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The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – February 27, 2017

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, FEBRUARY 24, 2017....... With the legislative session poised to start March 7, state government will be relatively quiet during the coming week. Lawmakers will be back in their districts before the 60-day annual sprint begins. Elsewhere, Florida Gulf Coast University trustees are expected to continue the process of selecting a new president.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017

Legislature:

BRANDES HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, will hold "mobile" office hours. (Monday, 9 a.m., University of South Florida St. Petersburg, University Student Center, 200 Sixth Ave. South, St. Petersburg. Also, 1 p.m., Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, 6990 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.)

CORCORAN, LATVALA IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, and Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, will appear at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches to discuss the upcoming legislative session. (Monday, noon, Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Cohen Pavilion, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

BEAN SPEAKS TO BUSINESS GROUP: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is scheduled to speak to the Beaches Business Association about the upcoming legislative session. (Monday, noon, Blue Typhoon Restaurant, 2309 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach.)

Also:

MEDICAID MATCHING FUNDS DISCUSSED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss a formula, known as FMAP, that helps determine how much federal matching money Florida receives for the Medicaid program. (Monday, 10 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

APD OPENS PANHANDLE PARK: The state Agency for Persons with Disabilities will formally open Hawkins Recreational Park, which is on property donated to the state for the benefit of people with disabilities. (Monday, 11 a.m., Hawkins Recreational Park, 5550 Bubba Lane, Milton.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017

Legislature:

BEAN DISCUSSES SESSION: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is scheduled to discuss the upcoming legislative session during a meeting of the Jacksonville Oceanside Rotary Club and then will speak to members of the Duval County Council of PTAs. (Tuesday, Rotary Club meeting, 7:30 a.m., Atlantic Beach Country Club, 1600 Selva Marina Dr., Atlantic Beach. Also, PTAs meeting, 9:30 a.m., Duval County Public Schools, 1701 Prudential Dr., Jacksonville.)

BRAYNON ON PANEL AT FAU: Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, is expected to take part in a panel discussion at Florida Atlantic University about racial inequality in the country. The event is hosted by the FAU College Democrats Black Caucus and the NAACP. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Florida Atlantic University, Student Union House Chambers, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

Also:

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED: The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees will interview finalists to replace retiring President Wilson Bradshaw. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, Cohen Center, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Elections Commission will meet. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Sarasota. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., district Sarasota office, 6750 Fruitville Road, Sarasota.)

RISK MANAGEMENT AT ISSUE: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will analyze risk-management issues. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017

PAROLE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet and discuss numerous parole cases related to crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

HIGHWAY SAFETY MONEY ON THE TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up highway-safety revenues. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GEITHNER SPEAKS AT ECONOMIC CLUB: Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is scheduled to speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Wednesday, noon, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Legislature:

CALDWELL SPEAKS TO BUSINESS GROUP: State Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, is scheduled to speak to the Businesspeople United for Political Action Committee, or BUPAC. (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway, Building AA, Fort Myers.)

Also:

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES CONSIDERED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an "impact" conference. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ABORTION RULE AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration is scheduled to hold a hearing on a proposed rule that stems from a controversial 2016 abortion law. State officials say the proposed rule would clarify part of the law that requires people or groups that provide information about abortions to register with the state and pay a $200 fee. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the requirement on First Amendment grounds. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

HOSPICE GROUP READIES FOR SESSION: The Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association will hold a media roundtable to discuss legislative issues. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Tallahassee Community College, Center for Innovation, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

FIU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. (Friday, committees start at 8:30 a.m., with full board scheduled at 2 p.m., Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Graham Center, Miami.)

REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE MEETS: The Revenue Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an "impact" conference. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

UCF TRUSTEES HUDDLE: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a retreat. (Friday, 9 a.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

HEALTH INSURANCE ANALZED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will discuss state employees' health insurance. (Friday, 1 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CITIZENS BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a teleconference. (Friday, 1 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-942-8686. Code: 574.373.5657#)

FAMU TRUSTEES HOLD CALL: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will hold a conference call after calls involving two committees. (Friday, committee calls start at 3 p.m. http://www.famu.edu/famcast  --- click WANM 90.5 to listen.)