The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – October 24, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, OCTOBER 24, 2016....... Early voting will start at polling places across Florida during the coming week. Also, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy will hold the second televised debate in their high-stakes race. Away from the election campaigns, the state Public Service Commission will consider a proposed settlement that would lead to higher electric rates for customers of Florida Power & Light.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

UCF BOARD DISCUSSES HOSPITAL: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will take up a plan aimed at adding an academic hospital at the UCF Health Sciences Campus. (Monday, 8 a.m., University of Central Florida, Millican Hall, Orlando. Also, call-in number: 1-800-442-5794. Code: 463796.)

POLLUTION NOTICE CHANGES PROPOSED: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will continue a series of meetings on a proposal that would create new requirements for notifying the public when pollution occurs. The proposal comes after high-profile pollution incidents. (Monday, 9 a.m., Northwest District Office, 160 West Government St., Pensacola.)

EDIBLE MARIJUANA AT ISSUE: Leaders of the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Drug Free America Foundation and Florida's Poison Control Centers will hold a news conference to discuss issues about children ingesting edible marijuana products. The news conference comes amid a debate about a proposed constitutional amendment that would broadly legalize medical marijuana in Florida. (Monday, 11 a.m., Children's Safety Village, 910 Fairvilla Road, Orlando.)

CASTOR SPEAKS TO ECONOMIC CLUB: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., is scheduled to speak to the Economic Club of Tampa. (Monday, noon, Jackson's Bistro, 601 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa.)

LOPEZ RAISES MONEY IN HD 74: A fundraiser is scheduled for Democrat Manny Lopez, who is running in Sarasota County's House District 74. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., 1255 North Gulfstream, #1003, Sarasota.)

RECEPTION HELD FOR MAST: A fundraising reception is scheduled for Republican Brian Mast, who is running in Congressional District 18. (Monday, 6 p.m., Alligator Ron Bergeron's Green Glades Ranch, 21111 S.W. 16th St., Weston.)

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, STARK SPEAK TO WESTON DEMOCRATS: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and state Rep. Richard Stark, D-Weston, are expected to speak to the Weston Democratic Club. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Wings in Weston, 1354 S.W. 160th Ave., Weston.)

TRUMP TO CAMPAIGN IN TAMPA: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Tampa. (Monday, 7 p.m., MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301, Tampa.)

KAINE CAMPAIGNS IN MIAMI-DADE, PALM BEACH COUNTIES: Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine is expected to take part in early-voting rallies Monday in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. (Full details had not been released Friday morning.)

EARLY VOTING STARTS: Early voting will start Monday in most counties. The state requires early voting from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, but counties have the option of starting as early as Monday.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

UNF PRESIDENT EVALUATED: The University of North Florida Board of Trustees will discuss the 2015-2016 evaluation for university President John Delaney. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., University of North Florida, Student Union, Jacksonville.)

CABINET CONSIDERS MAJOR LAND DEAL: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a series of issues, including a proposal to spend $16.1 million to buy 11,000 acres of conservation land in Jefferson and Leon counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

POLLUTION NOTICE CHANGES PROPOSED: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will continue a series of meetings on a proposal that would create new requirements for notifying the public when pollution occurs. The proposal comes after high-profile pollution incidents. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Carr Building, 3800 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., district Brooksville office, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville.)

GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION AT ISSUE: Teaching and safety-net hospitals will release a report about graduate-medical education programs and physician shortages. Also expected to take part in the event are state Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Jackson Memorial Hospital, Ira C. Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center, 1080 N.W. 19th St., Miami.)

FARMER RAISES MONEY FOR SENATE RACE: A fundraising reception will be held for Democrat Gary Farmer, who is running in Broward County's Senate District 34. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., O Lounge, 333 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.)

YOHO CAMPAIGNS IN PUTNAM COUNTY: U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., will raise money during a barbecue event in Putnam County. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Putnam County Fairgrounds, Tilton Arena, 118 Fairgrounds Road, East Palatka.)

SARASOTA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES AT FORUM: Candidates in two Sarasota County legislative races are expected to take part in a Nokomis Area Civic Association forum. Participants are expected to include state Rep. Julio Gonzalez, R-Venice, and his Democratic opponent, Manny Lopez, in House District 74. Also, the forum is expected to include state Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and Democrat Frank Alcock, who are running in Senate District 23. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Nokomis Community Center, 234 Nippino Trail, Nokomis.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016

FELON VOTING RIGHTS ON TABLE: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop on a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights for non-violent felons. The proposal, known as the "Voter Restoration Amendment," could go on the 2018 ballot. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CITRUS ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Citrus Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

POLLUTION NOTICE CHANGES PROPOSED: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will continue a series of meetings on a proposal that would create new requirements for notifying the public when pollution occurs. The proposal comes after high-profile pollution incidents. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Northeast District Office, 8800 Baymeadows Way West, Jacksonville.)

PAROLE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Commission on Offender Review is scheduled to meet and discuss numerous parole cases related to crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The Florida Board of Education will take up a series of issues including "turnaround option plans" for low-performing schools in several districts. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

NURSING HOME PAYMENTS DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will host a meeting about what is known as a "prospective payment" reimbursement system for nursing homes in the Medicaid program. (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

BARBECUE HELD FOR ROSS: A fundraising barbecue is scheduled for U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Bernie Little Distributors, 4105 Maine Ave., Lakeland.)

RUBIO, MURPHY DEBATE: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy will appear at a televised debate sponsored by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Broward College, Davie.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

HOUSE CANDIDATE SPEAKS TO BUSINESS GROUP: Democrat John Scott, who is running against state Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, in House District 79, is scheduled to speak to the Businesspeople United for Political Action Committee, or BUPAC. (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway, Building AA, Fort Myers.)

FPL RATE HIKE ON THE TABLE: The state Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on a proposed settlement that would lead to Florida Power & Light raising base rates during the next three years. The proposal calls for a $400 million increase in base rates effective Jan., 1, followed by increases of $211 million in 2018 and $200 million in 2019. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

OPA-LOCKA FINANCES AT ISSUE: The Financial Emergency Board for the City of Opa-locka is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., City Commission chamber, 215 North Perviz Ave., Opa-locka.)

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

KUNTZ, FGCU TRUSTEES MEET: Tom Kuntz, chairman of the state university system's Board of Governors, is scheduled to meet with trustees of Florida Gulf Coast University. They are expected to discuss issues such as performance-based funding metrics. (Thursday, noon, Florida Gulf Coast University, Marieb Hall, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

BLACKBURN SPEAKS IN NAPLES: U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is slated to speak at an annual "Republican Women Make the Difference" event in Collier County. (Thursday, 6 p.m., The Von Liebig Art Center, 585 Park St., Naples.)

GRAHAM MEETS WITH PASCO DEMOCRATS: Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Graham, who is widely expected to run for governor in 2018, will meet with Pasco County Democrats during an open house. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., state Rep. Amanda Murphy's office, 5400 School Road, New Port Richey.)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

FSU TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida State University Board of Trustees will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Florida State University, Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

HOUSING ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Housing Finance Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

HOMELESSNESS DISCUSSED: Erik Braun, executive director of the state Office of Homelessness, is expected to speak to the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., The Shores Resort & Spa, 2637 South Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.)

DRUG CONTROL AT ISSUE: The Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Friday, 3 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 1648696226.)

OBAMA TO CAMPAIGN IN ORLANDO: President Barack Obama is expected to campaign Friday in Orlando for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. (Full details have not been released.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing updated finance information through Oct. 21.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

EARLY VOTING STATEWIDE: All counties are required to offer early voting as of Oct. 29. Most counties will start earlier in the week.