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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO (1) DEVELOP AN �OCCUPANT WITH AUTISM� DECAL PROGRAM FOR THE MIAMI-DADE POLICE DEPARTMENT, (2) CREATE A WEBSITE FOR RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE MIAMI-DADE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, (3) IDENTIFY LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS FROM WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 COUNTY BUDGET FOR THE DECAL PROGRAM, AND (4) PROVIDE A REPORT

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WHEREAS, the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (�CARD�) estimates that there may be as many as 50,000 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (�ASD�) in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, on January 20, 2021, the Board adopted R-59-21, directing the County Mayor or her designee to enter into an agreement with CARD to provide training to enable County staff, including police officers and firefighters, to better understand, communicate with, and serve the neurodivergent community; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to R-59-21, the County entered into an agreement with CARD to provide training to County first responders and public safety personnel on best practices for on-scene crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques when interacting with persons with ASD; and
WHEREAS, the North Miami Beach and Hialeah Police Departments provide �Occupant with Autism� decals to residents who request such decals to notify first responders that there is an individual in their vehicle or home with ASD; and
WHEREAS, when emergency responders are made aware that an occupant with ASD may be present, those responders can draw on their ASD training and tailor their response to better communicate with and serve the individual with ASD; and
WHEREAS, in addition to or in lieu of the �Occupant with Autism� decal, the North Miami Beach and Hialeah Police Departments also offer a website where individuals can provide information to the Departments about the occupants within their household with ASD; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to create an �Occupant with Autism� program administered by the Miami-Dade Police Department,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to (1) develop an �Occupant with Autism� program through which the Miami-Dade County Police Department can provide �Occupant with Autism� decals, free of charge, to residents who wish to notify first responders that there is an individual with autism spectrum disorder in their home or vehicle, and (2) create a website through which residents of the Unincorporated Municipal Service Area can voluntarily provide information to the Miami-Dade County Police Department about individuals in their household with autism spectrum disorder.
Section 2. Further directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to identify legally available funds from within the fiscal year 2022-2023 County Budget that independently or combined may be used to fund the �Occupant with Autism� decal program identified in section 1, and to include funding for the same in the County Mayor�s Proposed Budget for subsequent fiscal years. If the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee is unable to identify legally available funds for the �Occupant with Autism� decal program as set forth in this resolution, the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee shall set forth the reasons why funds have not been identified or cannot be used or allocated for the purposes set forth in this resolution.
Section 3. Directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to provide a report to this Board regarding the directives set forth in sections 1 and 2 of this resolution within 60 days of the effective date of this resolution. The completed report shall be placed on an agenda of the full Board without committee review pursuant to Rule 5.06(j) of the Board�s Rules of Procedure.