2010-05 Support Pain Clinic Leg w FLCRESOLUTION NO. 10 -05
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA URGING
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT LEGISLATION FURTHER
REGULATING THE DISPENSING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Okeechobee finds that it is in the best interest of the health, safety, and
welfare of its residents, businesses, and visitors for regulations to be in place to provide for
safer residential and commercial neighborhoods in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the illegal sale, use, and delivery of controlled substances is
a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has recently been made aware by law enforcement and new reports that
a pattern of illegal drug use and distribution has been associated with pain management clinics
in neighboring municipalities, which dispense on -site narcotic drugs; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has also been made aware of numerous newspaper stories in the
recent past describing a "pipeline" of trafficking drugs from South Florida pain management
clinics to users in the other states, such as Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the threat of increased crime associated with such clinics, is very significant and could
undermine the economic health of the City's development and redevelopment efforts; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has attempted to deter such illegal drug use, distribution and
activities by the creation of a secure and privacy protected, statewide electronic system of
monitoring prescription drug medication information, to encourage safer controlled substance
prescription decisions and to reduce the number of prescription drug overdoses, deaths and
related crimes; and
WHEREAS, in the absence of regulations identifying where narcotic drugs may be dispensed, the
City's residents, visitors and businesses are more vulnerable to criminal actions, despite the
provision of law enforcement services.
NOW THEREFORE, it is resolved before the City Council for the City of Okeechobee Florida;
presented at a duly advertised public meeting; and passed by majority vote of the City Council;
and properly executed by the Mayor or designee, as Chief Presiding Officer for the City:
Section 1. Encourage the State Legislature to recognize the seriousness of illegal
prescription drug use and distribution within the state.
Section 2. Urge the State Legislature to enact legislation requiring mandatory use, by
doctor's offices, pain management clinics, and pharmacies, of the statewide
electronic system of monitoring prescription drugs; to require owners and
operators of pain management clinics to be certified and possess no felony
convictions; to require a pain management certificate to practice pain
management; to prohibit on -site dispensing of Schedule II controlled
substances; to limit on -site dispensing of Schedule III controlled substances to
a 72 -hour supply; and to authorize penalties for violations.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to provide copies of this resolution to the
President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of
Representatives, Florida Governor Crist, the Okeechobee County Legislative
Delegation, the Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities and the Florida
League of Cities.
Resolution No. 10 -05 Page 1 of 2
ATTEST
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED in regular session this 20 th d
Lane Gamiotea, AMC, City Clerk
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
o ri Cook, City torney
y
Resolution No. 10 -05 Page 2 of 2
ril, 2010
James E. Kirk, Mayor