The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – August 3, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JULY 31, 2015….. With the school year drawing near, it's time to buy new clothes, backpacks and notebooks for the kids. And next Friday, Florida will start a 10-day "sales tax holiday" for back-to-school shoppers. Also during the coming week, Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet could end lingering questions about who will lead the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015

KIDCARE COSTS ANALYZED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will look at expenditures in the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Collier, Lee and Orange counties. (Monday, noon, Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, 1102 North Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Also, 3 p.m., Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce, 25071 Chamber of Commerce Dr., Bonita Springs. Also, 6 p.m., Target Super Store, 120 West Grant St., Orlando.)

TOP EDUCATORS HONORED: The Florida Department of Education will hold a ceremony to recognize Diane McKee, the 2016 Florida teacher of the year; Angela Murphy-Osborne, the 2015 principal of the year; and Dustin Sims, the 2015 assistant principal of the year. (Monday, 2 p.m., Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS HUDDLE: The Florida College System Council of Presidents is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., committee meeting followed by council meeting, The Sundial Resort, 1451 Middle Gulf Dr., Sanibel.)

MEDICAID MONEY AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to Medicaid expenditures. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Glades, DeSoto and Highlands counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Glades County Courthouse, 500 Avenue J, Moore Haven. Also, 1 p.m., DeSoto County Administration Building, 201 East Oak St., Arcadia. Also, 3:30 p.m., Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce, 227 U.S. Highway 27, Sebring.)

VETERANS AGENCY DISCUSSES BUDGET: The Veterans Florida Board of Directors is scheduled to hold a conference call to discuss issues such as a 2016-17 budget request. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. Call-in number: 1-877-619-2945. Alternate number: 1-850-610-2158.)

ROSS HOLDS TOWN HALL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., will hold a town-hall meeting. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Lutz Elementary School, 202 Fifth Ave. S.E., Lutz.)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

CABINET CONSIDERS AGENCY HEADS,: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a wide range of issues, including the potential appointments of Jon Steverson as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Rick Swearingen as commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Both men currently hold the jobs on an interim basis. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

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.)

BOARD OF ED HOLDS WORKSHOP: The State Board of Education is scheduled to hold a workshop to look at legislative and budget issues. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

GAETZ FATHER AND SON SPEAK TO STUDENTS: Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and his son, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, are scheduled to address students in the Florida State University Masters of Applied American Politics and Policy program. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Old Capitol, Tallahassee.)

TRAIN FINANCING DISCUSSED: The Florida Development Finance Corporation will meet and consider approval of issuing bonds that would be used to help finance the All Aboard Florida rail system. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 60 South Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando.)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015

FAMU PRESIDENT DISCUSSED: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will take up numerous issues, including an evaluation of university President Elmira Mangum. The board also will hold committee meetings Wednesday. (Thursday, 8 a.m., Florida A&M University, Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee.)

MILLER, BONDI, LAWMAKERS AT MILITARY SUMMIT: U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., and Attorney General Pam Bondi are expected to be among the speakers during the Florida Chamber Foundation's "Military, Defense and Veterans Opportunities Summit." Others expected to take part include state House Majority Leader Dana Young, R-Tampa; House Veteran & Military Affairs Chairman Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness; and House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

ATWATER APPEARS AT VOLUSIA EVENT: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is expected to speak during a Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Plaza Resort & Spa, 600 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.)

COUNTY ISSUES CONSIDERED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up issues related to what are known as "fiscally constrained counties." (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL BUILDING MONEY ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will delve into the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO, program. (Thursday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015

SALES-TAX HOLIDAY STARTS: Florida will start a 10-day "sales tax holiday," which will allow back-to-school shoppers to buy clothes, shoes, school supplies and other items without paying sales taxes. The holiday will start at 12:01 a.m. Friday and last through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 16.

BOARD OF MEDICINE CONSIDERS CASES: The Florida Board of Medicine will take up numerous disciplinary cases involving physicians from across Florida. (Friday, 8 a.m., Tampa Airport Marriott, 4200 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa.)

HOUSING FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Housing Finance Corp. Board of Directors will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT TALLIED: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze enrollment in the Florida College System. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Flagler County. (Friday, 1 p.m., Flagler County Fairground, 1000 Belle Terre Blvd., Palm Coast.)