The Week Ahead in Florida Politics - November 17, 2014

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, NOVEMBER 14, 2014…..After months on the campaign trail, Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Tuesday for an organization session. Incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and incoming House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, will formally move into their new roles. Also, 23 new House members will get sworn in.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014

'FLORIDA IS FOR VETERANS' GROUP TO MEET: The board of directors of Florida is For Veterans, Inc., will meet. The organization was part of the "Florida GI Bill," which lawmakers passed this year to help encourage veterans and military families to move to the state and to promote their hiring and education. (Monday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's office will hold "mobile office hours" in Pinellas and Manatee counties. (Monday, 10 a.m., South Pasadena City Hall, 7047 Sunset Dr. South, South Pasadena. Also, 2 p.m., Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key.)

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Transportation Commission will hold a workshop that will include discussion of issues such as toll violations and performance measures for the SunRail system in Central Florida. (Monday, 1 p.m., Florida Department of Transportation, 605 Suwannee St., Tallahassee.)

SENATE DEMS TO ELECT JOYNER: Senate Democrats will meet to formally elect Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, as minority leader for the next two years. (Monday, 2 p.m., Senate Chamber, the Capitol.)

BOARD OF ED TO DISCUSS STATE COLLEGES: The State Board of Education will hold a workshop to hear presentations about issues in the Florida College System, including dual enrollment, baccalaureate degrees and funding. (Monday, 3 p.m., Seminole State College, Heathrow Campus, 1055 AAA Dr., Heathrow.)

SLADE TO BE HONORED: A memorial service will be held for Tom Slade, a former state Republican chairman who also served in the House and the Senate. Slade died last month. (Monday, 4:30 p.m., Old Capitol, Senate Chamber.)

HOUSE DEMS TO MEET: House Democrats will meet and formally elect a leader for the next two years. (Monday 6 p.m., House Chamber, the Capitol.)

SARASOTA GOP TO HONOR PERRY: The Sarasota County Republican Party will honor Texas Gov. Rick Perry during the 2014 "Conservative of the Year" event. (Monday, 6 p.m., Robarts Arena, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET: The State Board of Education will take up a wide range of issues, including rules dealing with educator certification, English-language learners and high-school graduation requirements for students with disabilities. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Seminole State College, Heathrow Campus, 1055 AAA Dr., Heathrow.)

ELECTION RESULTS CERTIFIED: The state Elections Canvassing Commission will meet to certify the results of the Nov. 4 elections. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

SENATE GOES INTO SESSION: The Florida Senate will hold an organization session that will include Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, taking over as Senate president. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Senate Chamber, the Capitol.)

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

PANEL TO DISCUSS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The Florida Transportation Commission will meet and discuss a series of issues, including the future of public transportation in the state. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Transportation, 605 Suwannee St., Tallahassee.)

HOUSE CONVENES, CRISAFULLI GETS GAVEL: The Florida House will hold an organization session that will include swearing in new members. Also, Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, will formally move into the position of House speaker. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., House Chamber, the Capitol.)

FAU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., FAU Boca Raton Campus, A.D. Henderson University School, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's office will hold "mobile office hours" in Citrus and Orange counties. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Lake Region Library, 1511 Druid Road, Inverness. Also, 3 p.m., Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Dr., Orlando.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014

PAROLE CASES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review, formerly known as the Florida Parole Commission, will take up numerous cases involving people convicted of crimes from the 1970s and 1980s. Among the scheduled cases is a hearing for Felix Garcia, a deaf man who supporters say was falsely convicted of a murder. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

TOBACCO TAXES DISCUSSED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss tobacco taxes and surcharges. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's office will hold "mobile office hours" in Hillsborough, Calhoun, Liberty and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., South Shore Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin. Also, 1 p.m. Central time, Calhoun County Extension Building, 20816 Central Ave. East, Blountstown. Also, 4 p.m., Bristol City Hall, 12444 N.W. Virginia G. Weaver St., Bristol. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee.)

FLORIDA COLLEGES AT ISSUE: The Education Estimating Conference will analyze information about Florida colleges. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS GATHER: The Republican Governors Association will start a two-day conference in South Florida. (Wednesday, press briefing at 2:15 p.m.; plenary session at 3:15 p.m., Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton.)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

PANEL TO DISCUSS RED GROUPER, MANATEES: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will discuss a series of issues, including bag limits on red grouper and manatee-protection zones in parts of western Pinellas County. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Hilton Key Largo Resort, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo.)

BUSH TO HOST EDUCATION SUMMIT: Former Gov. Jeb Bush, chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, will host a two-day "National Summit on Education Reform." Also expected to take part in panel sessions are Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart; Florida Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand; state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando; and outgoing Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. (Thursday, 8:45 a.m., Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Road N.W., Washington, D.C.)

COURT HEARS ARGUMENTS ON WELFARE DRUG TESTING: The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments in a long-running battle about Gov. Rick Scott's attempt to require drug testing as a condition for people receiving public-assistance benefits. The Scott administration filed an appeal after a federal district judge blocked the program. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Frank M. Johnson Jr. United States Courthouse, 1 Church St., Montgomery, Ala.)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCRUTINIZED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will look at data about the criminal-justice system. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's office will hold "mobile office hours" in Leon County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Renaissance Community Center, 457 West Virginia St., Tallahassee.)

UCF BOARD TO MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 9:30 a.m., followed by the board meeting at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

SUPREME COURT ISSUES RULINGS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to issue its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

BOARD OF MEDICINE TO TALK: The Florida Board of Medicine will hold a conference call to discuss an issue about the costs of reproducing medical records. (Thursday, noon. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 125-528-7056)

HIGHWAY SAFETY AT ISSUE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will consider highway-safety revenues. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

LIBERTY COUNTY DELEGATION TO MEET: The Liberty County legislative delegation, made up of Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will hold a public hearing. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Liberty County Courthouse, Bristol.)

MORGAN TO SPEAK AT GRAHAM CENTER: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lucy Morgan will speak at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. Morgan was the longtime Tallahassee bureau chief for the Tampa Bay Times. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Pugh Hall, the University of Florida, Gainesville.)

CALHOUN COUNTY DELEGATION TO MEET: The Calhoun County legislative delegation, made up of Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will hold a public hearing. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Central time, Calhoun County Commission chambers, the Extension Office, 20859 Central Ave. East, Blountstown.)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014

FISH AND WILDLIFE PREPARES FOR 2015 SESSION: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will discuss issues including proposals for the 2015 legislative session. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Hilton Key Largo Resort, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo.)

KIDCARE, MEDICAID AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss expenditures in the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program and caseloads in the Medicaid program. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

JOBS NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is scheduled to release unemployment figures for October. (Friday, 10 a.m.)

FSU TRUSTEES TO MEET: The Florida State University Board of Trustees will meet. The agenda includes a report from John Thrasher, the university's new president. (Friday, 1 p.m., Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

EDUCATION, TOBACCO TRUST FUNDS DISCUSSED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss issues related to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund and the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FINANCE REPORTS DUE IN HD 13: Candidates in a special election in state House District 13 face a Friday deadline for filing campaign-finance reports. The reports will reflect activity through Nov. 14.