The week ahead in Florida politics – April 28^th

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE -- The end is near. At least in the legislative world. Florida lawmakers will finish the 2014 session Friday. But before that happens, the House and Senate will have to finalize a 2014-15 budget and grapple with dozens of bills.

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014

Legislature:

--- SENATE DEMOCRATS MEET: The Senate Democratic caucus will hold a meeting. (Monday, 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

--- SENATE TO TAKE UP MEDICAL MARIJUANA, TRAUMA CARE: The Senate will take up numerous issues, including a proposal (SB 1030), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would help make available a strain of marijuana that supporters say can aid children with a type of epilepsy that causes severe seizures. Among other issues, the Senate will consider a bill (SB 1276), sponsored by Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, that would ensure the continued operation of disputed trauma centers at hospitals in Manatee, Pasco and Marion counties. (Monday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

--- HOUSE CONSIDERS FLOOD INSURANCE, TEXTBOOKS: The House could vote on a proposal (SB 542) that supporters hope will help expand a private flood-insurance market in Florida. The issue became high-profile in recent months when it appeared that thousands of Floridians could get hit with massive rate increases in the National Flood Insurance Program. Also, the House is expected to begin considering bills (SB 864 and HB 921) that could shift more authority for textbooks and other instructional materials from the state to local school boards. (Monday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

TRAUMA HEARING TO START: Administrative Law Judge R. Bruce McKibben is expected to start hearing arguments in a challenge filed by several major hospitals against the Florida Department of Health about a proposed rule for trauma-center approvals. UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Tampa General Hospital, The Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and Memorial Regional Hospital in Broward County filed petitions last month seeking to block a proposed trauma-care rule. Some of those hospitals have been locked in a long-running dispute with the department about trauma centers allowed to open at hospitals affiliated with the HCA health-care chain. (Monday, 9 a.m., DeSoto Building, 1230 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee.)

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS FIGHT IN SUPREME COURT: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including a case in which the Florida Virtual School has accused K12, Inc., of trademark infringement. (Monday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

UBER PROPOSAL GETS SUPPORT: Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, and Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, are expected to take part in a news conference calling for passage of legislation that could help Uber Technologies operate in the state. Uber, a smart phone app that links riders with cars, objects to local limo regulations that it says are outdated. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Capitol courtyard.)

COALITION FOR CHILDREN ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP: The Florida Coalition for Children will hold an event to announce a partnership with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (Monday, 11 a.m., Old Capitol steps.)

QUALIFYING STARTS IN CONGRESSIONAL, LEGAL RACES: Qualifying for this year’s congressional, state attorney, public defender, circuit judge and appeals court elections will begin. The qualifying period ends May 2.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Legislature:

--- SENATE DEMOCRATS MEET: The Senate Democratic caucus will hold a meeting. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

--- HOUSE IN SESSION: The House will hold a floor session for much of the day. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

--- SENATE TO DISCUSS STADIUM FUNDING: The Senate is expected to take up a bill (SB 1216), sponsored by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, that would set up a new process that the state would use in determining whether to help pay for sports stadium projects. Among other issues, the Senate could consider a bill (SB 662), sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would increase oversight of out-of-state “compounding” pharmacies --- a proposal that supporters say could help prevent a repeat of a deadly 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis that stemmed from problems at a Massachusetts pharmacy. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also: 

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE BACKED: Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, and Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola, are expected to be among the speakers during a news conference urging the White House to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., fourth floor, outside the House chamber, the Capitol.)

PALM BEACH JUDGE TO BE REPRIMANDED: The Florida Supreme Court will consider three cases, including issuing a public reprimand to Palm Beach County Judge Barry Cohen about comments he made involving cases and an election. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Legislature:

--- SENATE DEMOCRATS MEET: The Senate Democratic caucus will hold a meeting. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

--- HOUSE IN SESSION: The House will hold a floor session for much of the day. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

--- SENATE TAKES UP PENSION OVERHAUL, GUNS IN EMERGENCIES: The Senate will take up numerous bills, including a proposal (SB 1114), sponsored by Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, that would make changes to the Florida Retirement System. House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, has made a priority of revamping the system to move employees away from traditional pensions and into 401(k)-style investment plans. Also, the Senate is expected to consider a bill (SB 296), sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would address the carrying of concealed weapons during states of emergency. Under the bill, people who can lawfully own firearms would be able to carry them during emergencies, regardless of whether they have concealed-weapon licenses. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ONLINE TRAVEL CASE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including a long-running tax battle between counties and the online-travel industry. Attorneys for 17 counties are asking the Supreme Court to overturn a 1st District Court of Appeal ruling in favor of online-travel companies such as Expedia and Orbitz. The dispute centers on whether the online-travel companies should pay tourist-development taxes on the full amounts they collect from customers, or only on the portions that go to room rentals. The companies contend the portions that do not pay for room rentals are service charges, which are not subject to the hotel bed tax. The 17 counties involved in the case are Alachua, Charlotte, Escambia, Flagler, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Nassau, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, Seminole, Wakulla and Walton. Also, the Supreme Court will allow attorneys for Broward, Osceola and Volusia counties and the Volusia County School Board to make brief arguments. Those government bodies have been involved in other litigation with the online-travel companies about the tax issue. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

PAROLE COMMISSION TO MEET: The Florida Parole Commission will consider numerous cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

BOARD OF MEDICINE TO DISCUSS TELEMEDICINE: The Florida Board of Medicine will hold a conference call to discuss standards for telemedicine practice. (Wednesday, noon. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 125-528-7056.)

RICH TO SPEAK AT FAU: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich will speak at a graduation ceremony for Florida Atlantic University graduate students. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., FAU University Theater, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

Legislature:

--- SENATE DEMOCRATS MEET: The Senate Democratic caucus will hold a meeting. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

--- HOUSE IN SESSION: The House will hold a floor session for much of the day. (Thursday, 9 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

--- SENATE IN SESSION: The Senate will hold a floor session for much of the day. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

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

RICH TO SPEAK TO UM STUDENTS: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is expected to speak to University of Miami students and faculty. (Thursday, 7 p.m., 6850 S.W. 119th St., Miami.)

MEDICAID MANAGED CARE TAKES EFFECT: The state Agency for Health Care Administration will move forward with a plan to enroll most Medicaid beneficiaries in managed-care plans. AHCA has already enrolled seniors who need long-term care. But beginning May 1, it also will start gradually enrolling the broader Medicaid population. The first phase will affect beneficiaries in counties across North Florida and parts of Central Florida. Those counties are Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Washington, Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns and Volusia.

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014

Legislature:

--- FINAL DAY OF THE 2014 SESSION: The Legislature is scheduled to finish the 60-day annual session.

--- SENATE DEMOCRATS MEET: The Senate Democratic caucus will hold a meeting. (Friday, 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

--- HOUSE IN SESSION: The House will hold a floor session for much of the day. (Friday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

--- SENATE IN SESSION: The Senate will hold a floor session for much of the day. (Friday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)