The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – March 13, 2017

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, MARCH 10, 2017....... Florida lawmakers are ready to move into the second week of the annual legislative session, with committees taking up dozens of bills. Also during the coming week, the Senate could pass a bill that would shift a key burden of proof in "stand your ground" self-defense cases.

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

Legislature:

BASKETBALL LEGEND MEETS WITH DEMOCRATS: Retired basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson is scheduled to meet with the Senate Democratic caucus. (Monday, 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

ELECTED SECRETARY OF STATE SOUGHT: The House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee will take up a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 811), filed by Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, that would lead to voters electing the secretary of state and making the position part of the Florida Cabinet. (Monday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

COLLEGE SEARCH EXEMPTION PITCHED: The House Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 351), filed by Rep. Bob Rommel, R-Naples, that would create public-records exemptions for information about applicants for top jobs at state universities and colleges. The bill would shield from disclosure information about applicants for president, provost or dean positions. (Monday, 1 p.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOCAL PROJECTS EYED: The House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee will take up numerous bills dealing with local projects. (Monday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

'SANCTUARY CITIES' TARGETED: The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 697), filed by Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, that would crack down on local governments that don't comply with federal immigration laws --- an issue involving what are known as "sanctuary cities." (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

WELFARE DRUG TESTS DEBATED: The House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee will take up several bills, including a measure (HB 1117), filed by Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater, that would require drug tests for public-assistance applicants who have drug-related criminal records. The proposal would affect applicants for benefits in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program. (Monday 2 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR SET: The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will meet to set the "special order calendar," which lists the bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

STADIUM MONEY TARGETED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will consider a bill (SB 236), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, that would repeal a program created to streamline the process of state funding for stadium projects. (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS CONSIDERED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up a series of proposals, including a bill (SB 458), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would create a criminal-justice reform task force. The task force would make recommendations about issues such as sentencing and corrections policy. (Monday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AGRICULTURE PANEL HEARS PRESENTATIONS: The Senate Agriculture Committee will receive presentations from the Future Farmers of America and the cattle industry. (Monday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

ELDER AFFAIRS CHIEF EYED: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Jeffrey Bragg, secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. (Monday, 4:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE DEMOCRATS CHOOSE NEXT LEADER: House Democrats will meet to choose their leader for the 2018-2020 legislative term. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., House Democratic Office, Room 316, the Capitol.)

Also:

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is expected to release January unemployment figures. (Monday, 10 a.m.)

PRE-K PROGRAM ANALYZED: The Early Learning Programs Estimating Conference will discuss the state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program. (Monday, 10 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SOTO SPEAKS TO POLK TIGER BAY: U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., is scheduled to speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Polk County. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., Bartow Civic Center, 2250 South Floral Ave., Bartow.)

FINANCIAL AID ANALYZED: The Education Estimating Conference will hold what is known as a student financial aid "impact" conference. (Monday, 12:45 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

COLLEGE NUMBERS DISCUSSED: The Education Estimating Conference will take up Florida college enrollment. (Monday, 1 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FRANKEL SPEAKS TO WOMEN'S CLUB: U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., is expected to speak to the Democratic Women's Club of South Palm Beach County. (Monday, 7:30 p.m., South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017

Legislature:

LOCAL PROJECTS REVIEWED: The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will take up numerous bills dealing with local projects. (Tuesday, Health Care, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Justice, 2 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

RIDESHARING REGULATION DEBATED: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up a bill (SB 340), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would create statewide rules for "transportation network companies" such as Uber and Lyft. The industry has supported such a system, which would prevent a variety of local regulations. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

RECOVERY CARE CENTERS CONSIDERED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a series of issues, including a bill (SB 222), filed by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that would allow patients to stay up to 24 hours at ambulatory surgical centers. Current law bars overnight stays. Also, the bill calls for allowing recovery care centers, a new type of entity where patients could stay 72 hours after surgery. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

