Advances: Week of April 28, 2019

NSF Staff

TALLAHASSEE --- The end is near.

Florida lawmakers are slated to finish their 60-day legislative session Friday after what will be a frenzy of activity. Like every other legislative session, lawmakers have left resolution of most major issues to the last week.

That will mean finishing negotiations in the coming days on a roughly $90 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Because of a constitutionally required 72-hour “cooling off” period, the budget will have to be done Tuesday for lawmakers to vote on it Friday.

Also during the coming days, the Republican-dominated Legislature is expected to take up controversial issues such as expanding school vouchers, banning so-called sanctuary cities and carrying out a constitutional amendment on restoring felons’ voting rights.

Meanwhile, priorities of legislative leaders will be in play, including efforts by House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, to revamp health-care regulations and a push by Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, to build or expand three toll roads.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019

Legislature:

‘TOBACCO 21’ WEIGHED IN SENATE: The Senate will take up numerous issues during a floor session, including a proposal (SB 1618), sponsored by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would raise from 18 to 21 the legal age for smoking tobacco and vaping --- an issue that has become known as “Tobacco 21.” Among other scheduled issues is a bill (SB 1164), filed by Sen. George Gainer, R-Panama City, that would waive out-of-state fees at Northwest Florida colleges that saw enrollment drops after Hurricane Michael. The move could help attract out-of-state students to the colleges. (Monday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL VOUCHERS ON AGENDA: The House will hold a floor session, with the agenda including a major education bill (SB 7070) that includes expanding school-choice programs. The bill, which passed the Senate on Thursday, includes creating a new vouchers program known as the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. The bill also includes issues such as making changes to the controversial Best and Brightest teacher-bonus program. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SPECIAL ORDER SET: The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will set a special-order calendar, which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. (Monday, 15 minutes after floor session, 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

RULES COMMITTEE MEETS: The House Rules Committee will set a special-order calendar, which will list bills that will be heard Tuesday on the House floor. (Monday, 15 minutes after House floor session, 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

JUDICIAL HOPEFULS INTERVIEWED: The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will interview candidates for two Miami-Dade County judge positions. The positions were opened when county judges Michelle Barakat and Tanya Brinkley were appointed as circuit judges. The candidates scheduled to be interviewed are Karl S. Brown, Miguel J. Chamorro, Ritamaria Gonzalez Cuervo, Elsa Maria Fernandez, Blanca Torrents Greenwood, Peter S. Heller, Zachary N. James, Scott M. Janowitz, Jeffrey M. Kolokoff, Gale Lewis, Arya Attari Li, Steven Lieberman, Jonathan Meltz, Griska Mena, Julie Harris Nelson, Christopher Pracitto, Kayla Riera-Gomez, Melissa Roca Shaw and Stephanie Silver. (Monday, 8 a.m., K&L Gates LLP, 200 South Biscayne Blvd., 39th floor, Miami.)

BP MONEY EYED: Board members of the non-profit Triumph Gulf Coast will review recommendations to provide grants of $2.65 million for property-tax assistance to Gulf County and $6.67 million for property-tax assistance to Bay County, as the counties continue to struggle to recover from Hurricane Michael. Created by the Legislature, Triumph Gulf Coast oversees three-quarters of the $2 billion the state will get over the next 12 years through the BP settlement from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. In February, the board agreed to create a $15 million Triumph Gulf Coast Hurricane Michael Recovery Fund, which will be available for bridge loans, property-tax assistance and other relief for local governments in Bay, Franklin, Gulf and Wakulla counties. At the time, board members said the BP settlement money they oversee isn’t a replacement for anticipated state and federal assistance for the storm, which devastated parts of Northwest Florida more than six months ago. (Monday, 9:30 a.m. Central time, Okaloosa County Commission chamber, Shalimar Courthouse annex, 1250 North Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Brevard County. (Monday, 11 a.m., Sunflower House Brevard, 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, Suite 201, Merritt Island.)

