On Tap in the Capital- Monday, February 4, 2019

NSF Staff

Legislature:

SUPERINTENDENT SUSPENSION DISCUSSED: Senate Special Master Dudley Goodlette will hold a case-management conference in an appeal by suspended Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Mary Beth Jackson. Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Jackson in January, but she appealed to the Senate. Goodlette, a former state House member from Collier County, was appointed by Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, to serve as special master. (11 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SEXUAL BATTERY PROSECUTIONS AT ISSUE: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up a series of bills, including a proposal (SB 130), filed by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, that would eliminate a statute of limitations on the prosecution of sexual batteries when victims are under age 18. (1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MARIJUANA SMOKING BAN TARGETED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up a bill (SB 182), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would eliminate a ban on smoking medical marijuana. Lawmakers in 2017 included a smoking ban in a law that was designed to carry out a constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana. But the smoking ban drew a legal challenge, and a Leon County circuit judge ruled that it violated the 2016 constitutional amendment. The state, under former Gov. Rick Scott, appealed the circuit judge’s ruling. Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, has been critical of the smoking ban and has indicated he will drop the appeal if lawmakers do not eliminate the ban. (1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CITRUS ISSUES ON MENU: The Senate Agriculture Committee will receive an update about the Florida Department of Citrus from the agency’s executive director, Shannon Shepp. (1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS DEBATED: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will hold a workshop on a bill (SB 122), filed by Chairman Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, that is aimed at limiting attorney fees in cases involving the insurance practice known as assignment of benefits. Assignment of benefits is a decades-old practice that involves insurance customers signing over claims to contractors, who do work and ultimately pursue payment from insurers. The issue has become controversial in recent years amid allegations by insurers that the system has become rife with fraud and litigation, driving up consumers’ insurance premiums. Opponents of attorney-fee changes say assignment of benefits and the possibility of litigation help make sure insurers properly take care of claims. (4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CRC REPEAL SOUGHT: The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a proposal (SJR 362), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would ask voters to abolish the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. The commission meets every 20 years and has unique power to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. The commission last year placed seven amendments on the November ballot, with all ultimately passing. But it drew controversy and legal challenges, in part because it lumped together seemingly unrelated issues into single ballot proposals. The commission is next scheduled to meet in 2037 and 2038. If approved by lawmakers, Brandes’ proposal to abolish the commission would go on the 2020 ballot because ending the commission would require changing the state Constitution. (4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DCF SECRETARY GOES BEFORE SENATE PANEL; Chad Poppell, the newly appointed secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, is slated to appear at a meeting of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee. (4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

CHAMBER ROLLS OUT RECOMMENDATIONS: The Florida Chamber Foundation will hold a regional event in Alachua County to roll out its preliminary “Florida 2030” recommendations. (8 a.m., Cade Museum, 811 South Main St., Gainesville.)

HURRICANE RECOVERY AT ISSUE: A “Summit for a Resilient North Florida” will be held in Jackson County to focus on the recovery from Hurricane Michael. (9 a.m. Central time, Rivertown Community Church, 4534 Lafayette St., Marianna.)

DESANTIS APPEARS IN JACKSONVILLE: Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran will appear at an event in Northeast Florida. (10 a.m., North Florida School of Special Education, 233 Mill Creek Road, Jacksonville.)

ANIMAL ABUSE TARGETED: U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., will appear at a news conference to urge passage of legislation that would make animal cruelty a federal crime. (10 a.m., Broward County Animal Care and Adoption, 2400 S.W. 42nd St., Fort Lauderdale.)

BUCHANAN APPEARS AT HUMANE SOCIETY: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells will appear at the Manatee Humane Society to discuss protecting animals and to support legislation that would make animal cruelty a federal crime. (10 a.m., Manatee Humane Society, 2515 14th St. West, Bradenton.)

DESANTIS MAKES EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT: Gov. Ron DeSantis will appear in Central Florida to make an education announcement. He will be joined by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and former Senate President Andy Gardiner. (3 p.m., Pace Brantley School, 3221 Sand Lake Road, Longwood.)