Advances:  Week of September 9, 2018

 

By News Service of Florida Staff

 

TALLAHASSEE --- By the looks of things, it’s time to get back to business.

Sure, the elections are capturing the headlines. But with summer vacations a fading memory and kids back in school, the coming week will be filled with the workings of state agencies and boards.

The state university system’s Board of Governors and the State Board of Education will hold separate meetings in Southwest Florida that will include discussing budget proposals for the 2019-2020 school year. Those proposals are aimed at helping shape a spending plan that lawmakers will pass next spring.

Also related to the 2019-2020 budget, the Joint Legislative Budget Commission will meet to review what is known as the “Long Range Financial Outlook.” The outlook analyzes past spending and future needs to help give the House and Senate a better picture of the state’s finances.

Water-management districts, meanwhile, will hold hearings during the coming week on their budgets and, importantly, property-tax rates. Also, Enterprise Florida, Space Florida and Visit Florida will hold meetings to discuss efforts to boost the state’s economy and space and tourism industries.

Political junkies, however, shouldn’t worry. There still will be plenty of campaign activity as candidates look toward the Nov. 6 general election.

Gov. Rick Scott, for example, plans to launch a bus tour Sunday in Northwest Florida as part of his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott’s campaign had not released the details as of Friday, but it said the tour also will include stops in the Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Space Coast and Tampa Bay areas.

The Florida Democratic Party, meanwhile, said it will kick off a “coordinated campaign” effort this weekend to help Nelson, gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum and state Cabinet candidates. The party said it will hold events throughout the state, with supporters knocking on doors and making calls from phone banks.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

FLORIDA GULF COAST EYES GRADUATION RATE: The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees will hold a workshop to discuss a four-year graduation improvement plan. (Monday, 9 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, Cohen Center, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

HEARING AID BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Board of Hearing Aid Specialists will hold a conference call. (Monday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-670-3525. Code: 4552635641)

MEDICAID CONTRACT CHALLENGES CONTINUE: Administrative Law Judge John D.C. Newton will resume hearing arguments in challenges to contracting decisions by the state Agency for Health Care Administration. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the South Florida Community Care Network filed challenges after their health plans were denied Medicaid managed-care contracts. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., DeSoto Building, 1230 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee.)

STEWART, SHERIFF TOUT ‘LIFESAVER’ PROGRAM: State Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings will hold a news conference to announce the launch of “Project Lifesaver,” a search-and-rescue program for people who have cognitive disorders and could be prone to wandering or getting lost. (Monday, 11 a.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Office Central Operations Mel Martinez Auditorium, 2500 West Colonial Dr., Orlando.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Okeechobee and Collier counties. (Monday, 11 a.m., Okeechobee County Library, 206 S.W. 16th St., Okeechobee. Also, 1 p.m., Immokalee Public Library, 417 North First St., Immokalee.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATION SOUGHT: The Florida Department of Children and Families will help host a meeting in Pinellas County that is part of an effort to better coordinate behavioral-health services. The meetings are an outgrowth of an executive order signed by Gov. Rick Scott that called for better collaboration with law-enforcement agencies. (Monday, 1 p.m., Boley Center, 445 31st St. North, St. Petersburg.)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

CLEMENCY BOARD MEETS: The state Board of Executive Clemency, made up of Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet members, will meet. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

LIFELINE PROGRAM TOUTED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold events in Duval and Citrus counties to promote the Lifeline program, which provides discounted telephone and broadband service to low-income people. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Louis Dinah Senior Center, 1805 Flag St., Jacksonville. Also, 10:15 a.m., Mary L. Singleton Senior Center, 150 East First St., Jacksonville. Also, 11:30 a.m., Central Citrus Community Center, 2804 West Mark Knighton Court, Lecanto.)

SENIOR SCAMS TARGETED: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of "Be Scam Smart" workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., West County Senior Center, 2916 State Road 15, Belle Glade.)

CITIZENS INSURANCE PANEL HOLDS CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Information Systems Advisory Committee will hold a conference call: (Tuesday, 10 a.m. Call-in number: 1-866-361-7525. Code: 4869641229#.)

JACKSONVILLE STATE COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida State College at Jacksonville Board of Trustees will meet after holding a committee meeting and a workshop. (Tuesday, committee meeting starts at 10:45 a.m., workshop at noon, board meeting at 1 p.m., Florida State College at Jacksonville, Administrative Offices, 501 West State St., Jacksonville.)

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold one in a series of meetings across the state about infant and early-childhood mental health. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Department of Children and Families Jacksonville office, 5920 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville.)

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA COMMITTEES MEET: Committees of the Enterprise Florida business-development agency will hold meetings in advance of a full board meeting Wednesday. (Tuesday, committees start at 11 a.m., InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Duval and Manatee counties. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Duval County Library, Maxville Branch, 8375 Maxville Blvd., Jacksonville. Also, 1 p.m., Manatee Chamber of Commerce at the McClure Center, 4215 Concept Court, Lakewood Ranch.)

SPACE FLORIDA ISSUES ON TABLE: The Space Florida Board of Directors will meet and discuss issues such as Launch Complex 20 and Space Florida Launch Landing Facility ramp upgrades. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD DISCUSSES BUDGET: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold committee meetings, a board meeting and a public hearing on a tentative budget and a tentative millage rate for 2018-2019. (Tuesday, committee meetings start at 2 p.m., full board at 3:15 p.m., budget and millage hearing at 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

VISIT FLORIDA FINANCES EYED: The Visit Florida Finance Committee will meet in Central Florida. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd., ChampionsGate.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will hold a regular meeting, followed by a public hearing on a proposed budget and millage rate for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. (Tuesday, meeting at 3 p.m., with budget and millage hearing at 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

FLORIDA GATEWAY TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gateway College Board of Trustees will hold a workshop, followed by a regular meeting. (Tuesday, workshop at 4 p.m., regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m., Florida Gateway College, workshop in Wilson S. Rivers Library & Media Center, board meeting in Administration Building, Lake City.)

