Advances:  Week of November 18, 2018

By NSF Staff

TALLAHASSEE --- Florida lawmakers left Tallahassee about eight months ago, and for the most part, haven’t been back since.

But that will change Tuesday as House and Senate members, fresh off election victories, gather in the Capitol for an organization session. Meetings in the House and Senate chambers will be largely ceremonial, but they will signal a changing of the guard that occurs every two years.

First, Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, will formally take over as Senate president, succeeding outgoing President Joe Negron, R-Stuart. Galvano, an attorney, was first elected to the Senate in 2012 after serving from 2002 to 2010 in the House. Also, Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, will formally move into her role as minority leader for the next two years.

A short time later, Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will take the gavel as House speaker, succeeding outgoing Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes. Oliva, the CEO of a cigar company, has served in the House since 2011. Also, Rep. Kionne McGhee, D-Miami, will move into his role as House minority leader.

But the changing of the guard is broader than just in leadership positions. New lawmakers, representing districts from Pensacola to Miami, will be sworn in. And, assuming that election lawsuits don’t bring surprises, the Legislature will start looking toward working with Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, who will take office in January.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2018

ELECTION RESULTS DUE: County canvassing boards face a noon deadline for submitting official results from the Nov. 6 general election. The results will reflect manual-recount totals in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott and in the agriculture-commissioner race between Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell. Also, they will include totals in the Senate District 18 race between Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa, and House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa; the House District 26 race between Rep. Patrick Henry, D-Daytona Beach, and Republican Elizabeth Fetterhoff; and the House District 89 race between Republican Mike Caruso and Democrat Jim Bonfiglio.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Legislature:

HOUSE REPUBLICANS GATHER: The House Republican caucus will meet in advance of an organization session Tuesday in which Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will formally become House speaker. Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will lead the House during the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions. (Monday, 4 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

GIBSON TO LEAD SENATE DEMOCRATS: The Senate Democratic caucus will meet and elect Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, as the Democratic leader for the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions. Gibson was elected to the Senate in 2011 and served from 2002 to 2010 in the House. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

‘GOLD SEAL’ NURSING HOMES DISCUSSED: The Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care will meet to review applications from nursing homes seeking “gold seal” designation. (Monday, 9 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration Medicaid Field Office, 6800 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.)

TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS CONSIDERED: The Florida Department of Transportation District 6 office in Miami-Dade County will hold a meeting about selections of professional-services consultants. (Monday, 10 a.m. Florida Department of Transportation, 1000 N.W. 111th Ave., Miami.)

CASTOR LOOKS TO FIGHT HUNGER: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., will hold a media availability after meeting with Feeding Tampa Bay to discuss efforts to fight hunger in the region. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., 4702 Transport Dr., Building 6, Tampa.)

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Enterprise Florida Audit Committee will hold a conference call. (Monday, 10:30 a.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 9565631.)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Development Finance Corp. Board of Directors will meet. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., Florida Development Finance Corp., 156 Tuskawilla Road, Suite 2340, Winter Springs. Call-in number: 1-646-741-5292. Code: 1120803514)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Hillsborough County. (Monday, 1 p.m., Lutz Branch Library, 101 West Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz.)

ROAD ACCESS ISSUES DISCUSSED: A Florida Department of Transportation committee in the Panhandle will discuss issues such as driveway and median openings. (Monday, 1 p.m., FDOT District 3 office, 1074 Highway 90, Chipley.)

FEDERAL MEDICAID MONEY AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, which helps determine how much federal money Florida will receive in the Medicaid program. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

MEDICAID CASELOADS ANALYZED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will consider caseloads in the Medicaid program and the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. (Monday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TCC TRUSTEES MEET: The Tallahassee Community College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., Center for Innovation, 300 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

FINANCE AND COMPENSATION PANEL HOLDS CALL: The Enterprise Florida Finance & Compensation Committee will hold a conference call. (Monday, 2:30 p.m. Call-in number: 1-800-501-8979. Code: 9565631.)

VETERANS COURT GRADUATION HELD: A graduation ceremony for the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court will be held. The program provides treatment to veterans with mental-health or substance-abuse issues to try to divert them from the criminal-justice system. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

MORRIS SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: Political commentator Dick Morris is slated to speak to the Boca Raton Regional Republican Club. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Maggiano’s Little Italy, 21090 St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton.)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018

Legislature:

SENATE HOLDS ORGANIZATION SESSION: The Florida Senate will hold an organization session that will include Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, formally becoming Senate president. The largely ceremonial session also will include swearing in members of the Senate. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS ORGANIZATION SESSION: The Florida House will hold an organization session that will include Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, formally becoming House speaker. The largely ceremonial session also will include swearing in House members. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

Also:

ELECTION RESULTS CERTIFIED: The state Elections Canvassing Commission will meet to certify the results of the Nov. 6 general election. Canvassing commission meetings are usually routine proceedings that involve Gov. Rick Scott and two Cabinet members quickly approving results. But the commission has drawn attention because of disputed results and recounts in this month’s elections, including in Scott’s bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott has said he will recuse himself from serving on the canvassing commission, as he did after running for re-election as governor in 2014. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

FAMU COMMITTEE HOLDS CALL: The Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee of the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees will hold a conference call. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida A&M University, Lee Hall, Tallahassee.)

RALLIES HELD ACROSS STATE: Groups including New Florida Majority, Organize Florida, Dream Defenders and SEIU, will hold rallies across the state to address issues such as calling for all votes to be counted. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, 601 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Also, 5 p.m., Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections, 2700 N.W. 87th Ave., Doral. Also, 5 p.m., Broward County Supervisor of Elections, 1501 N.W. 40th Ave., Lauderhill. Also, 5 p.m., Duval County Supervisor of Elections, 105 East Monroe St., Jacksonville. Also, 5 p.m., Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, 240 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Also, 5 p.m., Osceola County Supervisor of Elections, 2509 Partin Settlement Road, Kissimmee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Pinellas County. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Clearwater Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater.)

PASCO-HERNANDO COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Pasco-Hernando State College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus, Building A, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The state 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 Seminole County. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Winter Springs Senior Center, 400 North Edgemon Ave., Winter Springs.)

MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS AT ISSUE: The Agency for Health Care Administration has scheduled a hearing on a proposed rule dealing with Medicaid provider reimbursement schedules and billing codes. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building 3, Tallahassee.)

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

SOUTH FLORIDA APPEALS COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The 3rd District Court of Appeal, which hears cases from Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, is expected to release opinions.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed for Thanksgiving.         

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving weekend.