On Tap in the Capital - Thursday, March 11, 2010

The News Service of Florida

TOPPING THE DAY:

MORE GAMING OPTIONS?: The House Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review hears a presentation on auctions for granting gaming licenses and gets a presentation from Las Vegas resort casino companies that are making a pitch to bring new casinos to Florida. (1:30 p.m., 404 House Office Building.)

ALSO TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INLAND WATERS: The panel, which last met in January, meets again on issues relating to Florida rivers, lakes and springs. (8 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, Tallahassee.)

HOUSE ENERGY AND UTILITIES: House Energy hears comments by Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, a presentation on the Woody Biomass Economic Study by the Assistant Director of the Division of Forestry at the Agriculture agency, and presentation on energy initiatives at the Buckeye Energy Park in Perry. (8:15 a.m., 17 House Office Building.)

HOUSE AG: Citrus research (HB 981), fishing licenses (HB 1147) and state park entrance fees (HB 1145) are among the issues that will be before the House Agriculture Committee this morning. (8:30 a.m., 102 House Office Building.)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION: The House’s bill seeking to crack down on human trafficking (HB 633) goes before the House Insurance Committee this morning. (8:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building.)

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS LEGISLATION: A bill (HB 93) that would have economists make a cost-benefit analysis of proposed legislation is before House Finance and Tax this morning – with no word on whether it would bring in more than it would cost. The measure, a priority of Senate leadership, is one of several tax bills on the House panel’s agenda today. (9 a.m., 404 House Office Building.)

DMS SUNSET REVIEW: Normally sunset review legislation is perfunctory – lawmakers rarely consider sunsetting major agencies. But the Department of Management Services is a bit under attack at the Legislature this year, and the Senate has proposed moving many of its functions. Today, the House has a chance to at least consider the agency’s existence, with DMS’ regular sunset review bill up for consideration in the House Governmental Accountability Act Council. The panel is only workshopping the proposed committee bill. (9 a.m., 116 Knott Building.)

SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUDGET: The Senate Civil and Criminal Justice Budget Committee holds a budget workshop. (9:45 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building.)

SENATE ED BUDGET: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Budget Committee holds a budget workshop. (9:45 a.m., 412 Knott Building.)

HHS APPROPRIATIONS: The Senate Health and Human Services Budget Committee holds a budget workshop. (9:45 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building.)

TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: A bill (SB 2126) that would allow for increasing the dollar amount cap on the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program under certain circumstances is in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee today. (9:45 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building.)

SENATE GEN GOV APPROPS: The Senate General Government Appropriations Committee reviews the budgets of several agencies. (9:45 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building.)

SENATE TRANSPORTATION APPROPS: The Senate Transportation and Econ Development Appropriations Committee reviews the budgets of several agencies. (9:45 a.m., 309 Capitol.)

ALSO TODAY

SUPREME COURT: The Florida Supreme Court releases opinions. (11 a.m., www.floridasupremecourt.org)

AME DAY AT THE CAPITOL: Rep. Audrey Gibson D-Jacksonville, Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, and others highlight African Methodist Episcopal Day at the Capitol. Bishop McKinley Young will highlight issues important to the church. (9:30 a.m., Fourth Floor Rotunda, The Capitol.)

MEZZANINE FUND PRESSER: Attorney General Bill McCollum attends press conference announcing that Orlando-based Florida Mezzanine Fund has entered into a partnership with CapitalSouth Partners that provides access to up to $450 million for investment in Florida small businesses Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp also attends. (10:30 a.m., Great HealthWorks, Inc., 4150 SW 28 Way, Fort Lauderdale.)

GOVERNOR ATTENDS VETERANS SHOWCASE: Gov. Charlie Crist has one public event today, the Florida Veterans Resource Showcase. (1 p.m., Bill Young Reserve Center, 2801 Grand Ave., Pinellas Park.)

This information originally published on March 11, 2010.

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