The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – November 16, 2015

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015

VETERANS ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Veterans Florida Board of Directors will hold a workshop in Jacksonville. Lawmakers created the program last year to help encourage veterans and military families to move to the state and to promote veterans' hiring and education. (Monday, 8 a.m., University of North Florida, Student Union, 1 University of North Florida Dr., Jacksonville.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Jackson, Sarasota, Seminole, Martin, Walton and Manatee counties. (Monday, 8 a.m. Central time, Malone City Hall, 5182 Ninth Ave., Malone. Also, 9:30 a.m., Central time, Marianna City Hall, 2898 Green St., Marianna. Also, 10 a.m., Jacaranda Public Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice. Also, 10 a.m., Seminole State College breezeway, 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford. Also, 10:30 a.m., Martin County Blake Library, 2351 S.E. Monterey Road, Stuart. Also, 1 p.m. Central time, Alford City Hall, 1768 Georgia St., Alford. Also, 1 p.m. Central time, Town Hall, 78 North Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach. Also, 2 p.m., Manatee County Library, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. West, Bradenton.)

GRIMSLEY STAFF GOES MOBILE: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold "mobile office hours" in Okeechobee, Martin and St. Lucie counties. (Monday, 10 a.m., Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce, 55 South Parrott Ave., Okeechobee. Also, noon, Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, 15545-B S.W. Warfield Blvd., Indiantown. Also, 2 p.m., Treasure Coast Research Park, UF/IRREC Building, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce.)

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR FORMER FIRST LADY: A service will be held for former Florida First Lady Rhea Chiles, who died last weekend at age 84. She was the widow of the late Gov. and U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles. (Monday, 11 a.m., Faith Presbyterian Church, 2200 North Meridian Road, Tallahassee.)

OPEN GOVERNMENT AT ISSUE: The First Amendment Foundation and other members of the Florida Sunshine Coalition will hold a summit to discuss what they see as attacks and challenges to the state's system of open government. They also will develop a plan for moving forward. (Monday, 11 a.m., Orlando Sentinel, 633 North Orange Ave., Orlando.

HEALTH INSURANCE AT ISSUE: The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board will hold a conference call to finalize legislative recommendations and an annual report about the state of the insurance market. (Monday, 1 p.m. Call-in number: 1-866-200-9760. Code: 4288083#.)

SCOTT HEALTH PANEL HOLDS CONFERENCE CALL: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, which Gov. Rick Scott created this year to delve into health financing and regulatory issues, will hold a conference call. (Monday, 5 p.m. Call-in number: 1-877-809-7263. Code: 309 331 99#)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Legislature:

LAWMAKERS DISCUSS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, will hold a news conference to discuss bills related to illegal immigration. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., outside the Senate, fourth floor, the Capitol.)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA AT ISSUE: House and Senate panels will consider proposals that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain medical marijuana to help cope with pain. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will consider HB 307, sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, and Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation. The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up SB 460, sponsored Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. The bills piggyback on a law passed earlier this year that allows terminally ill patients to gain access to experimental drugs that have not been approved for general use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Tuesday, House Criminal Justice, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building. Senate Health Policy, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PERFORMANCE FUNDING ON THE TABLE: The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a series of issues, including receiving a presentation about performance funding in the state university system. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

FDLE COMMISSIONER GOES BEFORE SENATORS: The Senate Criminal Justice will hold confirmation hearings for Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen and Juvenile Justice Secretary Christy Daly. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATORS CONSIDER CONFEDERATE STATUE: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will take up a bill (SB 310), filed by Sen. John Legg, R-Trinity, that would replace the bronze statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith at the U. S. Capitol. A federal law allows each state to provide two statues of deceased prominent citizens to be placed in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. Florida is represented by statues of Smith and former Apalachicola resident John Gorrie, who is considered the father of air conditioning. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

