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TO: County Officials May 10, 1985 <br />FROM: John P. Thomas, Executive Director <br />RE: Group Home Legislation <br />The attached factsheet describes aspects of the group home <br />legislation. The bills, HB -1174 and SB -1099, are on a fast <br />track. HB -1174, sponsored by Representative Martin and the <br />Community Affairs Committee, has already passed the House. SB - <br />1099, sponsored by Senators, Fox, Meek and Jenne, has passed the <br />HRS Committee and is on the Senate Calendar. <br />It has been most difficult to get legislators to listen to the <br />issue. The left column of the Factsheet is what most of them <br />hear and the statement cannot be refuted. The right column is <br />where the problem lies. It has a hard message to get across. <br />The proposed bill is in contradiction to the Association <br />policy. Opposing this legislation does not mean that you are <br />opposed to group homes. Please contact your Senator <br />immediately. It will be voted on this week. <br />SUM ASSOCIATION of COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF FLORIDA. INC. <br />"M YM IRVE BMW: <br />The purpose of the bill is to <br />allow persons to bring into their <br />hame up to 6 individuals who may * be <br />elderly, physically handicapped or <br />mentally retarded. Legislation is <br />needed because local government has <br />not done an adequate job of waiving <br />zoning and permits to allow such <br />living arrangements. <br />64 <br />The bill allows carnmercial <br />ventures to operate in residental <br />neighborhoods. Such facilities may <br />house up to 19 persons. The <br />buildings may function as a de-tox <br />center, halfway house, house for <br />wayward youth, treatment center for <br />mentally ill, or any other function <br />for persons with "special Reeds". <br />If a suitable house does not <br />exist, modification, renovation or <br />reconstruction may occur. New <br />buildings may also be constructed. <br />All such activities may be <br />undertaken without regard for deed <br />restriction, covenants or any other <br />"condition". All powers of local <br />government to regulate the "hares" <br />are -preempted except that the police <br />may respcnd to nuisance calls. <br />BOOK U0 F'F;Gc.995 <br />