The Week Ahead in Florida Politics - January 5, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JANUARY 2, 2015…..After winning a tough re-election campaign, Gov. Rick Scott will be sworn in Tuesday to start his second term leading the state. The inauguration ceremony, held outside the Old Capitol, also will kick off the second terms of Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. Also during the coming week, lawmakers will hold an initial round of committee meetings as they prepare for the 2015 legislative session, which starts in March.

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2015

Legislature:

AUDITOR GENERAL, OPPAGA DISCUSSED: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee will hear presentations about the Office of the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. (Monday, 2 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PRISON CHANGES AT ISSUE: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will receive a presentation from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about investigations of inmate deaths at state prisons. Also, it will hear presentations about possible reforms in the Department Corrections. (Monday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DISCUSSED: The Senate Higher Education Committee will receive an overview of postsecondary options for students with disabilities. (Monday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

WORKFORCE ISSUES ON TAP: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will hear a presentation about workforce issues from Chris Hart, president of CareerSource Florida. Also, it will take up a bill (SPB 7002) that would formally change the name of Workforce Florida, Inc., to CareerSource Florida, Inc. (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL HEARS ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING: The Senate Agriculture Committee will hear presentations about the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including a presentation by Robin Safley, director of the Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness, about "Florida's Roadmap to Healthy Living." (Monday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

ATWATER TO HOST BARBECUE: As he prepares to start his second term Tuesday, state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will host an inaugural barbecue near Lake Jackson in Leon County. (Monday, 5 p.m., 2600 Lucerne Dr., Tallahassee.)

BONDI HOLDS INAUGURAL EVENT: Attorney General Pam Bondi will host an inaugural reception in downtown Tallahassee. (Monday, 8 p.m., the Governors Club, 202 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Inauguration activities:

SCOTT INAUGURATION: Gov. Rick Scott will take the oath of office for a second term during a ceremony on the steps of the Old Capitol. The program will begin at 11:20 a.m., with the swearing-in at noon.

PRAYER BREAKFAST: Before the inauguration ceremony, Gov. Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott will attend a prayer breakfast at Florida A&M University. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Florida A&M University, Jake Gaither Gymnasium, 1835 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee.)

ATWATER AND PUTNAM HOST OPEN HOUSES: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will host open houses at the Capitol after the inauguration ceremony. Putnam and Atwater are starting their second terms after winning re-election in November.

MILITARY FAMILIES HONORED: As part of the inauguration events, First Lady Ann Scott will honor Gold Star and military families. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Goodwood Museum, 1600 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee.)

Legislature:

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AT ISSUE: The Senate Health Policy Committee will hold a panel discussion about out-of-network emergency medical services. The panel is expected to include participants from the insurance, hospital and ambulance industries. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OIR TO GIVE PRESENTATION: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will receive a presentation from the state Office of Insurance Regulation. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL TO HEAR ABOUT FIRE MARSHAL, HOUSING: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will receive presentations about the Division of State Fire Marshal and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WATER SUPPLY GETS AIRED: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee will receive presentations from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Agriculture about water-supply issues. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DISCUSSED: The House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee will receive updates on digital learning and personal learning scholarship accounts, a new program aimed at helping parents of students with disabilities pay for education services. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

EBOLA PREPAREDNESS AT ISSUE: The House Health Quality Subcommittee will receive a briefing from the Department of Health about Ebola preparedness. (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER MEETINGS:
--- House Business & Professions Subcommittee (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol)
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Ports Subcommittee (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

SAME-SEX MARRIAGES EXPECTED TO START: After a lengthy court battle, same-sex marriages are expected to start across Florida. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled in August that a state ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. A stay on the ruling is set to expire, allowing marriages to start Tuesday.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Legislature:

UNIVERSITY PERFORMANCE FUNDING AT ISSUE: The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee will get updates on issues such as performance funding in the state university system. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HHS PANEL TO HEAR ABOUT MANAGED CARE: The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will get updates about issues such as the new statewide Medicaid managed-care system. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE AT ISSUE: The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will receive an overview about issues related to the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE GETS ETHICS TRAINING: Senators will receive ethics training, including a presentation from Senate General Counsel George Levesque. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON AGENDA: The House K-12 Subcommittee will receive an overview about the selection and adoption of instructional materials. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

STUDENT ASSESSMENTS DISCUSSED: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee will review student assessment policies for public schools. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

AMENDMENT 1 ON TAP: The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee will receive a presentation about Amendment 1, a recently passed ballot initiative that will require the state to spend a portion of real-estate taxes on land and water projects. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LONG-RANGE FINANCES DISCUSSED: The House Appropriations Committee will receive a presentation from economist Amy Baker about the state's long-range financial outlook. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

POTENTIAL TAX ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The House Finance & Tax Committee will consider possible issues to include in a work plan, including issues such as property taxes, communication services taxes, corporate income taxes, fuel taxes and "sin" taxes. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER MEETINGS:
--- Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Innovation Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Democratic Caucus (Wednesday, noon, 228 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Civil Justice Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 116 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

CABINET AIDES MEET: Aides to Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will meet to discuss issues in advance of a Jan. 13 Cabinet meeting. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, 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.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Legislature:

EARLY LEARNING AT ISSUE: The House Education Committee will receive a presentation about the state Office of Early Learning. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATORS HEAR FROM AGENCY CHIEFS: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will get updates from Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll, Agency for Persons with Disabilities Executive Director Barbara Palmer and Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Sam Verghese. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

TOLL VIOLATIONS TALKED ABOUT: The Senate Transportation Committee will receive a presentation from the Department of Transportation about toll-violation penalties and collections. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER MEETINGS:
--- Senate Fiscal Policy Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Thursday, 12:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Thursday, 12:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

PSC TO MEET: The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of telephone, water and wastewater issues. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD TO MEET: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

FUTURE OF COURTS AT ISSUE: Judicial-branch officials will start a series of public meetings that will help in developing a long-range strategic plan for the courts system. Meetings will be held over two months in various places in Florida. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Orange County Commission chamber, 201 South Rosalind Ave., Orlando.)

GOP CANDIDATES TO DEBATE IN FLAGLER COUNTY: The Flagler County Republican Club and the Flagler County Young Republicans will host a candidate forum in special elections in Senate District 6 and House District 24. The GOP primaries in the races will be held Jan. 27. The special elections stem from the resignation in November of former Sen. John Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican who became president of Florida State University. State Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, will leave the House District 24 seat because he is running to succeed Thrasher in the Senate. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Blvd., Palm Coast.)

TANT TO SPEAK TO PALM BEACH DEMS: Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant is expected to speak to the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Vista Center, 2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS TO MEET: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will meet and discuss issues such as the 2015 legislative session. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., TCC Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

MEDICAID DRUGS DISCUSSED: The Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committee will consider recommendations for the preferred-drug list in the Medicaid program. (Friday, 1 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 5312 Avion Park Dr., Tampa.)

FINANCE REPORTS DUE IN HD 13: Democratic candidate Reggie Fullwood and Republican candidate Lawrence Jefferson face a Friday deadline for filing updated campaign-finance reports in a special election in Duval County's House District 13. The special election will be held Feb. 17.