The Week Ahead in Florida Politics – January 25, 2016

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, JANUARY 22, 2016…. Florida lawmakers will wade into a series of high-profile issues during the coming week including oil and gas drilling, the death penalty, regulation of ride services such as Uber and Lyft and regulation of fantasy sports. At the same time, lawmakers will work on budget proposals that are initial steps toward negotiating a spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

MONDAY, JANUARY, 25, 2016

Legislature:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHANGES PROPOSED: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will consider a wide-ranging economic development bill (SB 1646), sponsored by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. Proposals in the bill include creating a Division of Film and Entertainment within Enterprise Florida. (Monday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS SEEK TESTING OF DNA EVIDENCE: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up a bill (SB 636), filed by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, that could help speed up lab testing of DNA evidence in suspected sexual-assault cases. (Monday, 1 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MANUFACTURING TAX EXEMPTION CONSIDERED: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee will consider a proposal (SB 98), filed by Chairwoman Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, that would make permanent a sales-tax exemption on industrial machinery and equipment. (Monday, 1 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL TAKES UP TRUSTEE CONFIRMATIONS: The Senate Higher Education Committee will consider the confirmation of trustees for Florida A&M University, the University of Central Florida, Florida International University, the University of North Florida and the University of West Florida. (Monday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES AT ISSUE: The House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 1203), filed by Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, that would allow a Northwest Florida county to use tourist-development tax dollars to pay lifeguards and for other beach-safety needs. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

BUDGET ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss budget issues related to various agencies. (Monday, 4 p.m., Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations, 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, 412 Knott Building, the Capitol. Also, Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

DRILLING REGULATION AT ISSUE: The Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (SB 318), filed by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, that addresses regulation of drilling for oil and natural gas, including the controversial technique known as "fracking." (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BILL ADDRESSES PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IN CRIMINAL CASES: The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 1043), filed by Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, that would require trained professionals to be present when people with autism or related disabilities are interviewed by police in criminal cases. (Monday, 4 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS CONSIDER ABORTION BILL: The House Health Quality Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 1411), filed by Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, that would make a series of changes in the state's abortion laws. Among other things, the bill deals with the definitions of trimesters, clinic inspections and barring the sale or transfer of fetal remains. (Monday, 4 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PARK DISCOUNTS PROPOSED FOR VETS: The House Veteran & Military Affairs Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 1321), filed by Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, that would require counties and cities to give full or partial discounts on park-entrance fees to members of the military and veterans. (Monday, 4 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Health Innovation Subcommittee (Monday, 12:30 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (Monday, 12:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local Government Affairs Subcommittee (Monday, 12:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee (Monday, 1:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee (Monday, 4 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

FRANKEL, DEUTCH SPEAK IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., will speak to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. (Monday, noon, Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

Legislature:

PROPOSAL SEEKS TOUGHER ASSISTANCE PENALTIES: The House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 1299), filed by Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, that seeks increased penalties for temporary cash-assistance beneficiaries who do not meet work-related requirements. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

'BAD FAITH' CHANGES SOUGHT: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will take up a bill (SB 632), filed by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, that would help shield insurers from what are known as "bad faith" lawsuits. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANELS CONSIDER AID TO DOZIER FAMILIES: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Government Operations Subcommittee will consider proposals (SB 708 and HB 533), filed by Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa., that would direct the Florida Department of State to preserve historical resources from the shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and to provide money to help families reinter bodies of children found at the Jackson County site. The bill stems from allegations that children were abused and died at the school. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Senate committee, 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, House subcommittee, 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ARMSTRONG UP FOR CONFIRMATION: The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up several issues, including holding a confirmation hearing for Surgeon General John Armstrong, who serves as secretary of the Florida Department of Health. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RECESS REQUIREMENTS PITCHED: The House K-12 Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 833), filed by Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, and Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, that would require school districts to provide 100 minutes of recess each week in elementary schools. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

OVERNIGHT ANCHORING TARGETED: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 1051), filed by Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, that would prevent boaters from anchoring or mooring overnight in parts of waterways in Miami-Dade, Broward and Okaloosa counties. (Tuesday, noon, Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

EDUCATION PILOT PROPOSED: The House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 1365), filed by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, that would create the "Competency-Based Education Pilot Program." Under the proposal, a school district would be exempt from state laws and rules related to student progression and awarding credits. (Tuesday, noon, 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LONGER TERM LIMITS ON THE TABLE: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will consider a proposal (SJR 902), filed by Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, that would extend term limits for state lawmakers to 12 years. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS TAKE UP ANTI-DISCRIMINATION MEASURE: The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a bill (SB 120), filed by Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Boynton Beach, that would bar discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AIRPORT ZONING AT ISSUE: The House Transportation & Ports Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 1379), filed by Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, that would revamp a law, originally passed in 1945, that deals with issues such as land use around airports. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE TAKES UP FRACKING, UBER BILLS: The House will hold a floor session and will consider a proposal (HB 191), filed by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, and Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park, that would create a regulatory framework for oil and gas drilling in Florida, including the controversial technique known as "fracking." Among other bills, the House is scheduled to consider a proposal (HB 509), filed by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, that would prevent local governments from regulating app-based transportation services such as Uber and Lyft. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

BUDGET ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss budget issues related to various agencies. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations, 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, 412 Knott Building, the Capitol. Also, General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

MEDICAID DENTAL CARE AT ISSUE: The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 994), filed by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, that could lead to changes in how dental services are provided in the Medicaid program. Under current law, dental services are provided as part of the Medicaid managed-care system, which requires most beneficiaries to enroll in HMOs or other types of health plans across the state. The bill could eventually lead to dental services being removed from the Medicaid managed-care plans and provided separately. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Civil Justice Subcommittee (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Community Affairs Committee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 116 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Business & Professions Subcommittee (Tuesday, noon, 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

