Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 090854

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 090854

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-444-09

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

Introduced: 3/27/2009

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 4/21/2009

Agenda Date: 4/21/2009

Agenda Item Number: 14A3

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DECLARING THE MONTH OF APRIL BEGINNING IN APRIL 2009 AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER AS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Indexes:

AUTISM

Sponsors:	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Joe A. Martinez, Co-Sponsor
	Dorrin D. Rolle, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	4/21/2009	14A3	Adopted				P

Health, Public Safety & Intergovernmental Cmte	4/16/2009	2B	Forwarded to the BCC by the BCC Chairperson with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Sanchez read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Diaz said that autism affected one out of 150 children. He estimated that the lifetime costs of caring for a child with autism ranged between 3.5 million to 5 million dollars. He pointed out that the community needed to be aware of this and how it affected children. The following persons spoke in support of the foregoing proposed resolution: ~Ms. Laura Reyes, 6500 SW 51st Terrace; ~Mr. Damian Gregory, Chairperson, Commission on Disability Issues; ~Ms. Katia Machado (phonetic); ~Mr. Ricardo Herrera; and ~Ms. Wendy Dean, 8850 SW 155th Terrace. Commissioners Rolle, Heyman and Diaz asked to be added as co-sponsors of this resolution. Commissioner Diaz expressed appreciation to those who appeared in support of this proposed resolution. Hearing no further questions or comments, the committee proceeded to vote. Chairwoman Heyman submitted a memorandum requesting that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Chairman Dennis C. Moss waive the Board's Rules and Procedures to allow the foregoing proposed resolution to be heard at the April 21, 2009 BCC meeting.

County Manager	4/16/2009		Additions		4/21/2009

County Attorney	3/27/2009		Assigned	Monica Rizo		4/10/2009

County Attorney	3/27/2009		Referred	Health, Public Safety & Intergovernmental Cmte	4/16/2009

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DECLARING THE MONTH OF APRIL BEGINNING IN APRIL 2009 AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER AS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

BODY

WHEREAS, statistics show that 1 in 150 children born today will be diagnosed with autism, and that already 1 to 1.5 million Americans have autism; and
WHEREAS, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United Sates of America; and
WHEREAS, the Autism Society of American estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism currently ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million; and
WHEREAS, the cost of lifelong care for adults with autism can be reduced by about 66% with early diagnosis and prevention; and
WHEREAS, various organizations in Miami-Dade County (the �County�), including Austism Speaks, the Miami Institute for Human Genomics (�MIHG�), the Autism Society of Miami-Dade County, the University of Miami/Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (�CARD�), and Parent to Parent of Miami, Inc. conduct research on, raise money for, and provide support and awareness of autism in our community; and
WHEREAS, for example, CARD provides autism-related services to over 2,500 families in the County and has raised over $1 million since 2003, and MIHG researchers recently identified a genetic variant that contributes to autism risk; and
WHEREAS, while April is recognized nationally as Autism Awareness month, this Board finds that it is in the public�s best interest to declare the month of April as Autism Awareness Month in the County in order to raise local, community awareness about autism, to encourage early autism testing for children in the County, and to encourage County residents to provide both financial and volunteer support for autism research and care,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby declares the month of April, beginning in April 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, as Autism Awareness Month in Miami-Dade County.