Fwd: GOLD COAST UPDATE/ IMPORTANT MESSAGE,PLEASE ACT

[Guest guest]

Regards,

Darla Haskell

Alert from ADAPT of Florida

To:

My friends in the disability rights movement.

Action Alert 1 – SB 1166

By ADAPT of Florida

SB 1166 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Children, Families and Elders Affairs Committee tomorrow morning, Friday March 25. As currently worded, the bill (and its companion HB 645) opens the door to private state funded institutions under the name of “Choice†by changing the siting requirements for group homes. HB 645 was heard this morning and passed its first committee of reference.

Background:

· The bill authorizes facilities, called planned residential communities, which have virtually no constraints placed on them in terms of what services they will provide onsite or how many people will live or be served there. This effectively allows them to become institutions regardless of what they are called.

· The bill can take community service dollars away from people served in a traditional group and foster homes because supporters want to get operating funds from the same budget item.

· An amendment supported by cities is being offered by the sponsor that would set a NIMBY (not in my back yard) precedent by not allowing these facilities in any area of less than 10 acres. This essentially bans these “communities†from urban areas. In effect, the amendment “red lines†these “communities into more rural areas of Florida and underscores the danger inherent in creating institutions.

· Individuals with disabilities must be able to have real supports. They do not need pity. They need real supports in a non segregated community.

Action Needed:

Please call or email members of the Senate Children, Families and Elders Affairs Committee. Ask them to vote against SB 1166 because it promotes the development of institutions and discriminates against people with developmental disabilities. It is extremely important that the legislature hear that not all advocates approve of this bill.

Senators – Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee

First Name

Last Name

District City

District Phone

Tallahassee Phone

Email Address

Detert

Venice

detert.nancy.web@...

de la Portilla

Miami

portilla.alex.web@...

Rudy

Hialeah

garcia.rudy.web@...

C. 'Tony'

Hill

ville

hill.tony.web@...

Charlie

Justice

St. sburg

justice.charlie.web@...

Nan

Rich

Sunrise

rich.nan.web@...

Ronda

Storms*

storms.ronda.web@...

R.

Wise

ville

wise.stephen.web@...

* Chairperson

Diane De Braga

Executive Director