The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – January 18, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JANUARY 15, 2016…. After the high-profile start of the annual legislative session, the Capitol will be quiet Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Lawmakers will then spend much of the upcoming week grinding through dozens of bills during committee meetings. Also, Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members will meet Thursday at the Capitol.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

GRIMSLEY HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold mobile office hours in Okeechobee County. (Monday, 10 a.m., Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce, 55 South Parrott Ave., Okeechobee.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Legislature:

POLICE USE OF FORCE AT ISSUE: Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, and Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, will take part in a news conference to discuss legislation that addresses reporting and investigation requirements in police use-of-force incidents. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., fourth-floor rotunda, the Capitol.)

HUDSON SPEAKS TO NURSE ANESTHETISTS: House Health Care Appropriations Chairman Matt Hudson, R-Naples, is expected to speak to members of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists. (Tuesday, noon, House chamber, the Capitol.)

BALANCE BILLING DEBATED: The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 221), filed by Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, that would seek to prevent a controversial practice known as "balance billing" for patients who need emergency care. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENTENCING DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will discuss draft proposals related to sentencing. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DRONE LIABILITY WEIGHED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up a proposal (SB 642), filed by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, that could lead to owners of drones being held liable because of the negligence of drone operators. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS LOOK AT ABORTION REGULATIONS: The House Health Innovation Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 233), filed by Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, that would increase regulations on abortion clinics, requiring them to be licensed similar to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

APPEALS COURT MOVE DISCUSSED: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 815), filed by Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, that would move the headquarters of the 2nd District Court of Appeal from Lakeland to the Tampa area. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

UBER INSURANCE TEED UP: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will consider a bill (SB 1118), filed by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would set insurance requirements for app-based transportation services such as Uber and Lyft. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SUNSHINE EXEMPTION SOUGHT FOR RECORDINGS: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will take up a series of issues, including a proposal (SB 1004), filed by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, that would create a public-records exemption for video or audio recordings from security systems at state or local government buildings. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PARK DISCOUNTS PROPOSED FOR VETS: The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee will consider a bill (SB 1202), filed by Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Boynton Beach, that would require counties and cities to give full or partial discounts on park-entrance fees to members of the military and veterans. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CIVIL CITATIONS CONSIDERED: The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will take up a series of issues, including a proposal (PCB CRJS 16-06) that could increase the issuance of civil citations to juveniles who commit crimes. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

RECOVERY CENTERS AT ISSUE: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a proposal (SB 212), filed by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that would ease a regulation on ambulatory-surgical centers and allow the creation of "recovery care centers." Currently, patients cannot stay overnight at ambulatory-surgical centers, but the bill would allow them to stay up to 24 hours. Also, the bill would allow for recovery care centers, where patients could stay up to 72 hours. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Agriculture Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Quality Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Veteran & Military Affairs Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

GENERAL REVENUE TALLIED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will update projections of state general revenue. Lawmakers will use the projections as they draw up a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. General revenue plays a key role in funding education, health and criminal-justice programs. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SCOTT HEALTH PANEL MEETS: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, which was created last year by Gov. Rick Scott to delve into health-care funding and regulatory issues, will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

GRAHAM ADDRESSES FARM ISSUES: U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., will take part in an agriculture panel discussion in what her office describes as a "North Florida Farm Tour." (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida A&M University, Foster-Tanner Music Building, Tallahassee.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTERS RALLY: Supporters of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program will hold a march and rally. Among the speakers is expected to be Martin Luther King III. (Tuesday, march starts at 10 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee. Rally starts at 11:30 a.m., Duval and Madison streets, Tallahassee.)

CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE HOLDS CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will hold a conference call. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-942-8686. Code: 5743735657#)

MEDICAID PANEL MEETS: The Medical Care Advisory Committee, which provides input about Medicaid issues, will meet. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Legislature:

SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Civil Justice Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 116 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House K-12 Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Ethics and Elections Committee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Judiciary Committee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rulemaking Oversight & Repeal Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee (Wednesday, noon, Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Business & Professions Subcommittee (Wednesday, noon, 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee (Wednesday, noon, 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, noon, Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, noon, 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Ports Subcommittee (Wednesday, noon, 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (Wednesday,1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Regulated Industries Committee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Select Committee on Affordable Healthcare Access (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, House Office building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Fiscal Policy Committee (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Rules Committee (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation Committee (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

CITRUS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Citrus Commission will meet in Polk County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

GRIMSLEY HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold mobile office hours in Polk County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Mulberry Library, 905 N.E. Fifth St., Mulberry. Also, 1:15 p.m., Fort Meade Community Center, 10 S.W. Third St., Fort Meade. Also, 3 p.m., Latt Maxcy Memorial Library, 15 North Magnolia Ave., Frostproof.)

CABINET MEMBERS SPEAK AT TOURISM EVENT: The Partnership for Florida's Tourism will host "Florida Tourism Day," with speakers expected to include Attorney General Pam Bondi, state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Ken Lawson. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

VETERANS FLORIDA BOARD MEETS: The Veterans Florida Board of Directors will meet. Veterans Florida was created to help encourage veterans and military families to move to the state and to promote veterans' hiring and education. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 930 Thomasville Road, Suite 100, Tallahassee.)

TRUSTEE RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSED: Committees of the state university system's Board of Governor will hold a series of meetings. Among the topics will be recommendations to fill vacancies on university boards of trustees. (Wednesday, 2:15 p.m., Florida State University, Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to meet in a floor session. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

DUVAL DELEGATION MEETS: The Duval County legislative delegation will meet and discuss bills (SB 1652 and HB 1297) related to an unfunded pension liability for the city of Jacksonville. (Thursday, 6 p.m., 221 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House State Affairs Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Committee (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Regulatory Affairs Committee (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee (Thursday, 2 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Appropriations Committee (Thursday, 3 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Committee (Thursday, 3 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEET AT FSU: The state university system's Board of Governors will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 8:30 a.m., Florida State University, Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS MEET: The Florida College System Council of Presidents is scheduled to meet near the Capitol. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., TCC Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

CABINET GETS DOZIER SCHOOL REPORT: University of South Florida researchers will present a final report to Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet about excavation work at the shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. The researchers have looked for the remains of people buried at the former school site, where children are alleged to have been abused and died. Scott and Cabinet members in September began discussions about the future of the site in Jackson County but agreed to wait to make decisions until receiving the USF report. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

MILITARY ISSUES DISCUSSED: Enterprise Florida and the Florida Defense Support Task Force will hold a meeting that will involve discussion of efforts to protect and enhance military installations in the state. (Thursday, 9 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Tallahassee, 101 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

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

BOARD OF PHARMACY HOLDS CALLS: The Florida Board of Pharmacy will hold a conference call to discuss legislative issues. (Thursday, 12:30 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 5134896685.)

BILIRAKIS SPEAKS TO PINELLAS GOP: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is expected to speak to the North Pinellas Republican Club. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Leo's Italian Grill, 33286 U.S. 19 North, Palm Harbor.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016

ETHICS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet and is scheduled to take up cases from North Miami, Pensacola, Palm Coast and Tallahassee. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

GRAHAM TAKES PORT TOUR: U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., will take part in a port tour related to what her office describes as a "North Florida Farm Tour." (Friday, 11 a.m. Central time, Panama City Port Authority, 5321 U.S. 98, Panama City.)

STATE GOP HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING: The Republican Party of Florida will hold start its two-day annual meeting. (Friday and Saturday, Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Dr., Orlando.)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2016

GRAHAM HOLDS 'CATTLE WORKDAY:' U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., will hold a "cattle workday" as part of what her office describes as a "North Florida Farm Tour." (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Central time, Beaver Farms, 25535 N.E. Grady Tew Road, Altha.)