AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Public Law, 42 USC 12101, et seq. (1990), enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act (hereinafter the Act); and

Title II thereof applies to public agencies, including the Court, and those constitutional and statutory offices which serve the justice system; and

In order to provide a mechanism whereby reasonable accommodation may be provided to those persons with disabilities who require accommodation in order to fully participate in the proceedings of the judiciary; and

In order to comply with the Supreme Court of Florida Administrative Order implementing Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.065, it is hereby

ORDERED:

1. The Human Rights Office of Pinellas County is hereby designated as the centralized contact for requests for accommodation under the Act in Pinellas County. The Human Rights Office, by agreement, will provide this service to the constitutional and statutory offices of Pinellas County Government.

2. The Pasco County Public Information Department is hereby designated as the centralized contact for requests for accommodation under the Act in Pasco County. The Public Information Department, by agreement, will provide this service to the constitutional and statutory offices of Pasco County Government.

3. The centralized contacts may forward any request for accommodation to the appropriate constitutional officer or statutory offices’ ADA Coordinator for response to any accommodation request.

4. A notice shall be posted at each court facility notifying persons in need of

accommodations of the centralized contacts.

5. Except as provided herein, all notices of court proceedings to be held in a public

facility, and all process compelling appearance at such proceedings shall contain the following

language:

a. For proceedings before the Courts of Pinellas County:

“If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you to the provision of certain assistance. Within two (2) working days of your receipt of this (describe notice/order) please contact the Human Rights Office, 400 S. Ft. Harrison Ave., Ste. 300, Clearwater, FL 33756, (727) 464-4062 (V/TDD).

b. For proceedings before the Courts of Pasco County:

“If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you to the provision of certain assistance. Within two (2) working days of your receipt of this (describe notice/order) please contact the Public Information Dept., Pasco County Government Center, 7530 Little Rd., New Port Richey, FL 34654; (727) 847-8110 (V) in New Port Richey; (352) 521-4274, ext. 8110 (V) in Dade City; via 1-800-955-8771 if you are hearing impaired.

6. The Clerks of the Circuit Court for Pasco and Pinellas Counties may refuse to issue any document prepared by counsel that does not contain the appropriate language listed thereon pursuant to the terms of this Order.

Administrative Order PA/PI-CIR-97-06 is hereby rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this 25th day of August, 1999.

/s/__________________________

Susan F. Schaeffer, Chief Judge