The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – June 22, 2015

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JUNE 19, 2015…..In the wake of the special legislative session, Tallahassee will slow down in the coming week. But high-profile meetings will take place in other parts of the state. That includes the Florida Board of Education meeting in Tampa and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting in Sarasota.

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015

SCOTT TO TOUT TAX CUTS: Gov. Rick Scott will visit Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach to tout a tax-cut package approved by lawmakers. The package includes reducing the communications-services tax on cell-phone and cable TV bills, holding a 10-day tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers, and eliminating for one year sales taxes on college textbooks. Details of the appearances are expected to be announced Sunday.

NORTH FLORIDA WATER BASIN RESTORATION DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will host a meeting to discuss restoration efforts in North Florida's Orange Creek Basin. A restoration plan covers Newnans Lake, Orange Lake, Lake Wauberg, Hogtown Creek, Sweetwater Branch, Tumblin Creek and Alachua Sink and involves issues such as excessive nutrients and bacteria in waterways. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Gainesville Regional Utilities, 301 S.E. Fourth Ave., Gainesville.)

HUMANE SOCIETY OPPOSES BEAR HUNTING: The Humane Society of the United States will deliver petitions to Gov. Rick Scott's office in opposition to a proposal to allow bear hunting this fall in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday will consider approving a bear-hunting season. (Monday, 1 p.m., governor's office, the Capitol.)

PAFFORD TO DISCUSS SPECIAL SESSION: House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, is expected to discuss the special session during a meeting of the Mid-County Democratic Club in Palm Beach County. (Monday, 7 p.m., Tree's Wings and Ribs, 603 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Royal Palm Beach.)

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

CABINET DISCUSSES AGENCY JOBS, LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will meet and discuss applicants to become secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Also, they will consider a settlement in a lawsuit filed by open-government advocates and media organizations alleging violations of open-meetings laws. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville.)

FAU TRUSTEES HOLD CONFERENCE CALL: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-207-9997. Code: FAUOWLS.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Duval County. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Neptune Beach Senior Activity Center, 2004 Forest Ave., Neptune Beach.)

CITIZENS COMMITTEES DISCUSS INSURANCE ISSUES: Committees of the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will hold a series of meetings and discuss issues such as moving policies into the private insurance industry --- efforts known as "depopulation." (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

ATWATER SPEAKS TO ECONOMIC CLUB: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will speak to the Economic Club of Florida, with a presentation about "fiscal discipline and free market enterprise in Florida." (Tuesday, noon, FSU Alumni Center, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)

COMMISSION EYES PANTHER ISSUES: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start three days of meetings and will receive an update about research, management and recovery of Florida panthers. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota.)

PANEL LOOKS AT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze public-school enrollment numbers related to capital outlay. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ATWATER ADDRESSES LEON COUNTY GOP: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is scheduled to speak during the Leon County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., University Center Club, Florida State University, Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS IN TAMPA: The State Board of Education will meet and consider a number of issues, including rules related to teacher-certification exams and out-of-state fee waivers for veterans and other eligible students. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Tampa Airport Marriott, 4200 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa.)

BEAR HUNTING DEBATED: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider a proposal that would lead to a bear-hunting season this fall. The controversial proposal stems from concerns about interactions between bears and humans in some parts of the state. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota.)

CITIZENS BOARD MEETS: The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will meet. (9 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

CLEMENCY BOARD DISCUSSES CASES: The Florida Clemency Board, which is made up of Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members, will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Orange, Palm Beach and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Renaissance Senior Community Center, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Also, 10 a.m., Acreage Branch Library, 15801 Orange Blvd., Loxahatchee. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee. Also, 6 p.m., Fashion Square Mall, 3201 East Colonial Drive, Orlando.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015

COMMISSION LOOKS AT BARRACUDA RULE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider proposed regulations for catching barracuda in South Florida. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota.)

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

LABARGA GIVES 'STATE OF THE JUDICIARY' ADDRESS: Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga will give a "State of the Judiciary" address during a luncheon at The Florida Bar's annual convention. (Thursday, luncheon starts at 12:30 p.m., Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton.)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING TARGETED: The Florida Statewide Council on Human Trafficking will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Stetson University College of Law Tampa Law Center, 1700 North Tampa St., Tampa.)

FSU TRUSTEES TOUR THE TUCKER CENTER: The Florida State University Board of Trustees will hold a workshop that will include a tour of FSU's Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade County. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Haitian Emmanuel Baptist Church, 7321 N.E. Second Ave., Miami.)

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015

CENTRAL FLORIDA WATER AT ISSUE: The Central Florida Water Initiative Steering Committee will meet. The committee includes representatives of the St. Johns River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Tohopekaliga Water Authority. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., 951 Martin Luther King
Blvd., Kissimmee.)

BAR PRESIDENT SWORN IN: Miami attorney Ramon A. Abadin will be sworn in during the general assembly meeting at the annual Florida Bar convention. (Friday, 9:30 a.m. Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. (Friday, 10 a.m., Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. South, Gulfport. Also, 2 p.m., John F. Germany Library, 900 North Ashley Dr., Tampa.)

BUCKHORN SPEAKS TO TALLAHASSEE TIGER BAY: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will speak at a meeting of the Capital Tiger Bay Club. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

FSU TRUSTEES TAKE UP BUDGET ISSUES: The Florida State University Board of Trustees will meet and take up a series of issues, including approving a 2015-16 operating budget and electing a chairman for a two-year term. (Friday, 1 p.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

MEDICAID DRUGS DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration's Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committee will consider recommendations for the preferred-drug list in the Medicaid program. (Friday, 1 p.m., Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)