KEYS, FLORIDA BAY DISCUSSED: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee will receive presentations on the Florida Keys and Florida Bay. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOTTERY TERMINALS CONSIDERED: The House Business & Professions Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 415), filed by Rep. Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo, that would allow the sale of lottery tickets through terminals that would accept credit and debit cards. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL CHOICE ON THE AGENDA: The House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee will hold a workshop on school-choice legislation. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS LOOK AT JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: The House Government Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 7003), sponsored by Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, that seeks to increase job opportunities for people with disabilities. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PUBLIC CORRUPTION TARGETED: The House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee will hold a workshop on a proposal (PCB RCEC 16-05) aimed at tightening public-corruption laws. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Agriculture Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Higher Education Committee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Quality Subcommittee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Banking and Insurance Committee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Community Affairs Committee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Ethics and Elections Committee (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Judiciary Committee (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Elections Commission is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Hillsborough County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. 301, Tampa.)

HURRICANE PANEL DISCUSSES FLOOD STANDARDS: The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology will receive a report from its Flood Standards Development Committee. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Hermitage Centre, 1801 Hermitage Blvd., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade, Osceola, Alachua and Madison counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Robert Guevara Community Center, 501 Florida Parkway, Kissimmee. Also, 10 a.m., Santa Fe College, S-Breezeway, 3000 N.W. 83rd St., Gainesville. Also, 10:30 a.m., Lee City Hall, 286 N.E. County Road 255, Lee. Also, 1 p.m., Madison County Courthouse, 125 South Range Ave., Madison. Also, 3 p.m., Greenville City Hall, 152 S.W. Old Mission Ave., Greenville.)

PSC TAKES UP CRYSTAL RIVER FINANCING: The Florida Public Service Commission will consider a Duke Energy Florida financing plan related to work at the shuttered Crystal River nuclear-power plant. The plan includes using a bonding process known as "securitization" to finance costs. Lawmakers this spring passed a bill that allowed securitization. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

ADAMS SPEAKS TO VOLUSIA REPUBLICANS: Former U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams, who is seeking to return to Congress in 2016, is scheduled to speak to the Republican Club of West Volusia. (Tuesday, noon, Sand Hill Golf Course, 800 East Euclid Ave., DeLand.)

KRAVITZ RAISES MONEY FOR HOUSE RACE: Former state Rep. Dick Kravitz, a Jacksonville Republican seeking to return to the House in 2016, will raise money during a reception in Tallahassee. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Governors Club, 202 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2015

Legislature:

DUVAL DELEGATION RULES AT ISSUE: Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican who is chairman of the Duval County .legislative delegation's rules committee, is expected to hold a meeting to discuss changes in rules of procedure. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 227 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BURDEN OF PROOF DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (SB 344), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would shift the burden of proof to the state in cases involving the "stand your ground" self-defense law. The measure was filed after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that people who use the controversial defense have the burden of showing they should be shielded from prosecution. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOTTERY TERMINALS CONSIDERED: The Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 402), filed by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, that would allow the sale of lottery tickets through terminals that would accept credit and debit cards. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

KIDCARE ELIGIBILITY ON THE TABLE: The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (SB 248), filed by Chairman Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, that would help children of legal immigrants get coverage through the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. The proposal would eliminate a five-year waiting period for "lawfully residing" immigrant children to receive KidCare coverage. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS AT ISSUE: The House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee will take up a bill (PCB HEWS 16-01) that would make a series of changes dealing with higher-education tuition. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OPEN CARRY CONSIDERED: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 163), filed by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry firearms. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL PRINCIPALS COULD GET MORE LEEWAY: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee will take up a bill (SB 434), filed by Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, that would create a pilot program aimed at giving principals more autonomy in running public schools. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

WATER POLICY ON THE TABLE: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will take up bill (HB 7005), sponsored by Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, that would set new water policies for the state. The bill addresses a wide range of issues including natural springs, Central Florida water supplies and issues related to Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee Estuary and the St. Lucie River and Estuary. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

