Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 120906

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 120906

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-601-12

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES

Introduced: 5/2/2012

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 7/3/2012

Agenda Date: 7/3/2012

Agenda Item Number: 11A21

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND FLORIDA ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION’S EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Indexes:

ASSISTED LIVING

Sponsors:	Rebeca Sosa, Prime Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, 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	7/3/2012	11A21	Adopted				P

Infrastructure and Land Use Committee	6/13/2012	2D	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Geri Bonzon-Keenan read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Sosa commended Ms. Penelope Townsley, Supervisor of Elections, for her work to prevent fraud with absentee ballots. Chairwoman Edmonson asked that she be listed as a co-sponsor. Ms. Townsley explained that this partnership with the Florida Assisted Living Association was designed to provide outreach and education to the assisted living facility administrators and/or residents. She stated that the administrators who participated in the voter education training received continuing education credits towards their certification. She clarified the residents at a certified facility would receive supervised voting on site. She pointed out that the County would deliver and return absentee ballots to the assisted living facilities. Ms. Townsley noted the County was offering this service to all assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Commissioner Jordan clarified that “Eye on Miami” was the entity that approached Commissioner Sosa regarding this proposal. She questioned whether the County was providing this service upon request or the County was proactively contacting registered assisted living facilities. Ms. Townsley noted this program was voluntary, and 35 facilities had already requested training, while 13 had requested to provide voting. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote.

County Attorney	5/2/2012		Assigned	Oren Rosenthal		5/4/2012

County Attorney	5/2/2012		Referred	Infrastructure and Land Use Committee	6/13/2012

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND FLORIDA ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION�S EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS

BODY

WHEREAS, electors residing in assisted living facilities in Miami-Dade County use absentee ballots to exercise their right to vote; and
WHEREAS, educating the residents and staff in assisted living facilities will reduce absentee voting abuse, intimidation and exploitation; and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County Elections Department, in partnership with the Florida Assisted Living Association, have created a program to offer one hour classes for residents and staff of assisted living facilities and thereby increase awareness of assisted living facility residents� absentee voting rights and responsibilities and expand residents� knowledge of available resources, including supervised voting; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners wishes to encourage and support the Elections Department in promoting and providing these educational opportunities to residents and staff of assisted living facilities to enable them to protect these electors� right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby supports the Election Department�s educational outreach programs in assisted living facilities in Miami-Dade County and encourages residents and staff of such facilities to attend these free programs to enhance and protect resident voters from absentee voting abuse, intimidation and exploitation.