known as the Low Income Pool, which is scheduled to expire June 30. Also during the meeting, the committee will take up issues such as a bill (SB 918), filed by Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, that would increase protections for the state's natural springs. Among numerous other bills, the committee will consider a proposal (SB 1248), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that would revamp the state's alimony laws. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TO TAKE UP ABORTION BILL: The House will hold a floor session and could take up dozens of bills, including a controversial proposal (HB 633), filed by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora, that would require a 24-hour waiting period before women could have abortions. Among other bills on the House agenda is a measure (HB 4017), filed by Rep. Ross Spano, R-Dover, that would keep in place regulations on pain-management clinics. The regulations, which were approved to crack down on "pill mills," are set to expire Jan. 1 unless lawmakers act. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

SPECIAL ELECTION IN HD 64: Voters in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will go to the polls in a special election in state House District 64. Former Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, is seeking to return to the House and faces opposition from write-in candidate Daniel Matthews. Grant appeared to have won re-election in November, but the House declined to seat him because of a legal battle about whether the write-in was eligible to be a candidate. That necessitated holding the special election.

LEGISLATIVE RACES CERTIFIED: The state Elections Canvassing Commission will meet to certify the results of April 7 special elections in Senate District 6, House District 17 and House District 24. Elkton Republican Travis Hutson won the race in Senate District 6, which includes St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia County. St. Johns Republican Cyndi Stevenson won in House District 17, which includes the northern part of St. Johns County. Palm Coast Republican Paul Renner won in House District 24, which includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami.)

FAU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will hold a series of committee meetings that will include issues such as a legislative update. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, Davie Campus student union, 3200 College Road, Davie.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

LOCAL PENSIONS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT ISSUE: The Senate will take up numerous bills during a floor session and could pass a long-discussed proposal (SB 172), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island and Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, that would seek to shore up local pension plans for police officers and firefighters. The Senate also could take up a measure (SB 1106), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would continue the state's efforts to curb human trafficking. The bill, in part, would increase criminal penalties for people who solicit prostitutes. Among the other bills on the Senate agenda is a proposal (SB 268), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that deals with amusement games offered at businesses such as Dave & Buster's and Chuck E. Cheese's. The bill seeks to clear up questions that stem from a 2013 law that shut down Internet cafes because of allegations of illegal gambling. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

COURT TO HEAR TEACHER EVALUATION CASE: The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a dispute about the constitutionality of a system that tied Florida teacher evaluations to student performance. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker last year upheld the system in a lawsuit led by the Florida Education Association teachers union. The system stems from a 2011 Florida law, known as the "Student Success Act." Critics took issue with part of the law that allowed some teachers to be evaluated based on the test scores of students who were not in their classrooms. Similarly, teachers could be evaluated on student test scores in subject areas they didn't teach. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Frank M. Johnson Jr. United States Courthouse, 1 Church St., Montgomery, Ala.)

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.)

HURRICANE LOSS PANEL TO MEET: The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., St. Pete Beach Public Library, 365 73rd Ave., St. Pete Beach. Also, 2 p.m., North Tampa Library, 8916 North Blvd., Tampa.)

HAGER STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: Staff for state Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold "mobile office hours." (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Delray Beach City Hall, 100 N.W. First Ave., Delray Beach.)

VICTIMS' RIGHTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will host a panel presentation about victims' rights issues in conjunction with National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The panel will be moderated by Tena Pate, who chairs the commission. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 22nd floor, the Capitol.)

'WALK IN MY SHOES' RALLY AT CAPITOL: A rally will be held to mark the end of the annual "Walk in My Shoes" trek across Florida by sexual-abuse survivor Lauren Book. The rally is expected to include Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other state leaders. The Walk in My Shoes campaign is aimed at helping stop child sexual abuse. (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., steps of the Old Capitol.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 9 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SENATE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

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

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade County. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Haitian Baptist Church Emmanuel, 7321 N.E. Second Ave., Miami.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Friday, 9 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SENATE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Friday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Leon and Palm Beach counties. (Friday, 9 a.m., North Florida Homeless Veterans Stand Down, North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee. Also, 10 a.m., Acreage Branch Library, 15801 Orange Blvd., Loxahatchee.)

HAGER STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: Staff for state Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold "mobile office hours." (Friday, 10 a.m., South Palm Beach Town Hall, 3577 South Ocean Blvd., South Palm Beach.)

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Duval County. (Saturday, 10 a.m., Community Empowerment Days, Hilltop Village Apartments, 1646 West 45th St., Jacksonville.)