The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – June 20, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JUNE 17, 2016…. Legislative and congressional candidates will qualify during the coming week for the 2016 elections. The process is a formality for most candidates, but it can yield last-minute surprises such as candidates switching races. Also during the coming week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will discuss the possibility of holding another black-bear hunt.

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

ELECTION QUALIFYING STARTS: The formal qualifying period for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and legislative races will start at noon Monday.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT ISSUE: Attorney General Pam Bondi is expected to lead a conference call of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. (Monday, 2 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 5144203637)

BRANDES SPEAKS TO LARGO GOP: State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is scheduled to speak to the Republican Club of Greater Largo. (Monday, 6 p.m., Alfano's Restaurant, 1702 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater.)

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016

'DOCS V. GLOCKS' GOES BEFORE APPEALS COURT: The full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments about a controversial 2011 Florida law that seeks to restrict doctors from asking questions and recording information about patients' gun ownership. The law, which has become known as the "docs v. glocks" law, is backed by groups such as the National Rifle Association but has drawn legal opposition from some physicians and medical groups. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building, 56 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta.)

IMMIGRANT EMERGENCY CARE AT ISSUE: The 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a long-running dispute between the state Agency for Health Care Administration and more than two dozen hospitals about Medicaid payments for providing emergency care to undocumented immigrants. Hospitals are required to treat patients who show up for emergency care, but the legal dispute has focused on the extent of care for undocumented immigrants that should be covered through the Medicaid program. An administrative law judge last year rejected arguments by the hospitals that AHCA had overstepped its authority in approving rules that address the duration of payments. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

BROWN, LAWMAKERS SPEAK AT NATURAL GAS CONVENTION: Public Service Commission Chairwoman Julie Brown, state Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, state Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, state Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, state Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, and state Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, are expected to be among the speakers at the Florida Natural Gas Association convention. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., with legislative briefing at 4 p.m., Omni Amelia Island Plantation, 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Amelia Island.)

CITIZENS COMMITTEES TAKE UP INSURANCE ISSUES: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Directors will hold a series of committee meetings in advance of a full board meeting Wednesday. (Tuesday, first meeting at 9:30 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

BLACKROCK CHAIRMAN SPEAKS TO ECONOMIC CLUB: Laurence Fink, chairman and CEO of the investment firm BlackRock, Inc., will speak to the Economic Club of Florida. (Tuesday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

NEGRON DISCUSSES HIGHER ED ISSUES: The state university system's Board of Governors will start three days of meetings and will hear a presentation from incoming Senate President Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who visited each university this spring and is expected to make higher-education issues a priority. (Tuesday, board's Strategic Planning Committee meets at 12:30 p.m., Negron scheduled to speak at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, 12676 Gemini Blvd. North, Orlando.)

STATE BOARD OF ED DISCUSSES WORKFORCE EDUCATION: The Florida Board of Education will hold a workshop to discuss workforce-related issues. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens Campus, 3160 PGA Blvd., SC 127, Palm Beach Gardens.)

COURIEL SPEAKS TO GOP WOMEN: Republican John Couriel, who is running in Miami-Dade County's House District 114, is slated to speak to the Old Cutler Republican Women's Club. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Red Lobster, 8705 S.W. 136th St., Miami.)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

BEAR HUNT EYED: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start a two-day meeting and is scheduled to discuss the possibility of holding another black-bear hunt this year. The commission made a controversial decision last year to hold the state's first bear hunt in two decades. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Franklin County School gymnasium, 1250 Highway 98, Eastpoint.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The Florida Board of Education will take up a series of issues, including a rule related to the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts Program. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens Campus, 3160 PGA Blvd., SC 127, Palm Beach Gardens.)

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD MEETS: The state university system's Board of Governors will hold committee meetings throughout the day. Among the issues will be the Budget and Finance Committee discussing how much money each university should receive in performance funding. (Wednesday, meetings start at 8:30 a.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, 12676 Gemini Blvd. North, Orlando.)

CITIZENS BOARD TAKES UP INSURANCE ISSUES: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Directors will consider a number of issues. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

BEAN SPEAKS AT BOYS STATE: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is slated to speak to American Legion Boys State. (Wednesday, 12:40 p.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

PERRY RAISES MONEY IN PUTNAM: State Rep. Keith Perry, a Gainesville Republican running this year in Senate District 8, is expected to raise money during a reception in Putnam County. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Roberts Ranch, 599 State Road 100, Palatka.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD MEETS: The state university system's Board of Governors will meet after holding committee meetings. The full board will consider numerous issues, including performance funding for universities and requests to confirm the reappointments of University of Central Florida President John Hitt and New College of Florida President Donal O'Shea. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 8:30 a.m. and full board scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, 12676 Gemini Blvd. North, Orlando.)

COMMISSION DISCUSSES FISHING ISSUES, SCALLOPS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take up a series of fishing issues and also will discuss the bay-scallop population in Gulf County's St. Joseph Bay. A red-tide bloom last year affected scallops in the area. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Franklin County School gymnasium, 1250 Highway 98, Eastpoint.)

GREENWAYS AND TRAILS AT ISSUE: The Florida Greenways and Trails Council will meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Park, 4150 South Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa Springs.)

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY ON THE TABLE: The Florida Government Efficiency Task Force, which looks for ways to improve government operations and reduce costs, will meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Hurston Building, North Tower, 400 West Robinson St., Orlando.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION AT ISSUE: The Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority board will meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m. Central time, Fort Walton Beach Public Library, 185 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E., Fort Walton Beach.)

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

HOUSING ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Housing Finance Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to meet in Tampa. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Tampa Airport Marriott, 4200 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa.)

I-75 RELIEF AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold one in a series of "I-75 Relief" meetings A task force has been working on recommendations about transportation corridors to serve the area from Tampa Bay to Northeast Florida. (Friday, 9 a.m., Williston Crossings RV Resort, 410 N.E. Fifth St., Williston.)

ELECTION QUALIFYING ENDS: The formal qualifying period for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and legislative races will end at noon Friday.

TANZLER OPENS NASSAU OFFICE: Republican Hans Tanzler, who is running in Northeast Florida's Congressional District 4, will host an event to open Nassau County headquarters. (Friday, 6 p.m., 524194 U.S. 1, Callahan.)

VAZQUEZ HOLDS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: Democrat Jose Vazquez, who is running this year in Hillsborough County's House District 58, is scheduled to hold a campaign kickoff event. (Friday, 6 p.m., Rancho Huracan, 6600 32nd Ave. South, Tampa.)