Calendar Preview for Week of November 7th

By the News Service of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 4, 2011…..In a holiday-shortened week in between two committee weeks, most of what little action there is in commissions and higher education. The week starts with Gov. Rick Scott's public hospital group. A key study group also looks at assisted living facilities in a field hearing in Miami. 

The highlight of the week is likely the Board of Governor's meeting, also outside the capital. The BOG meets in Boca Raton and will have several high profile items, including dental school considerations and the University of South Florida Poly Tech issue.

MONDAY, NOV. 7, 2011

STATE EMPLOYEE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: The once-a-year-open enrollment period for state employees and retirees to make insurance benefit changes begins Monday. Participants have until Nov. 18 to make any changes. After Open Enrollment, employees and retirees can only change their enrollment or add or remove dependents with a qualifying event. (Monday)

PUBLIC HOSPITALS PROBED: The Commission on Review of Taxpayer Funded Hospital Districts will continue discussing whether changes should be made in Florida’s public hospitals. (Monday, 10 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Tallahassee.)

ASSISTED LIVING PANEL TAKES UP REFORM MEASURES: Gov. Rick Scott’s Assisted Living Facilities Task Force will meet Monday and Tuesday in Miami to consider raising standards and toughening sanctions. Panel chairman Larry Polivka said he’s optimistic that some of the dozens of recommendations will be submitted to Scott and the Legislature. “We need to have folks who are better trained and better prepared,” he said. “We also need to look more closely at sanctions for facilities with chronic problems." The state’s ALF population has doubled in the last 12 years, to more than 82,000 beds, and is expected to double again in the next ten years. The workgroup will take public input about state regulation and oversight of ALFs. (Monday, 1 p.m., Florida International University Stadium Club at Alfonso Field. 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami.)

SUPPLEMENTAL POVERTY MEASURES: The U.S. Census Bureau on Monday will release research on a supplemental poverty measure that complements, but does not replace, the nation’s official poverty measure.

TUESDAY, NOV. 8, 2011

ALF REVIEW CONTINUES: The Assisted Living Workgroup will continue reviewing state regulation and oversight of ALFs. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Florida International University Stadium Club at Alfonso Field. 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami.)

LIP GETS MORE TALK: The Low Income Pool Council will discuss the $1 billion program that funnels money to hospitals and other health providers that serve low-income and uninsured patients. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee.)

SUMMERBREAK SPOT: Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will announce plans to expand marketing for summer nutrition programs like the SummerBreak Spot campaign. (Tuesday, 10:45 a.m., Hollywood Beach Culture and Community Center, 1301 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood.)

BROGAN SPEAKS AT BIOTECH LUNCHEON: Frank Brogan, the chancellor for the State University System, will speak at a luncheon spotlighting the biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies that have landed in Palm Beach County since Scripps and the Max Planck Institute arrived. Hosted by the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and the Coudert Institute, Brogan was president of FAU when the university established partnerships with Scripps and Max Planck. He is expected to discuss life science research and economic development statewide, as well as examine how the Legislature funds research and development compared to other states. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY TASK FORCE: The Government Efficiency Task Force holds a workgroup discussion of the Consultant's Competitive Negotiation Act, the state's public procurement law that's supposed to prevent favoritism in contracting. (Tuesday, 11:15 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.)

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9, 2011

BOG CONSIDERS DENTAL SCHOOLS, USF POLY TECH: The State University System Board of Governors has a packed agenda for the first day of its two-day meeting at Florida Atlantic University. Several closely-watched proposals will be considered before Board of Governors committees, including pitches by the University of Central Florida, University of Florida and Florida A&M University on their plans to open or expand dental schools or dental programs. The University of South Florida Polytechnic will also pitch its business plan for becoming an independent university. Later, the full board will decide whether to approve USF Polytechnic’s plan or reject it. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011

BOG VOTES ON DENTAL SCHOOL, MARKET RATE TUITION: The State University System Board of Governors begins the second day of its two-day meeting at Florida Atlantic University. The full board will meet to discuss whether to give the green light on any of the proposals to open or expand a dental school and will also hear updates on classroom construction funding, known as PECO, and vote on market rate tuition proposals for online and continuing education programs. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

MEDICAID LONG-TERM CARE DISCUSSED: The Long-term Care Managed Care Technical Advisory Workgroup will discuss moving seniors into managed-care plans as part of the state's Medicaid overhaul. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Tallahassee.)

SUPREME COURT OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court releases its regular opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

MEASURING THE IMPACTS: The Revenue Estimating Conference will hold a so-called Impact Conference to discuss the costs of legislation. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

BIDS DUE FOR PRISON PRIVATIZATION: Thursday is the deadline for bids to the Department of Corrections for plans to run prisons in the southern third of the state. State officials were blocked from the privatization move – mandated by lawmakers – by a court decision, have moved forward arguing that an appeal stays the lower court's order.


FRIDAY, NOV. 11, 2011

VETERANS DAY