Advances:  Week of July 22, 2018

 

News Service Florida Staff

TALLAHASSEE --- Restoring the voting rights of felons has long been a flash point in Florida politics.

Democrats want to quickly restore the rights of felons who have served their sentences and are trying to re-establish themselves in society. But many Republicans, including Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, oppose quick restoration, arguing that felons should first have to prove they won’t return to lives of crime.

While the debate has raged for years, Florida is in a pivotal period.

A federal appeals court Wednesday will hear arguments in a challenge to the constitutionality of Florida’s lengthy rights-restoration process. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker this year ruled that the process is unconstitutional, writing, in part, that it “strips the right to vote from every man and woman who commits a felony” and leaves ex-felons at the mercy of the whims of Scott and Cabinet members, who act as the state clemency board.

But the state appealed Walker’s ruling to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, contending that the governor and Cabinet have the authority to determine rights-restoration procedures. The appeals court gave the state a preliminary victory by blocking a Walker order that would have required officials to come up with a new restoration process by an April 26 deadline.

Regardless of the outcome of the legal fight, the rights-restoration issue will continue at least until the November election.

A political committee known as Floridians for a Fair Democracy has put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would require automatic restoration of rights for most felons after they have completed terms of their sentences. The proposal would not apply to felons convicted of murder or sexual offenses.

SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2018

GILLUM CAMPAIGNS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will make a series of appearances at churches and at a meet-and-greet event. (Sunday, 7:30 a.m., St. Peter’s Church, 17901 S.W. 107th Ave., Miami. Also, 9:30 a.m., Cathedral of Praise, 19050 Homestead Ave., Miami. Also, 10 a.m., Nation of Life Ministry, 10668 S.W. 186th St., Cutler Bay. Also, 10:30 a.m., Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, 10701 S.W. 184th Ave., Cutler Bay. Also, 11 a.m., Martin Memorial Church, 14700 Lincoln Blvd., Miami. Also, 11:25 a.m., The Bethel Church, 14440 Lincoln Blvd., Miami. Also, 11:45 a.m., Second Baptist Church, 11111 Pinkston Dr., Miami. Also, meet and greet at 1:30 p.m., Space Call Tribe Co-Work and Urban Innovation Lab, 937 N.W. Third Ave., Miami.)

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

GILLUM MAKES APPEARANCES IN MIAMI-DADE: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will take part in an “adjunct professors workday” and appear at a United Dade Baptist Association debate. (Monday, workday at 9 a.m., Miami Dade College, North Campus, 113080 N.W. 27th Ave., Miami. Also, debate at 6:30 p.m., 1140 N.W. 62nd St., Miami.)

NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS HOLD CALL: The Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators will hold a conference call. (Monday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7342425515)

BEAN MAKES APPEARANCES IN NASSAU, DUVAL: State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, will speak at an Amelia Island Tourist Development Council workshop and will speak to the First Coast Republican Club. (Monday, Tourist Development Council, noon, Omni Racquet Park Conference Center, Fernandina Beach. Also, Republican Club at 6:30 p.m., Casa Marina, 691 First St. North, Jacksonville Beach.)

RISK MANAGEMENT EYED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will analyze the Risk Management Trust Fund. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GRIMSLEY RAISES MONEY IN PANHANDLE: Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican running for state agriculture commissioner, will raise money during an event in Northwest Florida. (Monday, 6:30 p.m. Central time, Hilltop Farms, 4089 Highway 79, Vernon.)

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

MARIJUANA EDIBLES ON TABLE: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will hold a meeting in Broward County about edible medical-marijuana products. The meeting will include discussion about processing requirements. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Hurricane House, 3025 S.W. 70th Ave., Davie.)

ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ANALYZED: The Education Estimating Conference will discuss enrollment in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the state. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

INSURANCE MERGER EYED: The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will hold a public hearing about an application by American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Company for a merger with Main Street America Group Mutual Holdings Inc. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Larson Building, 200 East Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS “MOBILE” OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Stephen P. Clark Government Center, 111 N.W. First St., Miami. Also, 10:30 a.m., Northeast Focal Point Senior Center, 227 N.W. Second St., Deerfield Beach.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Pinellas County. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Tampa Bay Water, 2575 Enterprise Road, Clearwater.)

