Legislature:
BILLS COULD LIMIT NURSING HOME LAWSUITS: House and Senate panels are scheduled to take up bills (HB 569 and SB 670) that would place additional restrictions on lawsuits against nursing homes. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee will hear HB 569, sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. The Senate Health Policy Committee is slated to hear SB 670, sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine. (House Civil Justice, 9 a.m., 404 House Office Building. Senate Health Policy, 2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
CHILD WELFARE AT ISSUE: The House Healthy Families Subcommittee and the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will discuss and take testimony about child-welfare issues. Lawmakers are looking at making child-welfare changes after a series of child deaths last year. (House Healthy Families, 9 a.m., 12 House Office Building. Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
HOUSE DIGS INTO ‘FRACKING:’ The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 71), filed by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, aimed at collecting information about the future use of hydraulic fracturing — or “fracking,” as it is known — to drill for oil and gas in the state. (10 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
BEER BILLS ON TAP: The House Business & Professional Regulation Subcommittee will take up three bills (HB 283, HB 387 and PCB BPRS 14-02) that would make changes to laws involving beer. The proposals include eliminating a restriction on selling malt beverages in containers larger than 32 ounces. (1 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
TELEMEDICINE: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a proposal (SPB 7028) aimed at expanding the use of telemedicine, which supporters say could help address a shortage of primary-care physicians. (2 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
OTHER HOUSE MEETINGS:
— House Government Operations Subcommittee (9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
— House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee (1 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
— House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
— House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee (1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
— House Health Innovation Subcommittee (3:30 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
— House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (3:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)
— House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (3:30 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
OTHER SENATE MEETINGS:
— Senate Judiciary Committee (10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
— Senate Democratic caucus (12:30 p.m., 200 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
— Senate Banking and Insurance Committee (2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
Also:
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, LOPEZ-CANTERA TO SPEAK: Senate President Don Gaetz, House Speaker Will Weatherford and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera will be part of a lineup of speakers during the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Capitol Days.†Among the other scheduled speakers are Rep. Steve Crisafulli, a Merritt Island Republican who is slated to become House speaker in November, and Marshall Criser, the new chancellor of the state university system. (8 a.m., Turnbull Center at Florida State University, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.)
JAGUARS PLAYER TO DISCUSS FITNESS ISSUES: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Alan Ball is expected to appear at the Capitol to support the American Heart Association’s legislative efforts to make sure children have access to playgrounds and athletic fields. The association backs “shared use†agreements between schools, local governments and other organizations to provide access to athletic fields and other facilities and equipment. (9:30 a.m., Room 309C, the Capitol.)
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DISCUSSED: Education Commissioner Pam Stewart and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, are expected to take part in “Career and Technical Education Day on the Hill.” (10:45 a.m., Capitol courtyard.)
DEFENSE INDUSTRY LEGISLATION AT ISSUE: Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, are expected to take part in a news conference to discuss legislation that could help defense businesses. (11:30 a.m., fourth-floor rotunda, the Capitol.)
SCOTT TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS: Gov. Rick Scott is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with lawmakers, starting at 1:30 p.m. The meetings are with Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice; Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring; Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby; Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg; Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland; and Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Royal Palm Beach. Scott’s schedule does not provide details about the subjects or locations of the meetings.
ANALYSTS DIG INTO TOBACCO TAXES: The Revenue Estimating Conference will analyze tobacco taxes and the state’s tobacco-settlement trust fund. (1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
THRASHER, LATVALA TO RAISE MONEY: A fund-raising reception is scheduled for Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. (5:30 p.m., The Governor’s Club, 202 South Adams St., Tallahassee.)
THOMPSON TO RAISE MONEY: Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, is expected to raise campaign money during an event near the Capitol. (5:30 p.m., The Mint Lounge, 215 West College Ave., Tallahassee.)
CRIST TO TOUT BOOK IN ORLANDO: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist will continue a promotional tour for his new book, “The Party’s Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat.” (7 p.m., Barnes and Noble, 2418 East Colonial Dr., Orlando.)
–source The News Service of Florida
