The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – February 23, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, FEBRUARY 20, 2015….. Lawmakers will be back in their districts during the coming week, spending a little more time at home before the legislative session starts March 3. But the regular workings of state government will continue in Tallahassee and other parts of Florida. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott will make a trip to Philadelphia to try to attract businesses to Florida.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Taylor County. The event, which will be in partnership with state Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and state Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will include organizations that serve veterans and their families. (Monday, 9 a.m., Forest Capital Hall, 203 Forest Park Dr., Perry.)

SCOTT TRIES TO DRAW PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESSES: Gov. Rick Scott will start a two-day trip to Philadelphia to try to attract businesses to move to Florida. Events Monday are expected to include a 9:30 a.m. meeting with prospective companies and a noon luncheon with site selectors.

BROWARD DELEGATION TO MEET: The Broward County legislative delegation will hold a hearing and receive recommendations from subcommittees on education, criminal justice, health care, the environment and insurance. (Monday, 11 a.m., Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

TOP PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NAMED: The Florida Department of Education will name the Principal of the Year and the Assistant Principal of the Year during an awards luncheon. (Monday, noon, Disney Coronado Springs Resort Convention Center, 1000 West Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista.)

TOBACCO TAXES ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss tobacco taxes and money from a legal settlement with the tobacco industry. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HAGER HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold mobile office hours. (Monday, 2 p.m., Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle, Lantana.)

FUTURE OF COURTS AT ISSUE: Judicial-branch officials will continue a series of public meetings that will help in developing a long-range strategic plan for the courts system. (Monday, 3 p.m., Miami-Dade County Commission, 111 N.W. First St., second floor, Miami.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Elections Commission will start a two-day meeting and take up a series of issues, including an appeal by former Democratic attorney-general candidate Perry Thurston about matching funds. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PINELLAS DELEGATION PREPARES FOR SESSION: The Pinellas County legislative delegation will consider local bills and take public input as it prepares for the 2015 session. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., University of South Florida St. Petersburg, USC Ballroom, 200 Sixth Ave. South, St. Petersburg.)

RISK MANAGEMENT AT ISSUE: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will discuss the state's risk-management trust fund. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD TO MEET: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road, Sarasota.)

LOCAL PENSION REPORT ISSUED: The LeRoy Collins Institute will hold a webinar to release a report on local pensions. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Arcola Lakes Branch Library, 8240 N.W. Seventh Ave., Miami.)

CLINTON BACKERS RAISE MONEY IN TAMPA: The Ready for Hillary PAC, which backs potential Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, will hold a fund-raising event in Tampa. Among the expected hosts are state Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and state Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Mise en Place, 442 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.)

SD 6, HD 24 CANDIDATES IN FLAGLER: The Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, the Flagler County Association of Realtors and the Flagler Home Builders Association will hold a forum for candidates in April 7 special elections in Senate District 6 and House District 24. Republican Travis Hutson and Democrat David Cox are running in Senate District 6, while Republican Paul Renner and Democrat Adam Morley are running in House District 24. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Flagler County Association of Realtors, 4101 East Moody Blvd., Bunnell.)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015

ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Elections Commission will finish a two-day meeting and will take up issues involving candidates and political committees from across the state. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISCUSSED: The state Agency for Health Care Administration will host two meetings about behavioral-health services, with the discussions including groups such as Medicaid managed-care plans and behavioral-health providers. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m, Henderson Behavioral Health, 4740 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes.)

MEDICAID FUNDING AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss a key formula, known as the FMAP, for federal funding in the Medicaid program. (9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

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

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Jefferson, Collier, Orange, Lee, Lafayette and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Monticello City Hall, 245 South Mulberry St., Monticello. Also, 10 a.m., Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, 1102 North Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Also, 10 a.m., Renaissance Senior Community Center, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Also, 12:30 p.m., Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, 25 Homestead Road North, Lehigh Acres. Also, 1:30 p.m., Lafayette County Courthouse, 120 West Main St., Mayo. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee.)

HOSSEINI TO SPEAK AT VOLUSIA TIGER BAY: Mori Hosseini, chairman of the university system's Board of Governors, will speak at the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County. (Wednesday, 11:45 a.m., LPGA International Golf Club, 1000 Champions Dr., Daytona Beach.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET: The Florida Board of Education will consider a series of items, including charter-school issues from Polk, Broward and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 2:15 p.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

FUTURE OF COURTS AT ISSUE: Judicial-branch officials will continue a series of public meetings that will help in developing a long-range strategic plan for the courts system. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Duval County Courthouse, jury assembly room, 501 West Adams St., Jacksonville.)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'IBUDGETS' AT ISSUE: The Agency for Persons with Disabilities will hold a public hearing about proposed rules dealing with "iBudgets," which are used in funding services for people with developmental disabilities. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Agency for Persons with Disabilities, 4030 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

LOTTERY MONEY ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will dig into details of revenue from the Florida Lottery. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SUPREME COURT OPINIONS RELEASED: 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 Hillsborough, Levy, Dixie, Pinellas and Broward counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Upper Tampa Bay Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa. Also, 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 707 Main St., Chiefland. Also, 1 p.m., Dixie County Public Library, 16328 S.E. Highway 19, Cross City. Also, 2 p.m., Tarpon Springs Library, 138 East Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. Also, 3 p.m., Northwest Regional Library, 3151 North University Dr., Coral Springs.)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

CRIMINAL JUSTICE DISCUSSED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will analyze issues related to the criminal-justice 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 Suwannee County. (Friday, 10 a.m., Live Oak City Hall, 101 Dowling Ave. S.E., Live Oak. Also, 1:30 p.m., Branford Town Hall, 604 N.W. Suwannee Ave., Branford.)

HAGER HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: 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.)

HIGHWAY SAFETY MONEY AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will consider highway-safety revenues. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)