Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 120826
   Clerk's Official Copy   

File Number: 120826 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted as amended
Version: 0 Reference: R-465-11 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: IDENTIFY RESOURCES FOR CREATING SAFE HOUSES FOR CHILDREN Introduced: 4/20/2012
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 6/7/2011
Agenda Date: 6/7/2011 Agenda Item Number: 11A1
Notes: THIS IS THE FINAL VERSION AS ADOPTED. Title: RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY COUNTY RESOURCES THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING SAFE HOUSES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY WAYS IN WHICH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CAN ASSIST CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 111008]
Indexes: EXPLOTATION OF CHILDREN
Sponsors: Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
  Lynda Bell, Co-Sponsor
  Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
  Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
  Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
  Jean Monestime, Co-Sponsor
  Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
  Sen. Javier D. Souto, 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

County Attorney 4/20/2012 Assigned Karon M. Coleman 6/10/2011

Board of County Commissioners 6/7/2011 11A1 AMENDED Adopted as amended P
REPORT: County Attorney Cuevas introduced the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Diaz expressed his appreciation to his colleagues for co-sponsoring this initiative and to the Miami-Dade Police Department for its support. He stressed the importance of finding a solution this matter and urged staff to quickly move forward to identify an appropriate property for designation as a safe house. Commissioner Diaz informed Commissioners that Kristi House was supportive and was providing grant funds to assist with this effort. Chairman Martinez asked that the foregoing proposed resolution be amended to incorporate language providing that the location/address of this proposed safe house shall not be disclosed to anyone. In response to a request for clarification from Ms. Wendi Norris, General Services Administration Director, Commissioner Diaz confirmed authority would be delegated to staff to negotiate a lease on a targeted property for use as the safe house. Chairman Martinez advised that staff should not bring information regarding the location of the property back to this Board or any other entity. Commissioner Bell asked to be listed as a co-sponsor of this proposed resolution. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Board adopted the foregoing proposed resolution as amended to instruct staff to incorporate the same safeguards and confidentiality provisions as the Safe House.

Legislative Text


TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY COUNTY RESOURCES THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING SAFE HOUSES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY WAYS IN WHICH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CAN ASSIST CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED

BODY
WHEREAS, according to the Florida House of Representatives Staff Analysis of HB 145 (2011 Session) (hereinafter, �Staff Analysis�), it is estimated that about 293,000 youth in the United States are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation; and
WHEREAS, according to this Staff Analysis, the majority of victims of commercial sexual exploitation are runaway youths who come from homes where they have been abused or abandoned and become involved in prostitution as a means of financial support, while other youths are forced into prostitution through abduction, pressure from adults or through deceptive agreements between parents and traffickers; and
WHEREAS, commercial sexual exploitation of children includes escort and massage services, private dancing, drinking and photographic clubs, major sporting and recreational events, major cultural events, conventions and tourist destinations, as per the Staff Analysis; and
WHEREAS, the average age at which youths first become involved in prostitution is 12-14 for girls and 11-13 for boys, as per the Staff Analysis; and
WHEREAS, this Board of County Commissioners desires to address this crisis and help the youth in this community who may be victims of sexual exploitation,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the Mayor or Mayor�s designee is directed to:
1. Identify Miami-Dade County resources that can be used to create safe houses for children who have been sexually exploited, including but not limited to:
a. Existing victim services programs such as domestic violence shelters, youth services program, homeless programs such as homeless shelters and other County programs,
b. Unused space, leases, buildings, lots or other property;
c. Available grants and other funding sources for which the County could apply; and
d. Existing contracts with community based organizations.
2. Collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement, State of Florida Department of Children and Families, The Children�s Trust and other appropriate partners such as but not limited to the Kristi House to devise a strategy for helping children who have been sexually exploited, including identification of resources.
3. The Mayor or Mayor�s designee shall provide a report to the Public Safety and Health Care Administration Committee no later than thirty (30) days from the effective date of this Resolution.
4. The Mayor or Mayor�s designee is authorized to negotiate and execute a lease agreement, without disclosing the location of the property unless required by law, and to provide a report to this Commission when the lease has been executed.



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