The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – September 28, 2015

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015…..Florida's congressional redistricting fight will take another step Monday when Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is expected to finish hearing arguments and start preparing to recommend a map to the Florida Supreme Court. Also during the coming week, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will revisit the issue of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a former state reform school in Jackson County where children are alleged to have been abused and died.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

REDISTRICTING HEARING CONTINUES: Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is expected to finish holding a hearing about proposed congressional redistricting plans. The Florida Supreme Court in July found that eight current districts violate the anti-gerrymandering "Fair Districts" standards approved by voters in 2010. Lewis is considering maps proposed by the House, the Senate, voting-rights groups and a group of individual plaintiffs. (Monday, 9 a.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

STATE LEADERS AT CHAMBER FORUM: State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are expected to be among the speakers at the Florida Chamber of Commerce's two-day "Future of Florida Forum." Other speakers during the first day are expected to include Marshall Criser, chancellor of the state university system; Ed Moore, president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida; Madeline Pumariega,, chancellor of the Florida College System; Hershel Lyons, chancellor of the state Division of Public Schools; Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity; state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando; and state Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd., ChampionsGate.)

SCOTT HEALTH PANEL MEETS IN TAMPA: The Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding, which was created this year by Gov. Rick Scott to look at issues in the health-care industry, will continue a series of meetings across the state. (Monday, 1 p.m., University of South Florida, USF Gibbons Alumni Center, 11810 USF Sago Dr., Tampa.)

GULF COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Gulf County legislative delegation, which is made up of Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will hold its annual meeting in preparation for the 2016 session. (Monday, 5 p.m., Robert M. Moore Administration Building, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd., Port St. Joe.)

FRANKLIN COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Franklin County legislative delegation, which is made up of Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, will meet to prepare for the 2016 session. (Monday, 7 p.m., Franklin County Courthouse Annex, 37 Forbes St., Apalachicola.)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS AT CHAMBER FORUM: Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold and Enterprise Florida President and CEO Bill Johnson are expected to be among the speakers at the Florida Chamber of Commerce's "Future of Florida Forum." Other speakers are expected to include Chris Hart, president and CEO of CareerSource Florida; Will Seccombe, president and CEO of Visit Florida; and former House Speaker Will Weatherford. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd., ChampionsGate.)

CABINET CONSIDERS DOZIER SCHOOL: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will take up a wide range of issues, including a discussion of the next steps after researchers finish onsite work at the shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a former reform school where children are alleged to have been abused and died. University of South Florida researchers have excavated unmarked graves on the Jackson County property. State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater requested a discussion of issues such as the preservation of artifacts from the site and the storage and reinterment of unidentified remains. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

CITIZENS 'DEPOPULATION' AT ISSUE: Committees of the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will hold a series of meetings. Among the topics will be "depopulation" --- an effort by the-backed insurer to move policies into the private insurance market. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDES CPR TRAINING: The Florida Department of Health, marking World Heart Day, will help train staff in a method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation known as "Hands-Only CPR." (Tuesday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

ROUSON SPEAKS TO TIGER BAY CLUB: State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, is scheduled to speak to the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club. (Tuesday, noon, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.)

HEALTH INFORMATION DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting to discuss health-information technology with industry officials and experts. (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., Franklin Templeton Building, 100 Fountain Parkway, St. Petersburg.)

PASCO COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Pasco County legislative delegation will meet in preparation for the 2016 session, which starts in January. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O' Lakes.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a regular meeting and then move into a public hearing to adopt a budget and millage rate for the 2015-16 fiscal year. (Tuesday, 3 p.m. regular meeting and 5:01 p.m. public hearing, Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

BROWARD DELEGATION TAKES UP LOCAL BILLS: The Broward County legislative delegation is scheduled to hold a public hearing on local bills. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

CLAY COUNTY DELEGATION HOLDS HEARING: The Clay County legislative delegation, which is made up of Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, Rep. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, and Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, will hold a public hearing as it prepares for the 2016 session. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Clay County Commission meeting room, 477 Houston St., Green Cove Springs.)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

CITIZENS INSURANCE BOARD MEETS IN MAITLAND: The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr., Maitland.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed decades ago. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

RUBIO STAFF HOLDS OFFICE HOURS: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's staff will hold "mobile office hours" in Orange and Osceola counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Renaissance Senior Community Center, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Also, 4 p.m., Poinciana Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., Kissimmee.)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISCUSSED: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop about a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana.(Wednesday, 12:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

COMMITTEE LOOKS AT EDUCATION ISSUES: The Keep Florida Learning Committee will start two days of meetings and is expected to discuss the Florida Standards Assessment and strategies to increase parental involvement. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Florida Department of Education, Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

PALM BEACH LAWMAKERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEET: The Palm Beach County legislative delegation is scheduled to hold a workshop with the Palm Beach County School Board. (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., Forest Hill Community High School, 6901 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach.)

PILON RAISES MONEY FOR RE-ELECTION BID: State Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, is expected to raise money for his re-election bid in House District 72. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Gold Coast Eagle Distributors, 7051 Wiregrass Court, Sarasota.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015

COMMITTEE LOOKS AT EDUCATION ISSUES: The Keep Florida Learning Committee will finish two days of meetings. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is expected to take part, with discussions focused on issues such as deregulation possibilities for the school system. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Education, Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

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

BEAR HUNTING SEASON DEBATED: Leon County Circuit Judge George Reynolds III will hear arguments in a legal challenge to the state's upcoming bear season. The Seminole County-based group Speak Up Wekiva, in part, has requested a temporary injunction against the bear-hunting season, which is scheduled to start Oct. 24. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015

INGOGLIA SPEAKS TO GOP WOMEN'S CLUB: State Republican Chairman Blaise Ingoglia is scheduled to speak during a 65th anniversary luncheon for the Republican Women's Club of Sarasota. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., Michael's on East, 1212 East Ave. South, Sarasota.)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2015

HUD SECRETARY SPEAKS TO PALM BEACH DEMS: Julian Castro, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be the keynote speaker during the Palm Beach County Democratic Party's Truman-Kennedy-Johnson Dinner. (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Marriott Hotel, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)