The Week Ahead for March 23-27, 2015

Monday, March 23, 2015

MENTAL HEALTH… The Senate Health Policy Committee takes up a measure (SB 476) intended to expand a nurse’s power to commit and release patients from involuntary mental health observation 1:30 p.m. Monday in room 412 of the Knott building.

PROPERTY INSURANCE...The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee considers a bill related to the Citizens Property Insurance takeout program and assignment of post-lost benefits 1:30 p.m. Monday in room 110 of the Senate building.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS...The Senate Community Affairs Committee discusses a bill that attempts to create more flexibility in the private flood insurance market 1:30 p.m. Monday in room 301 of the Senate building.

MANUFACTURING SALES TAX...The Senate Commerce and Tourism Subcommittee considers making permanent a sales tax exemption on industrial machinery at 4 p.m. in room 110 of the Senate building on Monday.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE...The Senate Criminal Justice Committee considers several bills on topics from human trafficking to expunction of criminal records for minors in room 37 of the Senate building at 4 p.m. Monday.

TEXTBOOK TAXES… The Senate Higher Education Committee takes up the governor's priorities on tax breaks for textbooks and graduate tuition (in SB 938) 4 p.m. Monday in room 412 of the Knott building.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

OPEN GOVERNMENT… The House Government Operations Subcommittee takes up a swath of open government bills Tuesday in room 212 of the Knott building at 8 a.m.

CABINET MEETING...Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet meets 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Cabinet Meeting Room.

SENATE IN SESSION...The Florida Senate goes into session 10 a.m. Tuesday.

CONTAMINATED SITES… The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee takes up a proposal (HB 841) to ease up requirements for the cleanup of brownfield contamination sites if human activity has increased the level of contamination in a general area 10 a.m. Tuesday in room 102 of the House building.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE… The House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee discusses a proposed committee bill (CFSS1) that seeks to ensure that judges review a parent’s substance abuse or mental health problems more thoroughly when deciding on custody 10 a.m. Tuesday in room 12 of the House building.

KRATOM BAN...The House Criminal Justice Committee considers a proposal to ban kratom, a leaf-based psychoactive drug, in room 404 of the House building 1 p.m. Tuesday.

ECONOMIC INCENTIVES...The House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee meets in room 102 of the House building to discuss reforms to the states’ economic development programs at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

ALCOHOL REGULATIONS...The House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee discusses several bills related to alcohol regulations at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 17 of the House building.

ASSISTED LIVING… The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee votes on a measure by Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, on assisted living facility reform in Florida 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 212 of the Knott building.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

CORAL REEFS… The Department of Environmental Protection’s Coral Reef Conservation Program holds a meeting of the Our Florida Reefs North Community Working Group to develop a list of recommended management actions that will improve management and protection of Southeast Florida coral reefs at Florida Atlantic University in West Palm Beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found here.

SUPREME COURT...The Florida Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case related to due process rights at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

GAMING WORKSHOP...The House Regulatory Affairs Committee workshops proposals relating to the state’s gaming industries and the Seminole Compact 8 a.m. Thursday in room 404 of the House building.

MUNICIPAL PENSIONS...The Florida League of Cities holds a meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Intercontinental Hotel at 4860 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, to discuss the municipal pension trust fund. For more information, contact Linda Bridges, at [email protected] or call (850)222-9684.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING...The Florida Housing Finance Corporation holds a workshop 3 p.m. Thursday to hear suggestions about an estimated $6 million in housing credit to finance the preservation of existing affordable housing developments in the Corporation’s offices at 227 N. Bronough Street, Seltzer Room, Suite 6000, in Tallahassee at 3 p.m. Thursday. For more information, contact Ken Reecy at (850) 488-419.

Friday, March 27, 2015

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA...The Enterprise Florida executive committee will meets 2 p.m. Friday at 8000 N. Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100, in Orlando. For more information, contact Al Latimer at (407) 956-5602.

Related Research: Stay up-to-date on all legislative events with the LobbyTools Agenda Calendar.