The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – April 6, 2015
 

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, APRIL 3, 2015…..Uncertain about when budget negotiations might begin, Florida lawmakers will focus during the coming week on issues such as the state's troubled prison system, a gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe and the financial condition of local pension plans. Meanwhile, voters in Northeast Florida will elect a new senator and two new House members in special elections that stem from the resignation in November of former Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2015

THE FISH COULD BE BITING: Floridians will be able to go fishing Sunday without freshwater recreational licenses. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission designated Saturday and Sunday as freshwater license-free fishing days.

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families is expected to hold a pair of hearings on rules dealing with extended foster care and the Road to Independence program. (Monday, first hearing starts at 9 a.m., Department of Children and Families, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Building 1, Tallahassee.)

STEWART MARKS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH: Education Commissioner Pam Stewart will plant a pinwheel garden to mark Child Abuse Prevention Month. The garden is related to "Pinwheels for Prevention," a national campaign aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect. (Monday, 3 p.m., Department of Education, 325 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

Legislature:

GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEBATED: The House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 933), filed by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, that would make numerous changes in the state's growth-management system. (8:45 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

BODY CAMERAS AT ISSUE: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up a bill (SPB 7080) that addresses body cameras worn by police officers. The bill would require law-enforcement agencies to establish policies for the proper use of body cameras if the agencies allow officers to wear the devices. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PRISON OVERSIGHT DISCUSSED: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 7131), filed by Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, and Rep. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, that would seek to improve oversight of the state's troubled prison system. The bill includes expanding the scope of security audits at prisons and would give priority to facilities that have high levels of inappropriate use of force against inmates, assaults on employees or inmate sexual abuse. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SURGEON GENERAL FACES HEARING: The Senate Health Policy Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Surgeon General John Armstrong, who is secretary of the Florida Department of Health. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GIFT BAN CHANGE PROPOSED: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will consider a proposal (SB 984), filed by Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, that would create a limited exemption to a state law that bars lobbyists from giving gifts or spending other money to benefit lawmakers. The proposal would allow governmental entities to make available facilities or property to lawmakers if there is a "public purpose." Many local governments employ or hire lobbyists. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

POWDERED ALCOHOL SERVED UP: The House Appropriations Committee will take up a bill (HB 1247), filed by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, that would prohibit the sale of powdered alcoholic beverages. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PSC, UTILITIES ON TAP: The Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee will take up a bill (SB 288), filed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, that seeks to make a series of changes involving the state Public Service Commission and electric utilities. In part, the bill would require annual ethics training for commission members and would prevent utility customers from facing higher electricity rates because of extended billing cycles. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WRITE-IN RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT TARGETED: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will consider a proposal (SB 840), filed by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, that would eliminate a residency requirement for write-in candidates. The bill would delete part of state law that says write-in candidates must live at the time of qualification in the districts they seek to represent. The residency requirement touched off court battles last year in House District 64 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties and in a Broward County Commission race. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL HEARS CLAIM BILLS: The House Civil Justice Subcommittee is scheduled to hear 14 claim bills, which involve lawsuits filed against government agencies across the state. The state's sovereign-immunity laws typically limit damages to $200,000 in lawsuits against government agencies, and lawmakers have to pass claim bills to allow larger payments. (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- Senate Finance and Tax Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Higher Education Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Banking and Insurance Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Community Affairs Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Judiciary Committee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN THREE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS: Voters in Northeast Florida will cast ballots in special elections in Senate District 6 and House districts 17 and 24. The special elections stem from the November resignation of former Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and the subsequent candidacies of Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, and Rep. Ronald "Doc" Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, for the Senate seat. Hutson, who defeated Renuart in a Republican primary, will face Daytona Beach Democrat David Cox in District 6, which includes St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and part of Volusia counties. Republican Cyndi Stevenson, no-party candidate Judy Stevens and write-in Mary Anne Boczek are running to replace Renuart in House District 17, which includes part of St. Johns County. Palm Coast Republican Paul Renner and St. Augustine Democrat Adam Morley are seeking to succeed Hutson in House District 24, which includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties.

JUSTICES HEAR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CASE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including a dispute about whether Miami engaged in unfair labor practices when it cut pay and retirement benefits for police officers in 2010. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT TALLIED: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze enrollment in the public-school system. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

BUFFETT TO BOOST THE EVERGLADES: Musician Jimmy Buffett will make an appearance and play a short set during an Everglades Day rally at the Capitol. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Capitol courtyard.)

CITIZENS BOARD TO HOLD CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors will hold a teleconference. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-942-8686. Code: 5743735657#)

MEDICAID MANAGED CARE CHANGE AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a public meeting about a proposed change in the statewide Medicaid managed-care system. AHCA is seeking federal approval to assign people to Medicaid managed-care plans immediately after they are determined eligible for the program. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 6800 North Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 220, Tampa.)

