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| 1 | House Resolution | ||
| 2 | A resolution encouraging Florida's communities to adopt | ||
| 3 | Governor Jeb Bush's Communities for a Lifetime initiative | ||
| 4 | in order to retain our seniors and attract more retirees | ||
| 5 | to Florida. | ||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | WHEREAS, Florida residents aged 60 or older make up 23 | ||
| 8 | percent, or 3.8 million, of the current population of the state, | ||
| 9 | comprising the highest percentage of elders living in any state | ||
| 10 | of the nation, and their numbers are expected to experience | ||
| 11 | unprecedented growth during the first part of this century, and | ||
| 12 | WHEREAS, the Governor's Destination Florida Commission, in | ||
| 13 | its report of February 14, 2003, cites the positive impact | ||
| 14 | seniors have on the state's economy, including $2.8 billion in | ||
| 15 | taxes they provide above their costs to state and local | ||
| 16 | governments and their assets in deposit, which are estimated at | ||
| 17 | $320 billion, and | ||
| 18 | WHEREAS, the Communities for a Lifetime initiative was | ||
| 19 | established in an effort to create a safer, more friendly | ||
| 20 | environment for the seniors of our state, and | ||
| 21 | WHEREAS, to date, some 55 cities and counties have adopted | ||
| 22 | the Communities for a Lifetime initiative in an effort to better | ||
| 23 | enable our elder residents to live in dignity, security, and | ||
| 24 | independence, and | ||
| 25 | WHEREAS, it is in the interest of all Floridians to work | ||
| 26 | together to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere to which the | ||
| 27 | senior members of our society are attracted and in which they | ||
| 28 | may live comfortably and independently in their homes and | ||
| 29 | communities, NOW, THEREFORE, | ||
| 30 | |||
| 31 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of | ||
| 32 | Florida: | ||
| 33 | |||
| 34 | That the House of Representatives applauds the Communities | ||
| 35 | for a Lifetime initiative and urges cities and counties | ||
| 36 | throughout the state to adopt its goals and methods in order to | ||
| 37 | provide the ideal climate in which Florida's resident seniors | ||
| 38 | may live and to which elders throughout the country are | ||
| 39 | attracted and welcomed. | ||
| 40 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that cities and counties are | ||
| 41 | encouraged to contact the Department of Elder Affairs as an | ||
| 42 | excellent source of information and assistance in this matter. | ||