The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – January 20, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JANUARY 16, 2015…..When a gunman opened fire in November at Florida State University's library, the incident refueled a debate about guns on college campuses. During the coming week, a House subcommittee will take up a bill that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry firearms at state colleges and universities. Supporters say the proposal could help prevent tragedies such as the Florida State incident, while opponents have argued that allowing guns at colleges and universities could make campuses more dangerous. Also during the coming week, legislative committees will get updates about reform efforts at the Department of Children and Families.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

Legislature:

ELECTIONS OFFICIALS DISCUSS PRIORITIES: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will hear about priorities of the Florida Division of Elections, the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections, the Florida Elections Commission and the Florida Commission on Ethics. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

APALACHICOLA RIVER AT ISSUE: The Senate Agriculture Committee will receive updates about issues such as the Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay, which have experienced major problems that have damaged the area's oyster industry. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CORRECTIONS SECRETARY DISCUSSES CHANGES: Corrections Secretary Julie Jones will make a presentation to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Jones, in part, is expected to discuss efforts to make changes dealing with staffing, officer misconduct, facility maintenance, inmate deaths and inmate health care. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS TAKE UP GUNS ON CAMPUS: The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 4005), filed by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry firearms at state colleges and universities. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

'GI BILL' ON TAP: The House Veteran & Military Affairs Subcommittee will get an update from the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs about the "Florida GI Bill," which was approved last year to help encourage veterans and military families to move to the state and to promote veterans' hiring and education. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Finance and Tax Committee (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Quality Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami.)

CHILDREN'S ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Children and Youth Cabinet will meet and is expected to hear a presentation from the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Legislature:

SENATE PANEL TAKES UP GREYHOUNDS, BEER 'GROWLERS': The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider a bill (SB 2), filed by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, that would set reporting requirements for injuries to racing greyhounds. Also, the committee will discuss regulation of the sizes of malt-beverage containers --- a controversial issue tied to what are known as beer "growlers." (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE TO GET ETHICS TRAINING: Members of the Senate will receive ethics training, with a presentation by General Counsel George Levesque. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ALCOHOL ON TAP AT HOUSE MEETING: The House Business & Professions Subcommittee will discuss alcoholic-beverage issues. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

CHARTER SCHOOLS DISCUSSED: The House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee will receive a presentation about charter schools. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOCAL PENSIONS IN PLAY: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will take up a bill (SB 172), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and committee Chairman Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, that would revamp local pension plans. A similar bill died last year when it got tangled in a controversial proposal by then-House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, to overhaul the Florida Retirement System. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Innovation Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Ports Subcommittee (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Banking and Insurance Committee (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Community Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

COMMITTEES DIG INTO UNIVERSITY ISSUES: The state university system's Board of Governors will hold a series of committee meetings. Among them will be a Facilities Committee meeting that will involve discussion of a legislative budget request for building projects. (Wednesday, committees start at 8:30 a.m., University of North Florida, Student Union Complex, 1 UNF Dr., Jacksonville.)

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

SPACE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Space Florida Board of Directors will meet. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 101 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

FUTURE OF COURTS AT ISSUE: Judicial-branch officials will hold the second in a series of public meetings that will help in developing a long-range strategic plan for the courts system. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Polk County Commission, 330 West Church St., Bartow.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Legislature:

CHILD PROTECTION AT ISSUE: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee and the House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee will hear presentations about how the Florida Department of Children and Families is carrying out a new law aimed at reforming the troubled child-welfare system. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, 9 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANELS TO HEAR FROM PUTNAM: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is slated to speak to the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee and the House State Affairs Committee. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LONG-RANGE FINANCES DISCUSSED: Economist Amy Baker will make a presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee about the state's long-range financial outlook. (Thursday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Civil Justice Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House K-12 Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rulemaking Oversight & Repeal Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Committee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO MEET: The state university system's Board of Governors will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. (Thursday, committees start at 8 a.m., full board to meet about 1 p.m., University of North Florida, Student Union Complex, 1 UNF Dr., Jacksonville.)

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA BOARD TO MEET: The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will meet in downtown Tallahassee. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 101 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

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

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HOLDS WORKSHOP: The Florida Transportation Commission will hold a workshop and discuss issues such as future transportation corridors. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Airport Blvd., Orlando.)

HAGER HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold mobile office hours to meet with constituents. (Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle, Lantana.)

LEON COUNTY DELEGATION TO MEET: The Leon County legislative delegation will hold a public hearing as it prepares for the 2015 session. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Leon County Commission, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015

Legislature (possible meetings):
--- House Education Committee (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Friday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Friday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

ETHICS COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Transportation Commission will meet and receive updates about issues such a major construction project on Interstate 4 in the Orlando area. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Airport Blvd., Orlando.)

HAGER HOLDS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS: State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, will hold mobile office hours to meet with constituents. (Friday, 2:30 p.m., Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, 400 Royal Palm Way, Palm Beach.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Campaign-finance reports are due for candidates in special elections in Senate District 6, House District 17 and House District 24. The special primary elections are Jan. 27, with the special general elections April 7.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

EARLY VOTING ENDS: Early voting will end in Senate District 6, House District 17 and House District 24. Special primary elections will be held Jan. 27 in the districts.