TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION CREATING A SILVER ALERT PROGRAM FOR MISSING ELDERLY PERSONS

BODY
WHEREAS, according to the National Institute on Aging, as many as 5 million people in the U.S. may suffer from Alzheimer's disease; and
WHEREAS, the Alzheimer's Association estimates that more than 60 percent of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease will wander away from their homes or care-giving facilities during their lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses sometimes leave their victims confused, disoriented, and often unable return to their to homes, families or care-giving facilities; and
WHEREAS, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas have established notification systems, modeled after the successful Amber Alert system, to help disseminate information about missing seniors and those with other dementia-related illnesses to law enforcement and other appropriate authorities in an expeditious manner; and
WHEREAS, timely notification and dissemination of appropriate information about missing individuals greatly increases the chances that the individuals will be located; and
WHEREAS, Florida has more people 65 and older than any other state, and Florida's 85-plus population is growing twice as fast as that of any other state, with half of people 85 years of age and older having brain health concerns, according to the Florida Chapter of the AARP; and
WHEREAS, Florida Congressman Gus Bilirakis is sponsoring H.R. 5898, the Silver Alert Grant Program Act; and
WHEREAS, if passed, the Silver Alert Grant Program Act would provide states with seed money to implement Silver Alert programs; and
WHEREAS, three state representatives in Florida have indicated they will file legislation to create a Silver Alert system in Florida, State Representatives Tom Anderson, Kurt Kelly, and Peter Nehr,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Silver Alert Grants Program, H.R. 5898, or similar legislation.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature to pass legislation creating a Silver Alert program for the State of Florida.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Governor; the Senate President; the House Speaker; the Chair and Members of the MiamiDade State Legislative Delegation; State Representatives Tom Anderson, Kurt Kelly, and Peter Nehr; the Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, and the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Section 4. Directs the County's federal and state lobbyists to advocate for the issues identified in sections 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2009 federal and state legislative packages.