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FL S0288
Bill
Status
Failed
4/30/2021
Primary Sponsor
Criminal Justice
Click for details
AI Summary
- Establishes the "Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Abuse Victim Certification Act," defining victims as living persons confined at either school between 1940 and 1975 who were subjected to mental, physical, or sexual abuse by school personnel
- Requires victims seeking certification to submit an application to the Department of State by September 1, 2021, including an affidavit, archival documentation of confinement, and photo identification; estates or personal representatives of deceased individuals may not apply
- Directs the Department of State to examine applications within 30 days, give applicants 15 days to correct errors, and process completed applications within 90 days, with a final deadline of December 31, 2021 to submit a certified victim list to the Legislature
- Waives standard crime victim compensation eligibility requirements under Chapter 960, Florida Statutes, including the definition of "crime" and filing deadlines, allowing certified victims to file compensation claims within 1 year of the act's effective date
- Acknowledges a documented history of beatings, sexual abuse, suspicious deaths, and unreported burials at both schools, following the Legislature's 2017 unanimous formal apology to victims
Legislative Description
Victims of Reform School Abuse
Last Action
Died in Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
4/30/2021
Committee Referrals
Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee1/28/2021
Criminal Justice1/11/2021
Full Bill Text
No bill text available