The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – June 27, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Florida will move into its new fiscal year during the coming week. Lawmakers in March approved an $82 billion budget that will take effect July 1. The budget includes increased school funding and more money for such things as Everglades restoration.

VIETNAM VETS HONORED: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., will help host a ceremony to honor veterans of the Vietnam War. (Monday, 2 p.m., East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road, Dade City.)

CUSTOMER HEARINGS HELD ON FPL RATE PROPOSAL: The state Public Service Commission will continue a series of public hearings about a proposal by Florida Power & Light to raise base electric rates. The utility has proposed nearly $1.34 billion in increases over three years. State Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, and other officials also will hold a news conference calling for the commission to deny the rate hike. (Monday, news conference at 5:30 p.m., hearing at 6 p.m., Miami-Dade County Auditorium, 2901 West Flagler St., Miami.)

BEAN DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE SESSION: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, will discuss the 2016 legislative session during a meeting of the Rotary Satellite Club of South Jacksonville. (Monday, 6 p.m., Indochine San Marco, 1974 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville.)

WILCOX SPEAKS TO BROWARD GOP: U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox is slated to speak during a Broward County Republican Executive Committee meeting. (Monday, 7 p.m., Deicke Auditorium, 5701 Cypress Road, Plantation.)

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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

CHILD ABUSE DEATHS DISCUSSED: The state Child Abuse Death Review Committee, which looks for ways to reduce preventable child-abuse deaths, is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Homewood Suites, 2987 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee.)

CUSTOMER HEARINGS HELD ON FPL RATE PROPOSAL: The state Public Service Commission will continue a series of public hearings about a proposal by Florida Power & Light to raise base electric rates. The utility has proposed nearly $1.34 billion in increases over three years. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Also, 5 p.m., South Regional/Broward College Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines.)

VETERANS' HALL OF FAME PANEL MEETS: The Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Council will meet and consider nominees for the hall of fame. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 28 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LONG TERM CARE AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a hearing about long-term care waiver program prioritization and enrollment as part of the statewide Medicaid managed-care system. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

GULF CONSORTIUM BOARD MEETS: The Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, which works on issues related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will meet. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Dr., Orlando.)

ROSS SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., is scheduled to speak to the Alafia Republican Club. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., River Hills Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Parkway, Valrico.)

WILCOX, STARGEL IN LAKE COUNTY: U.S. Senate candidate Todd Wilcox and state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, are expected to speak during an event hosted by Lake County Republican groups. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Clermont Community Center, 620 West Montrose St., Clermont.)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

WORKERS COMP AT ISSUE: Associated Industries of Florida will host one in a series of meetings to discuss the workers' compensation insurance system. Business groups are urging the Legislature to address two Florida Supreme Court rulings that found parts of the system unconstitutional. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Turnberry Isle Resort, 19999 West Country Club Dr., Aventura.)

PAROLE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review is slated to discuss numerous parole cases related to crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

JUDGE WEIGHS NEW ABORTION LAW: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle will hold a hearing in a request from Planned Parenthood to block parts of a major abortion law approved this year by Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers. Planned Parenthood filed the lawsuit June 2 and challenged the constitutionality of three parts of the controversial law. The complaint, in part, targets a section of the law that seeks to prevent state agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans from contracting with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics that perform elective abortions. The complaint also challenges part of the law that would require the state Agency for Health Care Administration to inspect at least 50 percent of abortion-clinic patient records each year. In addition, the complaint challenges a section of the law that would change the state's definition of trimesters of pregnancy. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., U.S. Courthouse, 111 North Adams St., Tallahassee.)

CUSTOMER HEARINGS HELD ON FPL RATE PROPOSAL: The state Public Service Commission will continue a series of public hearings about a proposal by Florida Power & Light to raise base electric rates. The utility has proposed nearly $1.34 billion in increases over three years. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Florida Memorial University, Lou Rawls Auditorium, 15800 N.W. 42nd Ave., Miami Gardens.)

SCOTT SPEAKS AT COUNTIES EVENT: Gov. Rick Scott is expected to be among the speakers at a Florida Association of Counties annual conference. (Wednesday, opening session at 10:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Dr., Orlando.)

HD 68 CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF: The Suncoast Tiger Bay Club will hold a forum for the candidates in state House District 68. Democrats Ben Diamond and Eric Lynn and Republican Joseph Bensmihen are seeking the seat, which is open because Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg, decided against seeking re-election. (Wednesday, noon, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.)

HOLDER RAISES MONEY IN SD 23: Former state Rep. Doug Holder, R-Venice, is scheduled to raise money in Sarasota. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Clasico, 1341 Main St., Sarasota.)

STEUBE RAISES MONEY IN SARASOTA: State Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican running in Senate District 23, will raise money during a reception. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Siesta Key Rum Tasting Room, 2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2016

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

CD 10 CANDIDATES APPEAR IN ORLANDO: The Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida will host a forum for candidates in Congressional District 10. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Country Club of Orlando, 1601 Country Club Dr., Orlando.)

LATVALA TAKES PART IN COUNTIES EVENT: Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is expected to be among the speakers at a Florida Association of Counties annual conference. (Thursday, Latvala at luncheon event, noon, Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Dr., Orlando.)

REED RAISES MONEY FOR SENATE RACE: A fundraiser will be held for former state Rep. Betty Reed, a Tampa Democrat who is running this year in Senate District 19. (Thursday, 5 p.m., Seminole Heights Garden Center, 5800 North Central Ave., Tampa.)

PENA COLLECTS CASH FOR HOUSE BID: A fundraising reception will be held for Democrat Tinu Pena, who is running in Palm Beach County's House District 86. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Ward Damon, 4420 Beacon Circle, West Palm Beach.)

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

NEW BUDGET TAKES EFFECT: The state's 2016-2017 fiscal year will start. Lawmakers approved an $82 billion spending plan during the annual legislative session.

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA TO HOLD CONFERENCE CALL: The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will hold a conference call. (Friday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-877-402-9753. Code: 6423569#)