ALIMONY COULD BE REVAMPED: The House Civil Justice Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 455), filed by Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, that would revamp the state's alimony laws. In part, the proposal would establish a formula to determine the amounts of alimony payments. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL LOOKS AT IMPROVING READING: The House K-12 Subcommittee will take up a bill (PCB KTS 16-01) that would make a series of changes aimed at improving student reading skills. The bill would address issues such as training for teachers. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Education Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Regulated Industries Committee (Wednesday, 3 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

DEEPWATER HORIZON RESTORATION AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start a two-day meeting. The first day is slated to include a number of fishery issues and a report about restoration activities related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Majestic Beach Resort, 10901 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach.)

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.)

GULF CONSORTIUM BOARD MEETS: The Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, which works on issues related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will meet. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Florida Association of Counties legislative conference. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Omni Amelia Island Plantation, 39 Lagoon Road, Amelia Island.)

GRIMSLEY STAFF GOES MOBILE: Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, will hold "mobile office hours" in Polk County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Mulberry Civic Center, 905 N.E. Fifth St., Mulberry. Also, 1:15 p.m., Fort Meade Community Center, 10 S.W. Third St., Fort Meade. Also, 3 p.m., Latt Maxcy Memorial Library, 15 North Magnolia Ave., Frostproof.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Gadsden, Orange, Palm Beach, Duval, Brevard, Broward and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Quincy Farm Share site, 18212 Blue Star Highway, Quincy. Also, 10 a.m., Renaissance Senior Community Center, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Also, 10 a.m., Acreage Branch Library, 15801 Orange Blvd., Loxahatchee. Also, 10 a.m., University of North Florida, Osprey Plaza, 1 University of North Florida Dr., Jacksonville. Also, noon, Melbourne Public Library, 540 East Fee Ave., Melbourne. Also, 1 p.m., Las Vegas Restaurant, 15941 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Also, 2 p.m., Greensboro Town Hall, 150 East 11th St., Greensboro. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee.)

SUMMIT FOCUSES ON INCARCERATION ISSUES: About 300 people, including Florida mayors and White House officials, are expected to take part in a two-day summit about trying to reduce mass incarceration and reduce recidivism among former prisoners. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coastline Dr., Jacksonville.)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Legislature:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN DISCUSSED: The House Economic Affairs Committee will hear a presentation from the state Department of Economic Opportunity about Gov. Rick Scott's economic-development proposal for 2016. In part, Scott has proposed a $250 million fund for economic incentives. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

GUNS ON CAMPUS DEBATED: The House Judiciary Committee will consider a proposal (HB 4001), sponsored by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college and university campuses. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

EARLY STEPS AT ISSUE: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will take up a bill (SPB 7034) that would make changes related to the Early Steps program, which serves infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities and delays. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BILLS ADDRESS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will consider a series of proposals (SB 376, SB 388 and SB 7010) related to people with disabilities, including trying to increase job opportunities. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL WEIGHS EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY BILL: The Senate Transportation Committee will take up a bill (SB 574), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that deals with expressway-authority governing boards. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WATER POLICY MOVES IN SENATE: The Senate Appropriations Committee will take up a water-policy bill (SB 552), sponsored by Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness. The bill, in part, seeks to establish water flow levels for springs and define the Central Florida Water Initiative. It also includes further management action plans for Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee Estuary and the St. Lucie River and Estuary. (Thursday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TAX CREDITS DISCUSSED: The House Finance & Tax Committee will discuss tax credits for research and development and tourism-related taxes. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

KEY HEALTH BILLS DEBATED: The House Select Committee on Affordable Healthcare Access will consider three high-profile bills. A proposal (HB 437), filed by Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, would eliminate what is known as the "certificate of need" regulatory process for building or expanding hospitals. A bill (HB 37), filed by Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach, would help clear the way for "direct primary care" agreements. Such agreements involve patients paying monthly fees to doctors for primary-care services, removing the role of insurers. The third bill (HB 85), filed by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, would allow patients to stay at ambulatory surgical centers for up to 24 hours and allow the operation of longer-term "recovery care" centers. Under current state law, patients are required to be discharged from ambulatory-surgical centers on the same day they undergo procedures. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

MANATEE PROTECTION DISCUSSED: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take up a series of wildlife-related issues, including a proposal to change a manatee-protection zone in Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Majestic Beach Resort, 10901 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach.)