'LIQUOR WALL' BILL TEED UP: The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 81), filed by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, that would repeal a Depression-era law requiring liquor stores and bars to be separated from groceries and other retail goods, an issue commonly referred to as the "liquor wall." (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

DRYWALL TAX BREAK PROPOSED: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will take up a bill (SB 948), filed by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, that would lead to lower tax assessments for homes affected by drywall that needs remediation. The bill comes after highly publicized problems with Chinese drywall. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATORS CONSIDER VETERANS' CHIEF: The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Glenn Sutphin, who was appointed last year as executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PAY EQUITY SOUGHT: House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, and members of the Democratic Women's Club of Florida are expected to take part in a news conference about pay equity. (Tuesday, noon, fourth-floor rotunda, the Capitol.)

RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION AT ISSUE: The Senate Judiciary Committee and the House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee will take up bills (SB 436 and HB 303), filed by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, and Rep. Patricia Williams, D-Lauderdale Lakes, that deal with religious expression in public schools. Dubbed the "Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act," the bills, in part, would require the state Department of Education to develop a model policy that each school district would be required to adopt. (Tuesday, Senate Judiciary, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, House PreK-12 Quality, 2 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PASSENGER RAIL REQUIREMENTS EYED: The Senate Transportation Committee will consider a proposal (SB 386), filed by Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, that would place requirements on rail operators that want to provide high-speed passenger service. The bill, in part, would require high-speed operators to pay for safety upgrades and would give the Florida Department of Transportation regulatory authority over high-speed rail where not preempted by federal regulations. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WORKERS' COMPENSATION ON THE TABLE: The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will take up a bill (PCB IBS 17-01) that would make changes in the workers' compensation insurance system. The bill comes after the Florida Supreme Court last year ruled that parts of the workers' compensation system were unconstitutional, including a limit on attorneys' fees. The rulings helped lead to a 14.5 percent insurance rate increase for businesses. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL LOOKS AT EXCESS CREDITS: The House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 153), filed by Rep. Amber Mariano, R-Hudson, that would give a financial break to students who take too many classes before they finish their bachelor degrees but graduate on time. The bill would let baccalaureate students accumulate excess credit hours but exempt them from surcharges if they graduate in four years. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DRUG OVERDOSE TREATMENT AT ISSUE: The House Health Innovation Subcommittee will consider several bills, including a measure (HB 61), filed by Rep. Larry Lee, D-Port St. Lucie, and Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-Treasure Island, that would place new requirements on hospitals that treat patients for drug overdoses. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

NATURAL GAS INVESTMENTS DEBATED: The Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee will take up a bill (SB 1238), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would allow electric utilities to invest in natural-gas reserves and recoup the money from customers. The bill was filed after the Florida Supreme Court last year rejected a move by Florida Power & Light to invest ratepayer money in a controversial Oklahoma natural-gas project. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WATER DISTRICT MEMBERS REVIEWED: The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee will hold confirmation hearings for a total of six appointees to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the South Florida Water Management District. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Agriculture & Property Rights Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Careers & Competition Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

FLORIDA GULF COAST TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees will meet and is expected to discuss an employment agreement with Michael Martin, who has been selected to become the university's next president. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Gulf Coast University, Cohen Center, 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers.)

UNF TRUSTEES DISCUSS PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH: The University of North Florida Board of Trustees will meet and discuss a presidential-search process. Longtime President John Delaney recently announced he will step down in 2018. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., University of North Florida, Student Union, Jacksonville.)

CABINET MEETS: Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

ST. JOHNS WATER BOARD MEETS: The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Tuesday, committee meetings start at 9 a.m., followed by full board, district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.)

SUWANNEE WATER BOARD MEETS: The Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board will meet. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., district headquarters, 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak.)

