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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTC 049-2026 LGBTQIA + Advisory Committee MotionMIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK LTC No.049-2026 LETTER TO COMMISSION TO:Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission FROM;-Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk To REGIS BARBOU DATE:February 12,2026 SUBJECT:LGBTQIA+Advisory Committee Motion On The Advisory Committee reviewed and discussed the item at their meeting on February 10,2026 and approved the following motion: Motion 1:Support the resolution co-prime sponsored by Commissioner Alex J.Fernandez and Mayor Steven Meiner (item C7 AY on the February 5,2026,City Commission agenda),which calls on the State of Florida to maintain current eligibility criteria and benefits under the State's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP),to allocate additional funding necessary to preserve these standards and benefits,and to urge the United States Congress to increase funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to support state-administered ADAP programs in response to rising health insurance costs. The Committee further recognizes Vice Chair Paul Thomas for drafting the supporting resolution,given his expertise and knowledge of ADAP. Motion Made by:Carol Coombes Motion Seconded by:Michael Bath Motion passed unanimously The resolution is attached. Members Present:Carol Coombes,Paul Thomas,Christopher Babka,Michael Bath,Vincent Becchinelli,Ami Glottman,Eddie Marti Kring,Laurence Moser,Victoria Pelletier,Eddy Rivero,Timur Tugberk,and Fecundo Yebne. We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live,work and play in our vibrant,tropical,historic community Agenda Item No. RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO.2026-34108,WHICH URGES THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO MAINTAIN CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND BENEFITS UNDER THE STATE'S AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP),URGES THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE STATE'S ADAP IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND PROGRAM BENEFITS AT EXISTING LEVELS,AND URGES THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM TO BE ALLOCATED FOR STATE-ADMINISTERED AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 1 WHEREAS,Florida's AIDS Drug Assistance Program ("ADAP")provides direct medication access to low-income people living with HIV who have limited or no coverage from insurance;and WHEREAS,the ADAP also covers the cost of health insurance premiums for eligible clients;and WHEREAS,the program serves more than 32,000 people statewide;and WHEREAS,in January 2026,the Florida Department of Health ("FOOR")announced changes to the ADAP,scheduled to take effect on March 1,2026;and WHEREAS,these changes include significantly narrowing the income eligibility threshold for medication assistance and ending support for insurance premiums;and WHEREAS,for those who remain eligible for medication assistance,the FOOR intends to limit the medication Descovy to individuals with renal insufficiency,as well as remove the medication Biktarvy altogether;and Agenda Item No. Page No.2 WHEREAS,under the new restrictions,nearly half of all ADAP clients-more than 16,000 Floridiansare expected to lose coverage;and WHEREAS,Miami-Dade County has the highest HIV burden in Florida,and thousands of its residents rely on ADAP for life-sustaining continuous care;and WHEREAS,the FDOH's intended changes to the program would cause thousands of people to lose health their insurance coverage and would interrupt their access to HIV-related treatment;and WHEREAS,disrupting medication regimens will lead to viral rebound,drug resistance and increased risk of HIV transmission;and WHEREAS,.these changes threaten to reverse decades of progress aimed at ending the HIV epidemic;and WHEREAS,on February 5,2026,the City of Miami Beach Mayor &Commission ("Commission")adopted Resolution No.2026-34109,co-prime sponsored by Commissioner Alex J.Fernandez and Mayor Steven Meiner,which (i)urged the State of Florida to maintain existing eligibility criteria and benefits under the state's ADAP,(ii)urged the Florida Legislature to appropriate additional funding to the ADAP in order to maintain eligibility criteria and program benefits at existing levels,and (iii)urged the United States Congress to appropriate additional funding to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program,to be allocated to state-administered AIDS Drug Assistance Programs in light ofrising health insurance costs;and WHEREAS,it is the objective of this Committee to promote the public health and continuity of care goals served through the ADAP;and WHEREAS,this Committee supports the Commission's approval of Resolution 2026- 34108,and the actions recommended therein;and Agenda Item No. Page No.3 NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH LGBTQIA+ADVISORY COMMITTEE,that this Committee supports Resolution No.2026- 34108 of the City of Miami Beach Office ofthe Mayor and Commission,which urges the State of Florida and the Florida Legislature to maintain current eligibility criteria and benefits under the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program and to appropriate additional funding to the program in order to maintain eligibility criteria and program benefits at existing levels,as well as urges the United States Congress to appropriate additional funding to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program to be allocated to state-administered AIDS Drug Assistance Programs.The LGBTQIA+Advisory Committee shall forward a copy ofthis resolution to the Chairwoman ofthe Board for transmittal to the City of Miami Beach Mayor and Commission. The foregoing resolution was offered by Carol Coombes,who moved its adoption.The motion was seconded by Michael Bath,and upon being put to a vote,the vote was as follows: Carol Coombes,Chairwoman - Paul Thomas,Vice Chairman - Christopher Babka-Laurence Moser - Michael Bath-Victoria Pelletier - Vincent Becchinelli-Eddy Rivero - Ami Glottman-Timur Tugberk - Eddie Marti Kring-Fecundo Yebne - The resolution was prepared and drafted by Vice Chairman Paul Thomas at the request of the Committee. The Chairwoman thereupon declared this resolution duly passed and adopted this 12th day of February,2026,to be transmitted to the City Clerk for transmittal to the City of Miami Beach Mayor and Commission.