The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – March 7, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2016

Legislature:

GOING-AWAY CEREMONY SLATED FOR GARDINER: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session that will include a ceremony for departing Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. Among other issues, the Senate is expected to take up a bill (SB 1496), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that could create greater transparency about health-care costs. (Monday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Monday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

UBER DISCUSSES DUI REDUCTION: The app-based transportation service Uber, which has been locked in a battle about legislation dealing with the ride-sharing industry, will hold an event with the Florida Police Chiefs Association to discuss DUI reduction efforts. (Monday, 8 a.m., Governor's Club, 202 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

PSC, FOOD BANK JOIN FORCES: Florida Public Service Commission Chairwoman Julie Brown will join local officials and America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend to discuss information related to food and telephone services for low-income people. (10:30 a.m., America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend main office, 4446 Entrepot Blvd., Tallahassee.)

JUSTICES CONSIDER SOLAR AMENDMENT: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments about a proposed constitutional amendment backed by a group known as "Consumers for Smart Solar." Justices will determine whether the proposed ballot wording meets legal tests to go before voters in November. (Monday, 11 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

DESANTIS SPEAKS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ron DeSantis and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, are slated to speak during the Eagle Forum of Naples annual luncheon. (Monday, noon, The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. North, Naples.)

ROSS TOUTS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN: U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla, will hold three events to announce his plans to run for re-election. (Monday, 1 p.m., Southeast Milk Plant, 2502 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City. Also, 2:30 p.m., Draken International at Lakeland Linder Airport, 3330 Flightline Dr., Lakeland. Also, 4 p.m., Uncle Matt's Organic, Inc., 1645 East Highway 50, Suite 102, Clermont.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

VETERINARY BOARD MEETS: The Board of Veterinary Medicine will meet in South Florida. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Embassy Suites, 1100 S.E. 17th St., Fort Lauderdale.)

OKALOOSA, POLK DEATH CASES GO TO SUPREME COURT: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments on four issues, including two death-penalty cases stemming from murders committed in the 1980s in Okaloosa and Polk counties. The Okaloosa case involves an appeal by Frank Walls, who was convicted in the 1987 murders of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson. The Polk case involves an appeal from Paul Johnson, who was sentenced to death in the 1981 murders of William Evans, Daryl Beasley and Deputy Theron Burnham. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. or upon completion of earlier committee meetings, district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

SUN TRAIL DISCUSSED IN TAMPA: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting to gather public input about the SUN Trail Network, a project that Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, has backed to provide a trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., FDOT District 7 auditorium, 11201 North McKinley Dr., Tampa.)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

JUSTICES CONSIDER DUVAL, POLK DEATH CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including two death-penalty cases from Duval and Polk counties. The Duval case involves an appeal by Terrance Phillips, who was sentenced to death in the 2009 murders of two people. The Polk case involves an appeal by Tavares Wright, who was convicted of murdering two people in 2000. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

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.)

CITIZENS CLAIMS ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Claims Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-361-7525. Code: 521-967-6193#)

SUN TRAIL DISCUSSED IN FORT LAUDERDALE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting to gather public input about the SUN Trail Network, a project that Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, has backed to provide a trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., FDOT District 4 auditorium, 3400 West Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.)

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

JUSTICES CONSIDER MARION, HILLSBOROUGH DEATH CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including two death-penalty appeals from Marion and Hillsborough counties. The Marion County case involves William Kopsho, who was convicted in the 2000 murder of his wife. The Hillsborough case involves Kenneth Jackson, who was sentenced to death in a 2007 murder. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

FAMU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will meet and take up a series of issues, including a five-year fiscal plan for intercollegiate athletics. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida A&M University, Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee.)

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

CITIZENS CONSUMER ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Consumer Services Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Thursday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-361-7525. Code: 648-781-1621#)

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

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings earlier in the day. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Thursday deadline for filing finance reports showing activity through Feb. 29.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016

Legislature:

FINAL DAY OF SESSION: The 60-day legislative session is scheduled to end. The Senate and House will hold floor sessions starting at 10 a.m.

Also:

UF ACCOUNTABILITY AT ISSUE: The University of Florida Board of Trustees will meet and discuss an annual accountability report. (Friday, 8 a.m., University of Florida, 123 Tigert Hall, Gainesville.)

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS GATHER: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will meet. (Friday, committee meeting starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by council meeting, TCC Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Drug Policy Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Friday, 1 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 164 869 6226.)

FIU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings earlier in the day. (Friday, 2 p.m., Florida International University, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Parkview Multipurpose Room, Miami.)

BROWN SPEAKS AT COLLIER GOP EVENT: Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., is expected to speak during the Collier County Republican Party's Lincoln Reagan Bar-B-Que. (Friday, 6 p.m., Florida Sports Park, 8250 Collier Blvd., Naples.)

INDIANA GOVERNOR ADDRESSES SEMINOLE GOP: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is slated to speak during the Seminole County Republican Party's Reagan Lincoln Dinner. (Friday, 7:30 p.m., Westin Lake Mary, 2974 International Parkway, Lake Mary.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR SPEAKS TO BROWARD GOP: U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is slated to be the keynote speaker during the Broward County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner. (Saturday, 6 p.m., The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, 1881 S.E. 17th St., Fort Lauderdale.)

HASNER SPEAKS AT MARTIN GOP EVENT: Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, a co-chairman of Marco Rubio's presidential campaign in Florida, will speak during the Martin County Republican Party's Lincoln/Reagan Day Dinner. (Saturday, 6 p.m., Lost Lake Golf Club, 8310 S.E. Fazio Dr., Hobe Sound.)