FALLEN LAW OFFICERS HONORED: The Florida Sheriff’s Association will hold an annual ceremony to honor law-enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. The event will honor seven officers who died in 2018: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin James Stanton; Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Noel Ramirez Jr.; Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Taylor F. Lindsey; Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Deputy William J. Gentry; Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Officer Lance C. Whitaker; Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Benjamin LeMont Zirbel; and Miami-Dade Police Department Officer Jermaine Brown. Also, the event will honor Flagler County Sheriff Homer W. Brooks, who died in 1965. Attorney General Ashley Moody is slated to speak during the event. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., Florida Sheriffs Association, 2617 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

STATE ROAD 26 PROJECT DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing in Alachua County about proposed improvements to State Road 26 from the Gilchrist County Line to County Road 26A. (Monday, 4:30 p.m., Newberry Municipal Building, 25440 West Newberry Road, Newberry.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019

Legislature:

AMENDMENT 4 AT ISSUE: The Senate will take up numerous issues, including a closely watched proposal (SB 7086), sponsored by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, that would carry out a constitutional amendment on restoring felons’ voting rights. The amendment, known as Amendment 4, passed in November and was designed to restore voting rights for felons who have fulfilled terms of their sentences. But the issue has been controversial throughout this year’s legislative session as lawmakers try to agree on a bill to carry out details of the amendment. Among the key issues has been determining whether felons should have to pay restitution and other costs before they can have their rights restored. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SPECIAL ORDER SET: The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will set a special-order calendar, which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. (Tuesday, 15 minutes after floor session, 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

REFUGEE ISSUES ON TABLE: The Tampa Bay Refugee Task Force will meet. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Florida Department of Children and Families, 9393 North Florida Ave., Tampa.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Polk and Lake counties. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 510 North Broadway Ave., Bartow. Also, 4 p.m., American Legion Post 347, 699 West Lady Lake Blvd., Lady Lake.)

I-95 INTERCHANGE AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation is holding a meeting about options for an Interstate 95 interchange at Pioneer Trail in Volusia County. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., The Brannon Center, 105 South Riverside Dr., New Smyrna Beach.)

PARK RECOVERY DISCUSSED: The state Division of Recreation and Parks will hold a hearing in Gulf County to allow the public to provide input about Hurricane Michael recovery efforts for T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., The Centennial Building, 2201 Centennial Dr., Port St. Joe.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SPECIAL ORDER SET: The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will set a special-order calendar, which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. (Wednesday, 15 minutes after the Senate floor session, 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will start a two-day meeting and will take up a series of fishery issues. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 101 Rhyne Building, 2740 Centerview Dr., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Osceola County. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Community Hope Center, 2198 Four Winds Blvd., Kissimmee. Also, 1:30 p.m., West Osceola Library, 305 Campus St., Kissimmee.)

I-95 TREASURE COAST UPGRADES EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold one in a series of workshops on the I-95 Multimodal Master Plan for the Treasure Coast --- Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Indian River State College, Chastain Campus, Wolf High Technology Center, 2400 S.W. Salerno Road, Stuart.)

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House is scheduled to hold a floor session. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SPECIAL ORDER SET: The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will set a special-order calendar, which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. (Thursday, 15 minutes after the Senate floor session, 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

CORAL REEFS AT ISSUE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take up a series of issues, including efforts to preserve and restore coral reefs. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Dr., Havana.)

TRANSPORTATION PANEL HOLDS CALL: The Florida Transportation Commission is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Thursday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-585-9008. Code: 837653349.)

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

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Lafayette and Clay counties. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Lafayette County Library, 120 N.E. Crawford St., Mayo. Also, 2 p.m., Fleming Island Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island.)

SUNRAIL ADVISORY PANEL MEETS: The SunRail Customer Advisory Committee will meet. (Thursday, 5 p.m., Lynx Central Station, 455 North Garland Ave., Orlando.)

BRODEUR RAISES MONEY FOR SENATE RACE: A fundraising event will be held for former Rep. Jason Brodeur, a Sanford Republican who is running next year in Central Florida’s Senate District 9. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Liam Fitzpatrick’s Irish Restaurant, 951 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary.)

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019

Legislature:

SESSION ENDS: Friday is the scheduled end of the 60-day legislative session.

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate will hold a floor session. (Friday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House will hold a floor session. (Friday, 10:30 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in St. Johns and Orange counties. (Friday, 12:30 p.m., St. Johns County Southeast Branch Library, 6670 U.S. 1, St. Augustine. Also, 2 p.m., United Against Poverty, 150 West Michigan St., Orlando.)

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019

DEMINGS SPEAKS AT RALLY: U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., is expected to speak during the annual PerSisters Rally held by the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Earl Brown Park, 750 South Alabama Ave., DeLand.)