THRASHER SPEAKS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY: Florida State University President John Thrasher is slated to speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County. (Tuesday, 11:45 a.m., LPGA Clubhouse, 1000 Champions Dr., Daytona Beach.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

Legislature:

STUDENT ASSESSMENTS AT ISSUE: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1360), filed by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that would allow school districts to administer tests such as the SAT and ACT instead of using the controversial Florida Standards Assessments to measure student learning. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

EXEMPTION SOUGHT FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE RECORDS: The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee will take up a bill (SB 1364), filed by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, that would provide a public-records exemption for information that people submit to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission when applying for such things as hunting and fishing licenses. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

PANEL WEIGHS FANTASY SPORTS: The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will consider a proposal (SB 832), filed by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, that would place regulations on the fantasy sports industry --- but would make clear that fantasy games are not subject to the state's gambling laws. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SERVICES FOR ELDERS AT ISSUE: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will receive a presentation from the Department of Elder Affairs and AARP Florida about improving the ability of seniors to stay in their communities. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL PROPOSED: The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will consider a series of bills, including a proposal (SB 716), filed by Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, that calls for creating a Holocaust Memorial in the Capitol Complex. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

STATUE OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL DEBATED: The Senate Rules Committee will take up a bill (SB 310), filed by Sen. John Legg, R-Trinity, that would remove a statue of a Confederate general born in Florida from the U.S. Capitol. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith is one of two Floridians represented in the National Statuary Hall at the Capitol, and the bill would lead to replacing the statue with the likeness of another Floridian. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY AT ISSUE: The Senate Transportation Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1110), filed by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would revise the selection of members of the Central Florida Expressway Authority. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The House will hold a late-afternoon floor session. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

DEATH PENALTY RULING DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal Justice Subcommittee will hold a workshop about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month that found Florida's death-penalty sentencing system is unconstitutional. The workshop will include discussion about possible changes lawmakers can approve to comply with the ruling. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Education Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health & Human Services Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Local & Federal Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Regulatory Affairs Committee (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Appropriations Committee (Wednesday, noon, 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Finance & Tax Committee (Wednesday, noon, Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

DUNGY SPEAKS AT CAPITOL: Football analyst Tony Dungy, a former NFL player and coach, will speak during a Florida Legislative Fellowship Group event. (Wednesday, 7:30 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet in Miami and consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., State Attorney's Office, E.R. Graham Building, 1350 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami.)

AGENCY HEADS DISCUSS SENIOR ISSUES: State agency heads will take part in a town-hall meeting on issues affecting seniors. The town hall, part of Florida Senior Day, is expected to include Sam Verghese, secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs; Surgeon General John Armstrong, secretary of the Florida Department of Health; Mike Carroll, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families; and Barbara Palmer, director of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE DISCUSSED: The Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Board of Directors will meet. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 1317 Winewood Blvd., Building 4, Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Legislature:

'STAND YOUR GROUND' SHIFT CONSIDERED: The Senate will hold a floor session and could approve a bill (SB 344), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would shift the legal burden of proof in "stand your ground" self-defense cases. The bill stems from a Supreme Court ruling last year that said defendants have the burden of proof of showing 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 place the burden of proof on prosecutors in the evidentiary hearings. The Senate also could approve a bill (SB 130), filed by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, that is designed to prevent backyard shooting ranges in residential neighborhoods. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

OTHER SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS:
--- House Economic Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Judiciary Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House State Affairs Committee (Thursday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 10 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 1 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m. 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
--- House Rules, Calendar & Ethics Committee (Thursday, 6 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Also:

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review will meet in Miami and consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed in the 1970s and 1980s. (Thursday, 9 a.m., State Attorney's Office, E.R. Graham Building, 1350 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami.)

UCF TRUSTEES MEET: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will meet after holding committee meetings. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 10 a.m., board meeting at 1 p.m., University of Central Florida, Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando.)

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA COMMITTEES MEET: Committees of the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will meet. (Thursday, committee meetings start at 11 a.m. and will be held at the Residence Inn, 600 West Gaines St., Tallahassee, and at Florida State University's Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

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

SPACE INDUSTRY ISSUES DISCUSSED: The Space Florida Board of Directors will meet. (Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Florida State University, Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

PENA KICKS OFF HOUSE CAMPAIGN: A campaign kickoff event is slated for Democrat Tinu Pena, who is seeking to succeed term-limited Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, in House District 86. (Thursday, 6 p.m., The White Elephant, 12794 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016

CRIMINAL JUSTICE NUMBERS DISCUSSED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an "impact" conference on criminal-justice issues. (Friday, 8 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA BOARD MEETS: The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors will meet. Among the expected speakers are Gov. Rick Scott and Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. (Friday, 8:15 a.m., Florida State University, Turnbull Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)

HOUSING ISSUES ON THE TABLE: The Florida Housing Finance Corp. Board will meet. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)

DRUG POLICY DISCUSSED: The Drug Policy Advisory Council, which works on substance-abuse issues, will meet. (Friday, 9 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA WATER AT ISSUE: The Central Florida Water Initiative Steering Committee will meet. The committee includes representatives of the St. Johns River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Tohopekaliga Water Authority. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., TOHO Water Authority, 951 Martin Luther King Blvd., Kissimmee.)

SATURDAY JANUARY 30, 2016

GRAYSON SPEAKS TO LEE DEMOCRATS: U.S. Senate candidate Alan Grayson is expected to speak during a Lee County Democratic Party "gala" event. (Saturday, 6 p.m., Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers.)