LAWMAKERS DISCUSS PRISON REFORM: Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, and Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, will take part in a panel discussion about prison reforms. The panel discussion will follow a screening of a documentary film about longtime Florida inmate Mark DeFriest. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. screening, followed by the panel discussion, Challenger Learning Center, 200 South Duval St., Tallahassee.):

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

Legislature:

ALIMONY CHANGES DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 1248), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that would make substantial changes in the state's alimony laws. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

STATE COLLEGE ROLES DEBATED: The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (SB 1252), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that would address the roles of state colleges and other parts of the higher-education system. Among other things, the bill would rename the Florida College System as the Florida Community College System and require many state colleges to change their names. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE CONSIDERS WATER POLICY: The Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a wide-ranging environmental bill (SB 918), filed by Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, that deals with water-policy issues such as trying to better protect natural springs. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE PILOT PROPOSED: The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (SB 1040), filed by Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, that would create a pilot needle exchange program in Miami-Dade County. The program would allow drug addicts to exchange used needles and syringes for clean needles and syringes as a way to prevent the spread of diseases. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANUCCIO FACES CONFIRMATION HEARING: The Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a confirmation hearing for Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the state Department of Economic Opportunity. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House will meet in an afternoon floor session. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

GAMBLING COMPACT AT ISSUE: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee is expected to take up a proposal (SPB 7088) that would extend for one year part of a gambling deal, known as a compact, with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. That part of the compact is scheduled to expire in July. It gives the tribe exclusive rights to offer banked card games, such as blackjack, at its casinos in exchange for payments to the state. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE TO TAKE UP PENSION REFORM, 'GROWLERS': The Senate will hold a floor session and consider a bill (SB 172) that would seek to shore up the financial health of local pension plans for police officers and firefighters. The bill, filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, would revamp how state insurance-premium tax revenues can be used in local pension plans. Senators passed an identical bill last year, but it died amid debate with the House about whether to overhaul the Florida Retirement System, which provides pension benefits to state employees and other groups such as teachers. Also during Wednesday's floor session, the Senate is slated to consider a proposal (SB 186), filed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, that would end the state's prohibition on breweries being able to fill 64-ounce beer containers known as "growlers." (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Judiciary Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House State Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

VETERANS NURSING HOME DESIGN UNVEILED: The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs will hold a public meeting to present a preliminary design for the new Ardie R. Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Tradition Town Hall, 10489 S.W. Meeting St., Port St. Lucie.)

LOPEZ-CANTERA TO SPEAK AT INTERNATIONAL DAYS: Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Florida Secretary of Commerce Bill Johnson are expected to be among the speakers during the Florida Chamber of Commerce's "International Days" event. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

JUSTICES CONSIDER DEATH PENALTY CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including appeals from two Death Row inmates. The death-penalty cases involve James Robertson, who was convicted in the 2008 murder of a cellmate at Charlotte Correctional Institution, and Tai Pham, who was convicted in the 2005 murder of his estranged wife in Seminole County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

CABINET AIDES TO MEET: Aides to Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will meet to discuss issues in preparation for an April 14 Cabinet meeting. (Wednesday, 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 Monroe County. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., San Carlos Institute, 516 Duval St., Key West.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House will meet in an afternoon floor session. (Thursday, 1 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Regulatory Affairs Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Fiscal Policy Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Rules Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 110 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:

DOT SECRETARY TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL DAYS: Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold will be a keynote speaker during the Florida Chamber of Commerce's "International Days" event. (Thursday, event starts at 8 a.m., Boxold to speak at 12:15 p.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

JUSTICES TAKE UP WRITE-IN QUESTIONS: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including a Broward County elections case that deals with residency requirements for write-in candidates. The case, stemming from a Broward County Commission race, also will consider whether the presence of write-in candidates should "close" party primaries. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD TO MEET: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

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

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD TO MEET: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings earlier in the day. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Monroe County. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Monroe County Public Library-Marathon, 3251 Overseas Highway, Marathon.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

BOARD OF MEDICINE TO MEET: The Florida Board of Medicine will consider disciplinary issues involving physicians from across the state. (Friday, 7:30 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Deerfield Beach, 100 Fairway Dr., Deerfield Beach.)

STATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS TO MEET: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will meet. (Friday, committee meeting starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by Council of Presidents meeting, Tallahassee Community College Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

CHIROPRACTIC BOARD TO MEET: The Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, 1501 International Parkway, Lake Mary.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates, committees and parties face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing their campaign-finance activities through March 31.