INTERSTATE FREIGHT AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting that will include discussion of ways to expedite freight processing on the state’s interstate system. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. Burns Building Auditorium, 605 Suwannee St., Tallahassee.)

OPTICIANRY BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Board of Opticianry is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Tuesday, noon. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 4552635641)

FIU BOARD CONSIDERS HOUSING AGREEMENT: The Florida International University Board of Trustees will hold a conference call and is expected to consider a student-housing agreement with University Bridge, LLC. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. Dial-in number: 1-877-242-2259.)

USF TRUSTEES HOLD CALL: The University of South Florida Board of Trustees will hold a conference call and discuss a USF St. Petersburg student housing and dining project. (Tuesday, 1 p.m.)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE EYED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will analyze issues in the criminal-justice system. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

JEFFERSON COUNTY PARK AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting about a management plan for Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park in Jefferson County, with the plan including such things as creation of a small visitors center, a nature trail and expanded picnic opportunities. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Jefferson County Courthouse Annex, 435 West Walnut St., Monticello.)

PANHANDLE ROAD WIDENING EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting in Bay County about plans to widen and realign six miles of State Road 388. Construction is not funded in the current Department of Transportation five-year work program. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Gulf Coast State College, Public Safety EOC Building, 700 Highway 2300, Southport.)

EXPRESS LANES DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting in Miami-Dade County to discuss the Palmetto express lanes. (Tuesday, 6 p.m. Miami Lakes Council chamber, 6601 Main St., Miami Lakes.)

GOP AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES APPEAR: Republican candidates for agriculture commissioner are slated to appear at a meet-and-greet event in Hillsborough County. The GOP candidates are state Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers; Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring; former Rep. Baxter Troutman, R-Winter Haven; and Mike McCalister. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Plant City Women’s Club, 1110 North Wheeler St., Plant City.)

RING CAMPAIGNS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Former Sen. Jeremy Ring, who is running for state chief financial officer, is slated to appear at the Democratic Club of Boca Raton and Delray Beach. (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018

FELONS’ RIGHTS DEBATED: The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a constitutional battle about Florida’s process for restoring the voting rights of felons. The case went to the Atlanta-based appeals court after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker declared unconstitutional Florida’s process for restoring the voting rights of felons who have served their sentences. Gov. Rick Scott and members of the state Cabinet, who serve as the clemency board, have defended the current process, which involves felons waiting five to seven years to apply to have their rights restored --- and years after that to complete the process. Walker had ordered Scott and the Cabinet to revamp the process by April 26. But state officials won a partial victory April 25, when a panel of the federal appeals court granted a stay of the order. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building, 56 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will start a two-day meeting in Broward County that will include taking up numerous parole cases. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Fort Lauderdale City Hall, 100 North Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

CITIZENS INSURANCE RETIREMENT PLAN DISCUSSED: The Retirement Plan Committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors will hold a conference call to discuss updates and recommendations from the state-backed insurer’s staff, plan administrator and investment adviser. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-574-0995. Code: 9322688.)

SPEECH-LANGUAGE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7251145521)

ORTHOTISTS AND PROSTHETISTS AT ISSUE: The Florida Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 5134896685)

RUBIO HOLDS “MOBILE” OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Sumter and Pasco counties. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., The Villages-Rohan Recreation Center, 850 Kristine Way, Wildwood. Also, 1 p.m., Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City.)

MANGOLD CAMPAIGNS IN SEMINOLE: Democrat Lee Mangold, who is running to replace term-limited Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, in Seminole County’s House District 28 will hold a meet-and-greet event. Mangold will face Republican David Smith in the November election. (Wednesday, noon, Maple Street Biscuit Company, 978 City Plaza Way, Oviedo.)