UCF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet in Oviedo. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 9 a.m., full board scheduled to start at 1 p.m., NorthView, 3925 Lockwood Blvd., Oviedo.)

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, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

CHILD ABUSE DEATHS DISCUSSED: The Florida State Child Abuse Death Review Committee is scheduled to meet as it seeks to reduce child-abuse deaths. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Homewood Suites, 2987 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Hamilton, Escambia, Miami-Dade, Suwannee and Lake counties. (Thursday, 9:30 .a.m., Jasper City Hall, 208 Hatley St. West, Jasper. Also, 10 a.m. Central time, Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave., Pensacola. Also, noon, Miami-Dade County Library, West Flagler Branch, 5050 West Flagler St., Miami. Also, 12:30 p.m., Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave. S.E., Live Oak. Also, 2:30 p.m., Branford City Hall, 604 Suwannee Ave. N.W., Branford. Also, 3 p.m., office of state Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, 2775 South Bay St., Unit D., Eustis. Also, 3 p.m., Haitian Baptist Church Emmanuel, 7321 N.E. Second Ave., Miami.)

'PAYCHECKS FOR PATRIOTS' EVENTS HELD: State agencies and CareerSource Florida regional boards will continue hosting a series of "Paychecks for Patriots" hiring events that seek to bring together employers with veterans and members of the military. (Thursday, 10 a.m., National Guard Armory, 1225 Easterwood Dr., Tallahassee.)

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

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 20, 2015

NELSON SPEAKS AT COUNTIES' EVENT: U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., will speak during the closing session of a Florida Association of Counties legislative conference. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Omni Amelia Island Plantation, 39 Lagoon Road, Amelia Island.)

FAMU TRUSTEES HOLD CONFERENCE CALL: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees are scheduled to hold a conference call. (Friday, 8:30 a.m. http://www.famu.edu/famcast (click WANM 90.5 to listen)

ADOPTIONS CELEBRATED: Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe Inc., which administers adoption and foster-care programs, will host a National Adoption Day event that will include finalizing more than 50 adoptions. Local judges and officials from the Florida Department of Children and Families and The Children's Trust are expected to take part. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Miami Children's Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami.)

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will release October unemployment numbers. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS AT ISSUE: The Health Information Exchange Coordinating Committee will discuss issues related to electronic health records. (Friday, 10 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

DRUG POLICY AT ISSUE: The Drug Policy Advisory Council, which analyzes substance abuse and makes recommendations about a state drug-control strategy, will hold a conference call. (Friday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 164 869 6226.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Miami-Dade, Polk and Pasco counties. (Friday, 10 a.m., College Park Senior Center, 10700 S.W. 109th Court, Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Mulberry Public Library, 905 N.E. Fifth St., Mulberry. Also, 2 p.m., Centennial Park Branch, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday.)

OUTPATIENT PAYMENTS DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will host a meeting about moving to a "prospective payment system" in the Medicaid program for outpatient care provided by hospitals. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

GRAHAM SPEAKS TO PINELLAS DEMOCRATS: U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., will speak during the Pinellas County Democratic Party's "Kennedy-King Dinner." (Friday, 7 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater.)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2015

MURPHY SPEAKS TO PASCO DEMOCRATS: Congressman Patrick Murphy, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2016, will be the keynote speaker during a Pasco County Democratic Party's fundraising dinner. (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 2535 Trophy Blvd., Trinity.)