The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – March 23, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, MARCH 20, 2015…..The House and Senate will move forward during the coming week with competing budget proposals for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Appropriations committees in both chambers are expected to tweak the spending plans, which then will go for floor votes. But that is just a prelude to the negotiations next month between House and Senate leaders, who will try to agree on a final budget that likely will total between $75 billion and $80 billion.

MONDAY MARCH 23, 2015

Legislature:

TRANSPORTATION INSURANCE AT ISSUE: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will consider a bill (SB 1298), filed by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would address insurance requirements for transportation services such as Uber. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DETZNER TO FACE CONFIRMATION: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Secretary of State Ken Detzner. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CONTACT LENS SALES EYED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up a proposal (SB 1400), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, that would place restrictions on the ability of manufacturers to influence the prices charged by retailers for contact lenses. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HEMP PRODUCTION COULD GET GREEN LIGHT: The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider a bill (SB 902), filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, that would designate hemp as an agricultural crop and seek to encourage a hemp industry in Florida. (Monday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MACHINERY TAX BREAK PROPOSED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up a proposal (SB 544), filed by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, that would provide a sales-tax exemption for industrial machinery and equipment. (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE COMMITTEE SETS SIGHTS ON GUNS AT SCHOOL: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a bill (SB 180), filed by Chairman Greg Evers, R-Baker, that could allow designated employees or volunteers to carry guns at public schools. (Monday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SMALL BUSINESS TAX HOLIDAY AT ISSUE: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee will take up a proposal (SB 384), filed by Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, that would provide a sales-tax holiday for shoppers at small businesses on Nov. 28. (Monday, 4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

COSTS OF TEXTBOOKS TARGETED: The Senate Higher Education Committee will consider a bill (SB 938), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, that includes providing a sales-tax exemption for college textbooks. The proposal is a priority of Gov. Rick Scott. (Monday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- Senate Community Affairs Committee (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee (Monday, 3 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee (Monday, 5 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

"IBUDGETS" AT ISSUE: The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is scheduled to hold two meetings about "iBudgets" which are used in funding services for people with developmental disabilities. The meetings are expected to include discussion of a mathematical formula, or algorithm, used in the iBudget system. (Monday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Agency for Persons with Disabilities, 4030 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

CHILD ABUSE DEATH PANEL HOLDS CALL: The State Child Abuse Death Review Committee will hold a conference call as it seeks ways to reduce child-abuse deaths. (Monday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 538 249 6242.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

Legislature:

PUNITIVE DAMAGES AT ISSUE: The House Civil Justice Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 1067), filed by Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, that would apply a punitive-damages cap to a large group of lawsuits filed by smokers or their family members against tobacco companies. (Tuesday 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOBBYIST GIFT BAN ON TAP: The House Government Operations Subcommittee and the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will take up bills (HB 599 and SB 984), filed by Rep. Hazel Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes, and Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, that would create a limited exemption to a state law that bars lobbyists from giving gifts or spending other money to benefit lawmakers. The proposal would allow governmental entities to make available facilities or property to lawmakers if there is a "public purpose." Many local governments employ or hire lobbyists. (Tuesday, House subcommittee, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol. Senate committee, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

EVACUATION GUN BILL ON TAP: The Senate could approve a bill (SB 290), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would allow more people to carry concealed weapons during emergency evacuations. The bill would allow legal gun owners to carry guns without concealed-weapons licenses during the first 48 hours after emergency evacuation orders are given. Also, the Senate is expected to take up a series of bills (SB 576, SB 578, SB 580, SB 582 and SB 584) that would revamp trust funds to help carry out a voter-approved initiative that requires state spending on land and water conservation. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL TRANSFERS DEBATED: The House K-12 Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 1145), filed by Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, that includes changes such as requiring school districts to allow parents to enroll their children in any public schools that have not reached capacity. Also, it would require districts to have a process in which parents could request that their children be transferred to other teachers. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PERSONAL LEARNING ACCOUNTS COULD BE EXPANDED: The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 7095), filed by Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, that would lead to an expansion of the Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts program, which helps parents pay for services for children with disabilities. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

REVAMP SOUGHT FOR RED-LIGHT CAMERAS: The House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 7071), filed by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, that would bar the use of red-light cameras to cite drivers for improperly turning right on red. Also, it would require that local governments use money from red-light camera violations to bolster public safety, rather than spending it on other priorities. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)


SPRINGS PROTECTION DISCUSSED: The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee will take up a wide-ranging bill (SB 918), filed by Chairman Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, that includes steps to protect natural springs. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW AT ISSUE: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider a proposal (SPB 7066) aimed at carrying out a 2014 law that allows limited types of medical marijuana in the state. The Department of Health has faced legal challenges as it has proposed regulatory frameworks for moving forward with the law. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

