TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT SB 294 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE FIVE-YEAR WAITING PERIOD FOR LAWFULLY RESIDING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE FLORIDA KIDCARE PROGRAM

BODY
WHEREAS, the Florida KidCare Program is an umbrella of federally subsidized children�s health insurance programs funded through the Children�s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid for families whose income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; and
WHEREAS, through a partnership between the state and federal governments, Florida KidCare provides affordable health insurance and therefore access to healthcare for children of families with lower incomes; and
WHEREAS, in Florida, children born outside of the United States are not eligible for the KidCare Program until they have legally resided in the country for five years; and
WHEREAS, the five-year waiting period was once required under federal law, but with the passage of the Children�s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, states gained the option of extending health coverage under programs like KidCare to immigrant children lawfully residing in the United States, without requiring the five-year waiting period; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB) 294 has been filed for consideration during the 2015 session of the Florida Legislature by Senator Rene Garcia (R � Miami), which would eliminate the five-year waiting period for lawfully residing immigrant children to become eligible for the Florida KidCare Program; and
WHEREAS, eliminating the five-year waiting period for KidCare eligibility will likely not only benefit the children who would now qualify for health insurance coverage, but also reduce the cost of uncompensated care that is borne by the entire healthcare system; and
WHEREAS, if SB 294 is passed, low-income legally residing immigrant children would also be more likely to receive preventive care and less likely to use expensive hospital emergency room services; and
WHEREAS, because it promotes healthier children and families in Florida, this Board supports SB 294 or similar legislation that would eliminate the five-year waiting period for lawfully residing immigrant children to become eligible for the Florida KidCare Program,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to enact SB 294 or similar legislation that would eliminate the five-year waiting period for lawfully residing immigrant children to become eligible for the Florida KidCare Program.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Senator Rene Garcia, and the Chair and remaining Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of legislation as set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2015 State Legislative Package to include this item.