OPTOMETRY BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Board of Optometry will hold a conference call to discuss issues related to settlement of a lawsuit. (Wednesday, noon. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 7342425515)

MEDICAID CASELOADS EYED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze caseloads in Medicaid and the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GRADE CROSSINGS DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a webinar on highway-rail grade crossings. (Wednesday, 2 p.m. Webinar registration at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6187827532729953283.)

GREGORY CAMPAIGNS FOR HOUSE SEAT: Republican Tommy Gregory, who is running in House District 73 in Sarasota and Manatee counties, is slated to hold a meet-and-greet event. The District 73 seat became open when Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, filed to run for the Senate. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Anna Maria Oyster Bar, 1525 51st Ave. East, Ellenton.)

‘WOMEN ON THE RUN’ PROGRAM SLATED: The Women’s Foundation of Florida will hold a “Women on the Run” event in Broward County to help mentor and train women to run for office. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Broward County School Board, 600 S.E. Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

PSC HOLDS RATE MEETING IN HIGHLANDS: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting in Highlands County about a proposal by Country Walk Utilities, Inc. to raise water rates. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Country Walk Clubhouse, 3143 Bluebird Ave., Lake Placid.)

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

MANUFACTURING INCREASES SOUGHT: The Florida Chamber Foundation will help host the “Make More Manufacturing Summit,” with speakers expected to include representatives of CareerSource Florida, Space Florida, Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and industry groups. (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will continue a two-day meeting in Broward County that will include taking up numerous parole cases. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Fort Lauderdale City Hall, 100 North Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.)

MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Massage Therapy will start a two-day meeting in Bay County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Sheraton Bay Point Resort, 4114 Jan Cooley Dr., Panama City Beach.)

INJECTION WELLS DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting about an application by the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department for a permit to construct injection wells at the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cutler Bay. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, 3071 S.W. 38th Ave., Miami.)

GULF COAST COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Gulf Coast State College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Gulf Coast State College, William C. Cramer, Jr. Seminar Room, Panama City.)

RUBIO HOLDS “MOBILE” OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Collier, Madison, Hillsborough and Jefferson counties. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Immokalee Public Library, 417 North First St., Immokalee. Also, noon, Madison County Courthouse Annex, 229 S.W. Pinckney St., Madison. Also, 1 p.m., Sun City Center, 960B Cherry Hills Dr., Sun City Center. Also, 3 p.m., Jefferson County Courthouse Annex, 435 West Walnut St., Monticello.)

BEAN HONORED FOR GUARDIAN AD LITEM SUPPORT: State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is expected to receive an award for his support for the guardian ad litem program. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Edward Ball Building, 214 North Hogan St., Jacksonville.)

GREYHOUND RACING BAN AT ISSUE: Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers is scheduled to hear arguments in a battle about a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban greyhound racing at Florida dog tracks. The Florida Greyhound Association, which represents breeders and owners of racing dogs, filed a lawsuit in May seeking to keep the proposed constitutional amendment off the November ballot. The group contends that the measure, which was placed on the ballot by the state Constitution Revision Commission, is misleading and inaccurate. But attorneys for the state responded in a court filing this month and contended that the plaintiffs have “failed to meet their substantial burden” to block what is known as Amendment 13 from going on the ballot. “Because the ballot title and summary for the amendment provide ample notice to the electorate using clear and unambiguous language, this court should reject plaintiffs’ challenge and grant summary judgment in favor of defendants,” the state filing said. If the amendment receives approval from 60 percent of voters, it would outlaw greyhound racing at Florida tracks by 2020. Tracks would continue to be able to operate other types of gambling, such as poker rooms and, in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, slot machines. In a motion for summary judgment filed July 6, the greyhound association raised a series of arguments about flaws in the ballot title and summary, which are what voters see when they go to the polls. For example, the plaintiffs took issue with a description that the proposal “ends dog racing” because people in Florida would still be able to bet on greyhound races simulcasted from other states and people could still legally race dogs in Florida if betting did not occur. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

NORTH FLORIDA ROAD PROJECT DISCUSSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting in Alachua County on proposed improvements to a four-mile stretch of West Newberry Road, from the Gilchrist County line to County Road 26A in Newberry. (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. Newberry Municipal Building, 25440 West Newberry Road, Newberry.)

