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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL SERVICES PROGRAM AND OTHER VITAL PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

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WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution 68-10, the County has previously urged Florida lawmakers in the 2010 session to maintain funding for critical programs benefiting the elderly, including Community Care for the Elderly, Home Care for the Elderly, the Alzheimer�s Disease Initiative, and Local Services Program; and
WHEREAS, such programs provide crucial services, such as case management and in-home services, to frail, low-income, elderly residents; and
WHEREAS, frail, low-income, elderly residents in need of vital services may not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford to purchase services on their own; and
WHEREAS, the Miami City Commission recently adopted a similar resolution urging Florida lawmakers to support funding of the Local Services Program; and
WHEREAS, according to the City of Miami, funding for the Local Services Program has been reduced in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, a continued reduction in state funding of such vital services will negatively impact numerous frail, elderly residents; and
WHEREAS, funding for the Local Services Program and elderly services was previously approved and identified by the Board of County Commissioners (�this Board�) as a critical state priority for the 2013 session; and
WHEREAS, the intent of this resolution is to emphasize this Board�s continued support of identifying state funding for the Local Services Program and other vital elderly services as a critical state priority for the 2013 session,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Governor and Florida Legislature to maintain funding for the Local Services Program and other critical programs for the elderly in Miami-Dade County.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of this Board to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the appropriations set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2013 State Legislative Package to include this item.