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RESOLUTION OPPOSING A PROPOSED COMMITTEE BILL BY THE HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM SUBCOMMITTEE, PCB EDTS 14-02 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION, THAT WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT EACH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY MAINTAIN A REGISTRY OF PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION AND REQUIRE A STATEWIDE REGISTRY

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WHEREAS, each of the 67 counties in Florida currently are required to maintain a Special Needs Registry in order meet the special needs of persons who, because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or sensory disabilities, would require assistance during evacuations and sheltering; and
WHEREAS, since 1980, counties have been required to maintain Special Needs Registries under state law; and
WHEREAS, a Proposed Committee Bill by the House Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee, PCB EDTS 14-02, would require that the Florida Division of Emergency Management maintain a registry of persons with special needs located in Florida and remove the requirement that each local emergency management agency maintain such registry; and
WHEREAS, the counties and their local partners, not the Florida Department of Emergency Management, are directly responsible for the transportation of persons with special needs and the operation of shelters in emergency situations; and
WHEREAS, over 2,000 Miami-Dade County residents are registered on Miami-Dade County�s Special Needs Registry; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County�s registry system links special transportation providers and area hospitals that deliver critical resources during emergency situations; and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management has the ability to access its Special Needs Registry even in the event that a disaster causes power loss throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, a single statewide one-size-fits-all Special Needs Registry may be less effective at serving the unique characteristics and capabilities of individual counties,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Opposes a Proposed Committee Bill by the House Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee, PCB EDTS 14-02 or similar legislation, that would remove the requirement that each local emergency management agency maintain a registry of persons with special needs within their jurisdiction and require a statewide registry.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation, and the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate against the passage of the legislation as set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2014 State Legislative Package.