The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – January 23, 2017

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JANUARY 20, 2017....... Continuing to prepare for the 2017 legislative session, House and Senate committees will meet during the coming week and take up issues such as a Senate proposal to make major changes in the higher-education system. Other issues going before committees include medical marijuana, gambling and the "stand your ground" self-defense law.

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017

Legislature:

FOSTER CHILDREN DRIVER'S LICENSES AT ISSUE: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will take up a bill (SB 60), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would make permanent a pilot program that helps foster children get driver's licenses and auto insurance. (Monday, 4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

'TAMPON TAX' EXEMPTION CONSIDERED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee is scheduled to consider a bill (SB 176), filed by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, that would create a sales-tax exemption on the sale of feminine hygiene products --- part of a broader move in states to end what has become known as the "tampon tax." (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

JUVENILE CHARGES DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up two bills (SB 192 and SB 196), filed by Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, and Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, respectively, that would lead to changes in how the criminal-justice system deals with juveniles who commit crimes. For example, Flores' bill could lead to expanded use of diversion programs for juveniles who commit misdemeanor crimes. (Monday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HIGHER ED REVAMP ON THE TABLE: The Senate Education Committee will take up two bills (SB 2 and SB 4), filed by Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, that would lead to wide-ranging changes in the state's higher-education system, including an expansion of Bright Futures scholarships, block tuition for universities, stronger requirements for students to graduate on time and a program to attract high-quality faculty. (Monday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EYED: The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to receive an overview of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including the Division of Plant Industry, the Florida Fire Service and the Office of Agricultural Water Policy. (Monday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

CHILD ABUSE DEATHS AT ISSUE: The state Child Abuse Death Review Committee, which looks for ways to prevent child-abuse deaths in Florida, will meet. (Monday, 9 a.m., Crowne Plaza Westshore, 5303 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017

Legislature:

YOUNG PROPOSES FRACKING BAN: Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa, will hold a news conference to announce a proposal to ban the oil- and gas-drilling technique known as fracking. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., fourth-floor rotunda, the Capitol.)

AUTO INSURANCE DETAILED: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will receive presentations on motor vehicle insurance. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

GROWTH MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will receive presentations about growth management. Presentations are expected to be made by the Department of Economic Opportunity, 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida Association of Community Developers, the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATORS WEIGH FIREFIGHTER PROPOSAL: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee is slated to take up a bill (SB 158), filed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, that would create a legal presumption about firefighters who develop certain types of cancer. The presumption would be that the firefighters developed the diseases while in the line of duty. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CARE CONSIDERED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a proposal (SB 62), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would create a Pediatric Cardiac Care Advisory Council to advise the Department of Health about delivering cardiac care. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

MEDICAID DENTAL SERVICES AT ISSUE: The House Health & Human Services Committee will receive a report by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability about Medicaid dental services. (Tuesday, noon, Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

'STAND YOUR GROUND' CHANGE AIRED: The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a proposal (SB 128), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would shift the legal burden of proof in "stand your ground" self-defense cases. The bill stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the "stand your ground" law. In "stand your ground" cases, pretrial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants should be immune from prosecution. The bill would shift that burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AGENCIES MEET WITH TRANSPORTATION PANEL: The Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear presentations from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Department of Transportation about agency legislative proposals. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS EYED: The House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee will consider two bills (PCB PIE 17-01 and PCB PIE 17-02) that would place additional restrictions on former lawmakers and other public officials who seek to become lobbyists after leaving office. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL GETS OVERVIEW OF TAXES: The House Ways and Means Committee will receive overviews of sales taxes, corporate income taxes and property taxes. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

BUDGET ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, made up of members of the House and Senate, will take up issues related to a number of state agencies. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CORTES RAISES CAMPAIGN CASH: A fundraising event is scheduled for the 2018 re-election bid of state Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., The Beer Industry of Florida, 110 South Monroe St., Suite B, Tallahassee.)

DEMOCRATS AT PROGRESS SPEAKS GATHERING: House Democrats Daisy Baez of Coral Gables, Sean Shaw of Tampa, Amy Mercado of Orlando and Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando are expected to take part in a Progress Speaks gathering. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Waterworks, 1133 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee.)

Also:

CABINET MEETS: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Tampa office, 7601 U.S. 301, Tampa.)

MARTINEZ, SESSUMS HONORED IN TAMPA: Former Gov. Bob Martinez and former House Speaker T. Terrell Sessums will be honored during a banquet event of the Tampa Tiger Bay Club. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., The Floridan Palace Hotel, 905 North Florida Ave., Tampa.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Legislature:

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISCUSSED: The House Health Quality Subcommittee will host a panel discussion on medical marijuana. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

AG AND NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET ON TABLE: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss possible areas of budget reductions at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Citrus, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

WASTEWATER UTILITIES EYED: The House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee will hold a panel discussion on wastewater utility systems. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL TALKS ABOUT TAX REFERENDUMS: The House Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 139), filed by Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, and Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, that would require local sales-tax referendums to be held at the times of general elections. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

TRANSPORTATION AND TOURISM BUDGET ON TABLE: The House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss top priority issues in agency budget requests. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will receive an update about efforts to address a backlog of processing sexual-assault kits. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA AT ISSUE: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will receive a series of presentations, including a presentation by representatives of landowners in the Everglades Agricultural Area. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TEACHER PAY ON THE TABLE: The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a workshop about teacher pay and compensation. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PROPERTY RIGHTS CONSIDERED: The House Agriculture & Property Rights Subcommittee will hold a discussion about property rights laws. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET ON TABLE: The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss possible areas of budget reductions at agencies such as the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS WEIGHED: The House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee will receive presentations on public school choice options. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

