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Resolution 257-2002 Mayor McCoy RESOLUTION NO. 257 - 2002 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FL.ORIDA SEEKING THE SUPPORT AND PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 3878 AND ITS COUNTERPART IN THE US SENATE WHEREAS, Monroe County is a rural county situated at the Southernmost tip of the State of Florida and having its largest municipality closer to Cuba than to the mainland of the United States; and WHEREAS, Monroe County owns and operates the only assisted living facility remaining in Monroe County after three other such facilities have closed due to the exceedingly high cost of operations in this remote county; and WHEREAS, 25% of the residents of Monroe County are elderly; and WHEREAS, Monroe County has a long history of caring for its indigent elder residents, having maintained residential facilities continuously since the late 1800's; and WHEREAS, under the Supplemental Security Income provisions of the Social Security Act those individuals who are inmates of a public institution, which includes publicly operated community residences which serve more than 16 residents, are ineligible for assistance; and WHEREAS, the County's assisted living facility, Bayshore Manor, accepts no more than 16 residents in order to retain their eligibility for SSI assistance; and WHEREAS, Bayshore Manor has an approximate four-year waiting list; and WHEREAS, this waiting list results in persons who cannot live on their own being forced to the more expensive and more restrictive nursing homes; and WHEREAS, the limitation on eligibility of individuals who are in a pubic institution, including publicly operated community residences which serve 17 or more residents, penalizes people who need income based assisted living facilities the most; and WHEREAS, HR 3878 was introduced by Congressman Peter Deutsch to enable the residents of the Bayshore Manor assisted living facility in Key West, Florida, to continue to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act should the assisted living facility serve more than 16 but 40 or fewer residents; and WHEREAS, this Bill would decrease costs to the Federal Government by providing for elderly care in assisted living facilities and delaying or eliminating the need for the more expensive nursing home institutionalization; and WHEREAS, a similar exemption was passed for the Boundary County Restorium in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho through Public Law 96-698; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: Section 1. Monroe County seeks support from the Federal Legislature in enacting HR 3878 and its companion Bill contemplated to be introduced in the Senate by Senator Nelson. Section 2. The Clerk is directed to forward a copies of this Resolution to Congressman Peter Deutsch, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Bob Graham, Congresswoman Karen Thurman, Congressmen Mark Foley and E. Clay Shaw, and State Representative Ken Sorenson. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 19th day of June, 2002. Mayor Charles McCoy ,;~7r~I:~?::;.~yor Pro Tern Dixie Spehar 1{}:~2)A;~",~'~m",issioner Murray Nelson {,:~>i;:<~,\~~ Xi" Cotnm~sioner George Neugent !:',;'Ie.f:':, \"'E?;-,Cott'u"issioner Humberto Jimenez \\"i\ (' ,,". ;- \;)\ ~($E~L) ".","'.; ,.,,'"~tfest:{)ANNY L.KOLHAGE, Clerk ~L~ ye~ yes yes ye" yes BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA /] 2!/Chail'f'erson By jdresBayshore ~ " 3- <= ~ 0 0 ....., r z >" ::0 -'~. '- I"T1 c.-n::: c:: CJ Jr-.,r: z f"Y1~-< N " c")' r- 0 an' CJ1 c ::0 ="~ :::0 z. 0 -0 ::0 4('"). :<4::I:: :x ,.." ')> N ("') ..., C) 0 · 1""1 ::::0 l> W -.J CJ COMMITTEES: PLEASE RESPOND TO: o 2160 RAYBURN BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515-0918 (202) 225-3931 FAX (202) 225-5620 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS GOVERNMENT REFORM CHAIR: SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ctCongrt~g of tbt ~ntttb ~tattg 1!}ou~e of l\epre~entattbe~ ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN 18TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA o DISTRICT OFFICE: 9210 SUNSET DRIVE SUITE 100 MIAMI, FL 33173 (305) 275-1800 FAX (305) 275-1801 VICE CHAIR: SUBCOMMITTEE ON WESTERN HEMISPHERE July 16, 2002 Mr. Danny L. Kolhauge Clerk of Court Ex-Officio to the Board of County Commissioners Monroe County Courthouse 500 Whitehead Street Suite 101 Key West, Florida 33040 ~e.~o\~t'o'Y\ -::\\: ~57 - 2002 Dear Mr. Kollhauge: I want to thank you for writing my office expressing your support for H.R. 3878. Your views are very important to me. You may be pleased to know that I am a co-sponsor ofH.R. 3878. As you know, H.R. 3878 was introduced by Congressman Peter Deutsch (D-FL) and was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. The passage of the bill would allow the residents of Bayshore Manor to continue to receive Social Security benefits and prevent the new classification of their housing as public. I understand that the residents of Bayshore Manor need to receive the benefits entitled to them. Please be assured that I will continue to work hard to ensure these residents are treated fairly. Thank you again for contacting my office. I look forward to serving the residents of Monroe County. Ile Ros-Lehtinen Member of Congress IRL: kc/es PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER