ADVANCES: WEEK OF JANUARY 26, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott has held a series of appearances across the state to tout pieces of his proposed 2014-15 state budget. As might be expected, the appearances have focused on what could be popular parts of the budget. But during the coming week, Scott is expected to release his full budget proposal — including the not-so-popular parts. The proposal will go to lawmakers, who will consider it as they craft a final spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1.
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014
BONDI TO DISCUSS HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi will hold a news conference and a workshop for businesses about efforts to stop human trafficking. (Monday, 10 a.m., Florida Hospital, Werner Auditorium, 601 East Rollins St., Orlando.)
RICH CAMPAIGNS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich is scheduled to speak to the Palm Beach Democratic Club. (Monday, 7 p.m., West Palm Beach Marriott, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)
CITIZENS CLEARINGHOUSE TO CRANK UP: Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will start using a computerized clearinghouse system aimed at helping keep policies out of the state-backed insurer. Four private insurers — Ark Royal, Florida Peninsula, Safe Harbor and United Property & Casualty — will initially be involved with the clearinghouse. Through the clearinghouse, if coverage from a private firm is found within 15 percent of Citizens’ premium, the policy would go to the private carrier.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014
APD TO HOST HOUSING MEETING: The Agency for Persons with Disabilities will hold a meeting to discuss ways to improve housing choices for people served by the agency. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Fort Knox Office Complex, Building 3, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)
MEDICAID PANEL TO MEET: The state Medical Care Advisory Committee, which works on Medicaid issues, is expected to consider issues such as the state’s shift of long-term care beneficiaries into managed-care plans. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)
BROWARD LAWMAKERS, CITIES MEET: The Broward County legislative delegation is scheduled to have a workshop with the Broward League of Cities. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Ave., Room 430, Fort Lauderdale.)
SAUNDERS SEEKS TO BOOST HEALTH ENROLLMENT: Rep. Joe Saunders, D-Orlando, is expected to help host a health-care enrollment fair aimed at signing up people for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 555 North Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando.)
MURPHY TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING: Rep. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, will hold a town hall meeting for constituents. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Centennial Park Library, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday.)
DEEPWATER HORIZON PANEL MEETS: The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees will hold the first of two meetings to take public input. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Pensacola Bay Center, 201 East Gregory St., Pensacola)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014
TALKS WILL FOCUS ON ALF RESIDENTS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold two meetings about trying to bolster behavioral-health services for Medicaid beneficiaries who are in managed-care plans. The first meeting will focus on residents of assisted-living facilities, while the second is a Statewide Managed Care Behavioral Health meeting. (Wednesday, meetings at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Halifax Health, France Tower, 303 North Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach.)
SCOTT TO UNVEIL BUDGET AT AP EVENT: Gov. Rick Scott is expected to release his 2014-15 budget proposal as editors and reporters from throughout the state gather in Tallahassee for an annual Associated Press meeting in advance of the legislative session. Scott will speak at the meeting, which also is expected to include Senate President Don Gaetz, House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Democratic gubernatorial candidates Charlie Crist and Nan Rich and attorney-general candidate George Sheldon. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 22nd floor of the Capitol, Tallahassee.)
CITIZENS BOARD TO HOLD CONFERENCE CALL: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors will hold a conference call and discuss risk-transfer issues. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Call-in number: 888-942-8686. Conference ID: 5743735657#.)
PAROLE COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Parole Commission will meet and consider a wide range of cases involving people convicted of crimes in the 1970s and 1980s. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
PALM BEACH LAWMAKERS MEET WITH SCHOOL BOARD: The Palm Beach County legislative delegation will hold a workshop with the county School Board. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Palm Beach Gardens High School auditorium, 4245 Holly Dr., Palm Beach Gardens.)
DENAPOLI RAISES MONEY: Republican Richard DeNapoli, who is seeking to replace term-limited Rep. Doug Holder in House District 74, will hold a campaign funding-raising event. (Wednesday, 5:45 p.m., Le Petit Bistrot, 218 West Tampa Ave., Venice.)
RANGEL SEEKS TO BOOST HEALTH CARE ENROLLMENT: Rep. Ricardo Rangel, D-Kissimmee, will take part in an Affordable Care Act enrollment fair. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Buenaventura Lakes Branch Library, 405 Buenaventura Blvd., Kissimmee.)
DEEPWATER HORIZON PANEL MEETS: The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees will hold the second of two meetings to take public input. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1101 U.S. Highway 231, Panama City.)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
LAWMAKERS, PUTNAM TAKE PART IN HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, are expected to moderate panel discussions during the Florida Health Care Affordability Summit, which will be put on by the Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida. Also taking part in the day’s events are expected to be Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park, Florida Healthy Kids Corp. Executive Director Rich Robleto and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who will be a keynote speaker. (Thursday, events start at 8 a.m., Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando.)
SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court will release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)
STATE WEBSITES TASK FORCE TO MEET: The “User Experience Task Force,†which was created this year to work on consolidating state websites that provide public access to such things as fiscal information, will meet. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Larson Building, 200 East Gaines St., Tallahassee.)
ORANGE COUNTY LAWMAKERS MEET: The Orlando County legislative delegation is scheduled to consider local bills and take public input. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Orange County Administration Center, 201 South Rosalind Ave., Orlando.)
EAGLE TO HOLD PRE-SESSION MEETING: Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, will hold a town hall meeting in advance of the 2014 legislative session. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Gulf Coast Village auditorium, 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral.)
PAFFORD KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN: Rep. Mark Pafford, a West Palm Beach Democrat who is expected to become House minority leader in November, will hold a re-election campaign kickoff event. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Coach House, 13410 South Shore Blvd., Wellington.)
GONZALEZ RAISES MONEY: A fund-raising reception will be held for Republican Julio Gonzalez, who is seeking to replace term-limited Rep. Doug Holder, R-Venice, in House District 74. (Thursday, 6 p.m., 588 Eagle Watch Lane, Osprey.)
MURPHY TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING: Rep. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, will continue a series of town hall meetings.(Thursday, 6:30 p.m., New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St., New Port Richey.)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014
ARMSTRONG, NEGRON AT HEALTH SUMMIT: State Surgeon General John Armstrong and Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, are expected to take part in the Florida Health Care Affordability Summit, which will be put on by the Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida. (Friday, events start at 8 a.m., Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando.)
HEALTH CHOICES BOARD TO MEET: The Florida Health Choices Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting, as it tries to move forward with a long-discussed plan to offer an online marketplace where people can buy health services. (Friday, 11 a.m., Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando.)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014
MEDICAID MANAGED CARE EXPANDS: The state Medicaid program’s shift of long-term care recipients into managed-care plans is scheduled to expand to seven additional counties. Those counties are Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee and Highlands. Lawmakers in 2011 approved a plan that will ultimately move almost all Medicaid beneficiaries into HMOs and other types of managed care. The state Agency for Health Care Administration began the process last year, using a region-by-region approach to gradually enroll seniors and other people who need long-term care.
-source: The News Service of Florida