SOUTHWEST WATER BOARD HOLDS BUDGET HEARING: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a hearing on a tentative budget and millage rate for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. (Tuesday, 5:01 p.m., district Tampa office, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSED: The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will meet in Miami-Dade County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami.)

TOURISM MARKETING BOARD MEETS: The Visit Florida Board of Directors is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, 1500 Masters Blvd., ChampionsGate.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will take up parole cases from across the state. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Osceola, Levy and Hernando counties. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Advance Community Outreach Center, 1901 South John Young Parkway, Kissimmee. Also, 10:30 a.m., Cedar Key Public Library, 460 Second St., Cedar Key. Also, 1 p.m., Frederick Eugene Lykes Jr. Memorial Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville.)

VALENCIA COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The Valencia College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., UCF Center for Emerging Media, 500 West Livingston St., Orlando.)

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

SENIOR SCAMS TARGETED: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of "Be Scam Smart" workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Mid-County Senior Center, 3680 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth.)

TRIUMPH BOARD TOURS PORT, HOLDS MEETING: The Triumph Gulf Coast board will tour the Port of Panama City before holding a board meeting. Triumph Gulf Coast was set up to distribute money from the state’s settlement with BP over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. During the meeting, the board is expected to discuss proposals such an application from Apalachicola related to the Scipio Creek basin and boatyard improvements; a proposal related to a Port of Port St. Joe floating dry dock; and a proposal about the Gulf County school district’s unmanned aircraft-systems certification training program. (Wednesday, tour at 10 a.m. Central time, Port of Panama City, East Terminal, 400S East Ave., Panama City. Also board meeting at 1 p.m. Central time, Bay County Government Center, commission chamber, 840 West 11th St., Panama City.)

WORKERS’ COMP ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association will hold an annual membership meeting and a Board of Governors meeting. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

BOARD OF GOVERNORS PANELS MEET: The state university system’s Board of Governors will hold task-force and committee meetings in advance of a full board meeting Thursday. Among other things, the board’s Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health Task Force will discuss mental-health services on campus. (Wednesday, meetings start at 12:30 p.m., New College of Florida, Harry Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.)

PEOPLES GAS TAX CUTS EYED: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a hearing about whether Peoples Gas System should pass along savings to customers from tax cuts the company received in a federal tax overhaul late last year. The tax overhaul, in part, reduced corporate income-tax rates. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

I-4 UPGRADES AT ISSUE IN SEMINOLE: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a meeting on improvements to Interstate 4 in Seminole County. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Lake Mary Events Center, 260 North Country Club Road, Lake Mary.)

BROWARD ROAD PROJECTS DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house about proposed improvements to Sample Road, from Military Trail to Interstate 95, and changes to the I-95 and Sample Road interchange. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 N.E. Sixth St., Pompano Beach.)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BUDGET DISCUSSED: The state university system’s Board of Governors will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. Among the topics will be a legislative budget request for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The operating budget request is expected to total about $5.2 billion, representing a 3.6 percent increase. (Thursday, committee start at 8:30 a.m., with full board at 2 p.m., New College of Florida, Harry Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.)

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER BOARD HOLDS MEETINGS: The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold a regular meeting and later will hold a public hearing about a tentative 2018-2019 budget and millage rates. (Thursday, meeting at 9 a.m., public hearing at 5:15 p.m., district headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.)

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold one in a series of meetings across the state about infant and early-childhood mental health. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Dr., Tallahassee.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Broward, Pasco and Gulf counties. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Health Fair, 1176 N.W. 42nd Way, Lauderhill. Also, 1 p.m., Pasco County Government Center, 8731 Citizens Dr., New Port Richey. Also, 3 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10069, 1774 Trout Ave., Port St. Joe.)

SENIOR SCAMS TARGETED: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of "Be Scam Smart" workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. (Thursday, 10 a.m., North County Senior Center, 5217 Northlake Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens.)

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

NORTHWEST WATER BOARD DISCUSSES BUDGET: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will hold committee meetings, a board meeting and a public hearing on a tentative budget for 2018-2019. (Thursday, committees start at 3 p.m., board meeting at 4 p.m., budget hearing at 5:05 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

PIRRO APPEARS IN MIAMI-DADE: Fox News host Jeanine Pirro will appear at a meeting of the Trumpers Club Miami Dade. (Thursday, 6 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Miami Airport & Convention Center, 711 N.W. 72nd Ave., Miami.)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The State Board of Education will meet in Collier County and take up numerous issues, including a 2019-2020 budget request for the education system. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Collier County School Board, 5775 Osceola Trail, Naples.)

SEX TRAFFICKING AT ISSUE: A symposium will be held in Hillsborough County about sex trafficking in schools. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Hillsborough Community College, Dale Mabry Campus, Auditorium, 4001 West Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa.)

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold a meeting in Columbia County about improvements in mental-health treatment services. (Friday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Transportation, 1109 South Marion Ave., Lake City.)

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK EYED: The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate leaders, will receive a presentation about the state’s new “Long Range Financial Outlook.” The annual document analyzes past spending and future needs. (Friday, 11 a.m., 412 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 Bay, Citrus and Monroe counties. (Friday, 11:30 a.m., Lynn Haven City Hall, 825 Ohio Ave., Lynn Haven. Also, 1:30 p.m., Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, 915 North Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River. Also, 3 p.m., Gato Building, 1100 Simonton St., Key West.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: Statewide candidates and political committees face a Friday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Sept. 7.