'EXCESSIVE' REGULATION DETAILED: The House Careers & Competition Subcommittee will receive testimony about "excessive" local regulations faced by businesses. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET ON TABLE: The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss possible areas of budget reductions at several agencies, including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Department of Management Services and the Department of Revenue. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

RED LIGHT CAMERAS TARGETED: The House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 6007), filed by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, and Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, that would repeal laws allowing red-light cameras. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HHS BUDGET DISCUSSED: The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will receive an overview of its base budget. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL CONSIDERS GAMBLING OVERHAUL: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider a bill (SB 8), filed by Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, that would lead to wide-ranging changes in the gambling industry. Among other things, the bill would allow slot machines in eight counties where voters have approved referendums, let South Florida pari-mutuels run blackjack games and give tracks permission to do away with greyhound racing while keeping more-lucrative cardrooms and slots.  (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS AT ISSUE: The House Health Innovation Subcommittee will receive an overview about the regulation of ambulatory surgical centers and hold a panel discussion about what are known as "recovery care centers." (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET ON TABLE: The House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss possible areas of budget reductions in the higher-education system. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

WORKERS' COMPENSATION DISCUSSED: The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will host a panel discussion about the workers' compensation insurance system. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

JUSTICE SYSTEM BUDGET ON TABLE: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss possible areas of budget reductions at agencies such as the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the state courts system. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL EYES SCHOOL TURNAROUND OPTIONS: The House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee will receive an overview of the turnaround process for low-performing schools. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

PAROLE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review is scheduled to 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.)

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETS: Committees of the state university system's Board of Governors will meet in advance of a full board meeting Thursday. (Wednesday, meetings start at 10 a.m., Florida Polytechnic University, Innovation, Science and Technology Building, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland.)

STATE COLLEGES AT ISSUE: The Association of Florida Colleges Board of Directors is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Tallahassee Community College Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

Legislature:

REFUGEE PROGRAMS DETAILED: The House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee will receive presentations about refugee services programs and resettlement. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

JUDICIAL 'TIMELINESS' AT ISSUE: The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee will receive a presentation by the State Courts System about judicial "timeliness." (Thursday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

CIVICS EDUCATION ON THE TABLE: The House Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee will receive presentations on postsecondary civics education. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

EARLY LEARNING REVIEWED: The House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee will review and discuss early-learning services. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL LOOKS AT PARI-MUTUELS: The House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee will host a panel discussion about issues related to pari-mutuel facilities. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

LIQUOR SALES DEBATED: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will take up a proposal (SB 106), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would repeal a decades-old law that requires liquor stores to be stand-alone facilities. Similar measures, backed by companies such as Target and Walmart, have drawn opposition in the past from independent liquor stores and companies such as Publix Supermarkets. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TOURISM, INCENTIVES DISCUSSED: The Senate Appropriations Committee will receive presentations on tourism marketing and economic-incentive programs. Gov. Rick Scott supports providing tax dollars to the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida and to the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida but faces stiff opposition from House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, and other House Republican leaders. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ARCHER AUDIT AT ISSUE: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee receive a presentation about the Auditor General's audit of the city of Archer. (Thursday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

POLITICAL STRATEGISTS ON PANEL: Political strategists Kevin Cate, David Johnson, Steve Schale and Rick Wilson will take part in a panel discussion during a meeting of the Florida Public Relations Association's Capital Chapter. The discussion, moderated by Christina Johnson, will focus on the topic, "Political Communications --- The New Norm." (Thursday, 8 a.m., Aloft Hotel, 200 North Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

BOARD OF GOVERNORS AT FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC: The state university system's Board of Governor will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 8:30 a.m., followed by the full board, Florida Polytechnic University, Innovation, Science and Technology Building, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland.)

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

GULF RATE HIKE AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer hearing on a proposal by Gulf Power to raise base rates by $106.8 million. (Thursday, 6 p.m. Central time, Pensacola State College, Hagler Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

ETHICS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet and is expected to consider cases involving former state Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, and his wife, Katherine Van Zant. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

CHIROPRACTIC ISSUES CONSIDERED: The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine will meet in Broward County. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Sheraton Suites Hotel at Cypress Creek, 555 N.W. 62nd St., Fort Lauderdale.)

JUDGE HEARS ABORTION DISPUTE: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle is scheduled to hear arguments on a request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida to block part of a controversial abortion law approved last year by the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott. The ACLU filed a lawsuit targeting part of the law dealing with people or organizations that provide advice to women considering abortions. The challenge, filed on behalf of clergy members and abortion-rights proponents, contends that requirements in the law violate First Amendment and privacy rights. (Friday, 10 a.m., United States Courthouse, 111 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)

GULF RATE HIKE AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer hearing on a proposal by Gulf Power to raise base rates by $106.8 million. (Friday, 10 a.m. Central time, Florida State University Panama City Campus, Holley Lecture Hall, 4750 Collegiate Dr., Panama City.)

COULTER SPEAKS IN PALM BEACH: Conservative political commentator Ann Coulter will speak during an annual meeting of The Palm Beach Republican Club. (Friday, 5:30 p.m., The Colony Hotel Pavilion, 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach.)