The sad option for those needing long term care and not being able to get it is to commit a crime in order to be put under state care via incarceration. So those in Need on the registry may increase recidivism rates.

I received this 2nd actual response to my emails on this matter. Although the response doesn’t actually offer much. I believe it may at least indicate another Reps office who’s listening and who might possiblt be a ally?. The message is copy pasted as follows:

Hello;

Thank you for reaching out! I wanted to email and let you know we received and acknowledge your concerns. I will share them with the Representative. Please know that our office values your thoughts and concerns and our doors are always open.

Criten Ann Cameron (she/her)
Legislative Intern to Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell
Florida House of Representatives, District 67
Capitol Phone: (850) 717-5067
District Phone: (813) 936-0854.

Thanks again. I will pass this information along.

You are welcome!

Here is another response from Ms Rayners office in response to my question if they had a list of facilities that except registrants. Copy pasted as follows:

Hi Mrs. Linda,

I had not received those resources yet, but the Agency for Health Care Administration would be your best resource for this matter. That is who I emailed and was awaiting a reply from.

Thank you!

Best,

Sam Kelleher

District Aide to Representative Michele Rayner | District 62

Phone: 727-471-4706

Thank you for this information, Lindy.

Here is the response I received from Rep Rayners office, which I have copy pasted below, it suggests what we should do next:

Thank you for clarifying. There is nothing our office can do right now to change the rules and regulations that certain long-term health care facilities have. There are however, some facilities that do take in folks that are on the sex offender registry and we have the resources for that if needed right now.

This is an issue that will need a change in legislation and Rep. Rayner currently has no more bill slots available for this upcoming session. If we are not your direct representative, I recommend reaching out to yours or others, to see if any are willing to help sponsor a bill for you to help make this change.

Thank you!

Thank you, Robert, for reaching out to our legislators.

I did receive ONE personal reply thanking me for contacting them about this matter.

Thank you for doing this. Yes, it could appear that none will be read, but last spring we were told that legislators did indeed notice the high volume of emails that were sent to them. They might not read everything but they are influenced by the large number of people who reach out to them on a particular topic. That is why they let the bills with the red lettering on the driver’s licenses die last year — because of all the emails they received opposing it.

I, too, felt it was hopeless last spring, but I am a believer now. Tallahassee is starting to see that we have a growing lobbying effort now that cannot be ignored.