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss the Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO, program. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

FLORIDA ATLANTIC TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus, Administration Building, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

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, 11 a.m., Capital City Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 6115 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)

I-75 MASTER PLAN DISCUSSED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house about a northern Interstate 75 master plan. The plan involves improvements to I-75 and the ability of other north-south highways, such as U.S. 41, U.S. 301 and U.S. 441, to provide traffic relief. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Hilton Ocala, 3600 S.W. 36th Ave., Ocala.)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

Legislature:

INSURANCE TAX CREDIT AT ISSUE: The Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 378), filed by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would eliminate a decades-old insurance industry tax credit while also lowering the state's communications-services tax on cell-phone and pay-TV services. Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has long called for eliminating the tax credit. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FOSTER FAMILIES COULD GET FEE BREAK: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (SB 64), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would require the Department of Environmental Protection to provide free annual state-park entrance passes to foster families. Also, the families would receive a discount on campsite fees. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FINANCIAL LITERACY SOUGHT: The Senate PreK-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (SB 392), filed by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, that would require high-school students to take financial-literacy courses. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE DEMOCRATS GATHER: The Senate Democratic caucus is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, noon, 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session and could vote on a measure (SB 128), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would shift a key burden of proof in "stand your ground" self-defense cases. The proposal stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the "stand your ground" law. In "stand your ground" cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants should be immune from prosecution. The bill would shift that burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

STATE COLLEGE CHANGES SOUGHT: The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 374), filed by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, that would make wide-ranging changes in the Florida College System. In part, the bill would re-establish a State Board of Community Colleges to oversee the 28 state colleges. Florida previously had a community college board, but it was abolished in 2003 and its oversight duties were given to the State Board of Education, which also oversees the pre-kindergarten-through-high school system. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Quality Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Mashburn Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol)
--- House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Appropriations Committee (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Ways & Means Committee (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Regulated Industries Committee (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC TRUSTEES MEET: The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees will meet after holding a series of committee meetings. (Wednesday, committee meetings start at 8:30 a.m., with full board scheduled at 3 p.m., Florida Polytechnic University, Admissions Center, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland.)

CITRUS ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Citrus Commission is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main St., Bartow.)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Development Finance Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to meet. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Enterprise Florida, 800 North Magnolia Ave., Orlando.)

CITIZENS INSURANCE BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Directors is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-942-8686. Code: 5743735657#)

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

Legislature:

SENATE DEMOCRATS HUDDLE: The Senate Democratic caucus is scheduled to meet. (Thursday, 3 p.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate will hold a floor session. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Commerce Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Accountability Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee (Thursday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Rules Committee (Thursday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol)
--- House Education Committee (Thursday, noon, Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Thursday, noon, Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Thursday, noon, 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rules & Policy Committee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Select Committee on Triumph Gulf Coast. (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

DEFENSE ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which works to protect and enhance military installations in the state, will meet. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 3388 Lonnbladh Road, Tallahassee.)

UCF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet after a series of committee meetings. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 9:45 a.m., with full board at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

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

HOOPER SPEAKS TO GOP CLUB: Former state Rep. Ed Hooper, a Clearwater Republican who is running next year in Senate District 16, is expected to speak to the North Pinellas Republican Club. (Thursday, 6 p.m., 33286 U.S. 19 North, Palm Harbor.)

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

Legislature:

CORCORAN SPEAKS IN PENSACOLA: House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, is expected to speak to the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club. (Friday, noon, New World Landing, 600 South Palafox St., Pensacola.)

Also:

UF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Florida Board of Trustees will meet after attending a "president's campaign cabinet update" and a strategic discussion. (Friday, president's campaign cabinet update starts at 9:30 a.m., University of Florida, Emerson Alumni Hall, Gainesville.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017

BUCHANAN HOLDS TOWN HALL: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is scheduled to hold a town-hall meeting. (Saturday, 11 a.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.)

GILLUM SPEAKS TO PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS: Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is running for governor in 2018, is scheduled to speak at a conference of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, also is expected to give a legislative update during an afternoon breakout session. (Saturday, Gillum speaks at noon, Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, 3102 North Habana Ave., Tampa.)