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r <br />FEB 2 0.1990 BOOK <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />,1-,, 9 F,� 1,; 1. 3 2 1 7 <br />The E911 Public Safety Answering Point (Central Communications) <br />located at the Sheriff's Administration Complex and the Vero Beach <br />Police Department currently utilize a Telecommunication Device for <br />the Deaf (TDD) which was purchased several years ago. In the past <br />session of the Legislature, Section 427.507, Florida Statutes, was <br />amended wherein certain public safety and health care providers <br />were mandated to purchase and operate TDD's. <br />The Department of Emergency Management Services is also charged by <br />statutes to maintain a list of handicapped individuals within the <br />County who would require assistance in the event of a manmade or <br />natural disaster. Some of these individuals are hearing impaired <br />and staff feels an additional TDD should be purchased and installed <br />at the Emergency Operations Center for use and access to <br />information by these citizens regarding need status and evacuation <br />preparation/planning. <br />The law provides that offices and organizations required to operate <br />TDD's pursuant to the above referenced section shall utilize only <br />equipment that meets the standards and specifications which have <br />been established by the Florida Council for the Hearing Impaired. <br />The older TDD's at the two Public Safety Answering Point locations <br />do not meet the standards and specifications adopted by the Council <br />and new equipment is required to be- purchased which was not <br />anticipated during budget preparations for the current fiscal year. <br />ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS <br />----, The only alternative available to the County is to continue <br />utilizing the TDD's now. in service which does not meet the new <br />standards and specifications. This course of action could possibly <br />cause the Florida Division of Communications to decertify the <br />'=_Public Safety Answering Points and civil action could also occur. <br />-. _Ultratec, Incorporated of Madison, Wisconsin has been awarded Bid <br />----- #89-13 by the Florida Department of Education to:sell and provide <br />approved TDD's as a vendor. The approved TDD's are identified as <br />a Superprint 400 Emergency Service Unit and sells for $249.75 each. <br />The Public Safety Answering Point at the Vero Beach Police <br />Department as well as the Sheriff's Department Communications <br />Center needs to replace the TDD's currently being used and an <br />additional TDD should be purchased for the Emergency operation <br />Center for a total price of $749.25 plus shipping. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve <br />the expenditure of $749.25 plus shipping to purchase three TDD's <br />for the PSAP's and EOC to use in communicating with the hearing <br />impaired and authorize a budget amendment for this purpose. <br />Funding is available in the contingency fund of the Communication <br />Center budget identified as 120-133-581.091 which is derived from <br />the 911 surcharge. <br />Funding for the capital equipment is available from surtax revenue <br />in Account #133 used to fund the Public Safety Answering Points. <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />Section 427.507, Florida Statutes (Appendix A) <br />TDD Specifications <br />56 <br />