The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – March 9, 2015

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, MARCH 6, 2015…..Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol for the second week of the legislative session and take up hot-button issues such as testing in public schools and expanding health coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income people. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet will gather Tuesday to continue discussions about the hiring and review of agency heads --- an issue that stems from the controversial ouster of former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey.

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

Legislature:

SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY DEBATED: The House Education Committee will take up a bill (PCB EDC 15-04) that would make changes in the state's school-accountability and testing system. (Monday, 3 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

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, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7021700355.)

EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE DISCUSSED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will analyze the state employees' health-insurance program. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

UF TRUSTEES TO MEET: The University of Florida Board of Trustees will meet and discuss performance-based funding issues. (Monday, committee meetings start at 3:30 p.m., followed by the full Board of Trustees meeting, University of Florida, 123 Tigert Hall, Gainesville.).

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015

Legislature:

MEDICAID DENTAL CARE AT ISSUE: The House Health Innovation Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 601), filed by Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, that would create a new prepaid dental program for children in the Medicaid program. The program would be separate from the state's Medicaid managed-care system. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE CONSIDERS SHIELDING HIGHER ED SEARCHES: The House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 223), filed by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, that would create a public-records exemption for information about people applying to become presidents, provosts or deans of state universities or colleges. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

CORRECTIONS BUDGET DISCUSSED: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will receive presentations about budget deficits at the Florida Department of Corrections and the department's capital-project needs. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)


ENTERPRISE FLORIDA CHANGES PROPOSED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up a bill (SB 1214), filed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, that would make the president of Enterprise Florida subject to Senate confirmation and also would place a lobbying restriction on former Enterprise Florida presidents for the first two years after they leave the job. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

UNANIMOUS JURIES SOUGHT IN DEATH SENTENCES: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a proposal (SB 664), filed by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, that would require juries to be unanimous before recommending the death penalty for defendants in murder cases. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BRIGHT FUTURES BILLS OFFERED: The Senate Higher Education Committee will consider two bills dealing with the Bright Futures scholarship program, including a proposal (SB 960), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, that would make changes in requirements for volunteer work. The other bill (SB 1140) was filed by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DRONE SURVEILLANCE EYED: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will take up a proposal (SB 766), filed by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, aimed at preventing the use of aerial drones to conduct surveillance of people or private property. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE LOOKS AT HEALTH CARE EXPANSION: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a wide-ranging proposal that would set up a new health-insurance exchange to help provide coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Floridians. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TO TAKE UP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, ADOPTIONS: The House is scheduled to have a floor session and will consider bills that would move back the date of the state's presidential primary elections and seek to increase adoptions of children in the foster-care system. The presidential-primary proposal (HB 7035), filed by Rules Chairman Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, would set the date of the elections on the third Tuesday in March, which would be March 15 in 2016. Under current law, the state's primaries are set for the first Tuesday allowed under party rules; in 2016, that would be March 1. Meanwhile, the adoption bill (HB 7013), filed by Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, would provide financial incentives for state workers to adopt children who are in the foster care system. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

PSC MEMBERS FACE SENATE CONFIRMATION: The Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Florida Public Service Commission members Julie Brown and Jimmy Patronis. Gov. Rick Scott last year reappointed Brown to the utility-regulatory commission and appointed Patronis, a former Republican House member from Panama City. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Agriculture Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Business & Professions Subcommittee (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Ports Subcommittee (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Banking and Insurance Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Ethics and Elections Committee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Judiciary Committee (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

VETERINARY BOARD TO MEET: The Board of Veterinary Medicine will meet in South Florida and take up a series of issues including disciplinary cases involving veterinarians. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Embassy Suites, 1100 S.E. 17th St., Fort Lauderdale.)

SCOTT, CABINET TO DISCUSS AGENCY HEADS: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will discuss issues related to the appointment and review of agency heads. The issues stem from a controversy about the ouster of former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

GENERAL REVENUE TALLIED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will update general-revenue projections. General revenue plays a critical role in funding schools, health care and prisons, and lawmakers will use the projections in drawing up a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

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

ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER BOARD TO MEET: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 11:15 a.m. or upon conclusion of committee meetings, district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Updated campaign-finance reports are due in special elections in Senate District 6, House District 17, House District 24 and House District 64. Elections in Senate District 6, House District 17 and House District 24 --- all in Northeast Florida --- will be held April 7. The election in House District 64 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be April 21.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Legislature:

AMENDMENT 1 MONEY AT ISSUE: The Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a series of bills (SB 576, SB 578, SB 580, SB 582, SB 584, and SB 586) involved in carrying out a constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 1, that will require the state to set aside money for land and water conservation. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS DISCUSSED: The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will receive information from state Surgeon General John Armstrong about the Children's Medical Services and Early Steps programs. The Department of Health recently laid off administrators at the Early Steps program, which serves babies and toddlers with developmental disabilities and delays. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL LOOKS AT CHARTER SCHOOLS, SCHOOL CHOICE: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee will hold a workshop on a series of bills (SB 254, SB 692, SB 720, SB 906, SB 952, SB 1036, SB 1038, SB 1336, SB 1448 and SB 1552) that deal with charter schools or school choice. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SMOKING IN CARS TARGETED: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider a bill (SB 548), filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, that would prohibit people from smoking in vehicles when children under age 13 are present. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to have a floor session. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Government Operations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Civil Justice Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation, Tourism & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 116 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House K-12 Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rulemaking Oversight & Repeal Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House State Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

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.)

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees will meet. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment of earlier committee meeting, Florida Polytechnic University, IST Building, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland.)

HISTORICAL ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Historical Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough St., Tallahassee.)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will consider criminal-justice issues. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Legislature:

SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Quality Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Veteran & Military Affairs Subcommittee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 12 House Office 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 Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Regulatory Affairs Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Appropriations Committee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Appropriations Committee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Committee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

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

ARTS AND CULTURE DISCUSSED: The Florida Council on Arts and Culture will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough St., Tallahassee.)

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

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD TO MEET: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Thursday, 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

BILIRAKIS HOSTS VETERANS EVENT: U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., will hold a "veterans resource fair" to help provide information and services to veterans. (Saturday, 11 a.m., River Ridge High School, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey.)