BALBIS, MOWRY AT MEET AND GREET: Democratic candidates in Sarasota County will take part in a meet-and-greet event. Participants are expected to include Olivia Balbis, who is running in Senate District 23, and Tony Mowry, who is running in House District 74. (Thursday, 5 p.m., St. Nathaniel’s Episcopal Church, 4200 South Biscayne Dr., North Port.)

PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY PROJECTS ON TABLE: The Florida Department of Transportation District 6 will hold a meeting to discuss six projects along an eight-mile stretch of the Palmetto Expressway in Miami-Dade County. (Thursday, 6 p.m. Florida Memorial University, Conference Room C, 15800 N.W. 42nd Ave., Miami Gardens.)

PSC HOLDS LAKE COUNTY RATE MEETING: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a customer meeting in Lake County about a proposal by Pine Harbour Waterworks, Inc. to raise water rates. (Thursday, 6 p.m., American Legion, 101 South Bay St., Eustis.)

NORTH CENTRAL PLANNING COUNCIL MEETS: The North Central Florida Regional Planning Council will meet in Columbia County. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 213 S.W. Commerce Blvd., Lake City.)

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

ETHICS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Commission on Ethics will meet. Among the issues will be discussion of an advisory opinion about an agreement between Florida State University and the Florida Department of Health in which Leslie Beitsch, chairman of the university’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, temporarily serves as a deputy secretary at the Department of Health. Beitsch sought the opinion to determine if a conflict of interest exists. Ethics commission staff members have said they do not think the situation poses a conflict. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

HOUSING ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Housing Finance Corp. Board of Directors will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

HIGHWAY SAFETY MONEY TALLIED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze highway-safety revenues. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD MEETS: The Florida Board of Massage Therapy will continue a two-day meeting in Bay County. (Friday, 9 a.m., Sheraton Bay Point Resort, 4114 Jan Cooley Dr., Panama City Beach.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host a meeting in Lee County that is part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meeting is an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Lee County DCF office, 2295 Victoria Ave., #307, Fort Myers.)

COMMUNICATIONS TAX ON TABLE: The Revenue Estimating Conference will dig into data about the communications-services tax and the gross-receipts tax. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO HOLDS “MOBILE” OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Duval County. (Friday, 3 p.m., Duval County Library Southeast Branch, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville.)

LGBTA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS GATHERS: The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus will start a summer conference, with appearances Friday night by gubernatorial candidates Philip Levine and Chris King. (Friday, 6:30 p.m., Hilton Palm Beach Airport Hotel, 150 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach.)

KIMAZ CAMPAIGNS IN COCONUT CREEK: Republican Nicolas Kimaz, who is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., in Congressional District 22, will hold a campaign event in Broward County. (Friday, 7 p.m., Duffy’s Sports Grill, 4800 West Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek.)

FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State political candidates and committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through July 20.

SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2018

LGBTA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MEETS: The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus will hold a summer conference and leadership dinner. Speakers are expected to include gubernatorial candidates Gwen Graham and Jeff Greene, agriculture-commissioner candidate Nikki Fried, congressional candidates Lauren Baer and David Richardson and state Democratic Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo. (Saturday, events start at 8:15 a.m., Hilton Palm Beach Airport Hotel, 150 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach.)

CRIST HOLDS TOWN HALL: U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., will host a town-hall meeting in Pinellas County. (Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Petersburg Palladium Theater, 235 Fifth Ave. North, St. Petersburg.)

GOP CANDIDATES RALLY IN SARASOTA: Numerous Republican candidates will take part in a rally and straw poll in Sarasota County. Among the expected participants are Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for U.S. Senate, gubernatorial candidates, state Cabinet candidates, congressional candidates and legislative candidates. (Saturday, 11 a.m., Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.)