POWDERED BOOZE COULD GO DOWN THE DRAIN: The House Business & Professions Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 1247), filed by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, that would block the sale of powdered forms of alcoholic beverages. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LIQUOR SALES DEBATED: The House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a wide-ranging bill (HB 107), filed by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that deals with issues in the alcoholic-beverage industry. Among other things, the bill would eliminate a requirement that liquor stores be stand-along facilities, a move that would allow liquor to be sold in grocery stores. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE PANEL CONSIDERS ALIMONY CHANGES: The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1248), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that would make substantial changes in the state's alimony laws. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee (Tuesday, 11 a.m., 116 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Quality Subcommittee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Veteran & Military Affairs Subcommittee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Florida Legislative Women's Caucus (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

CABINET TO DISCUSS LAND BUY, VETERANS HALL: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will meet and take up issues such as a 193.9-acre land purchase in Marion County as part of the Florida Greenways and Trails program. Also, Scott and Cabinet members are expected to consider recommendations for the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame, an issue that drew controversy because of an effort to include former Confederate soldiers. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

FAU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus, Administration Building.)

WOMEN TO JOIN HALL OF FAME: A ceremony will be held for the induction of three women to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. In January, Gov. Rick Scott announced the inductees as Evelyn Cahn Keiser, 91, co-founder and chairwoman emeritus of Keiser University; the late Charlotte Edwards Maguire, the first female pediatrician in private practice in Orlando and the first woman physician to be president of the Florida Pediatric Society; and Mary Lee Farrior, 77, the founder and a board member of Mary Lee’s House, which helps children who have suffered from abuse and neglect. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Capitol courtyard.)

ATWATER AT JAMES MADISON EVENT: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is expected to appear at the James Madison Institute 2015 Annual Dinner. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

Legislature:

APPROPRIATIONS PANEL TAKES UP SENATE BUDGET: The Senate Appropriations Committee will take up the Senate's proposed $80.4 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. The budget, with any changes made by the committee, will then be prepared to go to the Senate floor. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE BUDGET GETS AIRING BEFORE COMMITTEE: The House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the House's proposed $76.2 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. (Wednesday, noon, 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Innovation Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Committee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Joint Subcommittee on Auditor General Selection (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

CLEMENCY BOARD TO MEET: Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members, sitting as the Florida Clemency Board, are scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

PASCO MURDER CASE AT SUPREME COURT: The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the Pasco County case of Michael McAdams, who was convicted of murdering his estranged wife and her boyfriend. The appeal involves whether a confession should have been suppressed. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

GULF CONSORTIUM TO MEET: The Gulf Consortium Board of Directors will meet and discuss issues related to the use of money from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3800 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

TAXI, LIMO GROUPS TO CALL FOR SAFEGUARDS: The Florida Limousine Association and the Florida Taxicab Association will hold a media availability to call for requirements on what are known as "transportation network companies," such as Uber and Lyft. The groups are seeking requirements that deal with issues such as insurance and background checks. (Wednesday, 11:15 a.m., Capitol courtyard.)

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

Legislature:

GAMBLING ISSUES DISCUSSED: The House Regulatory Affairs Committee will hold a workshop to discuss major gambling-industry issues, including an agreement that allows the Seminole Tribe of Florida to offer games such as blackjack at its casinos. (Thursday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to meet in a floor session. (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Education Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Fiscal Policy Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Rules Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House State Affairs Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m. Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Appropriations Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

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

UCF TRUSTEES TO MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet after holding committee meetings earlier in the day. (Thursday, 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

FIU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings earlier in the day. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Graham Center Ballrooms, Miami.)

FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST MEETS: The Florida Communities Trust Governing Board will meet and discuss the program that helps local communities protect natural resources and preserve working waterfronts. (Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

Legislature:

HOUSE TO HOLD FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to meet in a floor session. (Friday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

VETERANS' HALL OF FAME AT ISSUE: The Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Council will meet and discuss the status of the 2014 hall-of-fame class, receive nominations for the 2015 class and discuss possible criteria changes for 2016. (Friday, 8 a.m., 28 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

JOBS NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will release February unemployment figures. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

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.)

ATWATER, JOLLY AT PINELLAS GOP EVENT: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will be the keynote speaker during the Pinellas County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. Also taking part in the event will be U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla. (Friday, 7:30 p.m., Hilton Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Dr., St. Petersburg.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015

EARLY VOTING TO START IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS: Early voting will start in the April 7 special elections in Senate District 6, House District 17 and House District 24. Senate District 6 includes St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and part of Volusia counties. House District 17 includes part of St. Johns County, while House District 24 includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties. The special elections stem from the November resignation of Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and the candidacies of Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, and Rep. Ronald "Doc" Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, for the Senate seat.