Florida SB30

“Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, filed a bill (SB 30) Tuesday that would direct payment of nearly $5.1 million to a victim because of the Department of Children and Families’ actions in placing a troubled youth, identified only by the initials J.W., in the home of a foster family.

The bill says a Department of Children and Families caseworker failed to tell the family that J.W. had been a victim and perpetrator of sexual abuse, was an alleged juvenile sexual offender and had been recommended to go to a residential treatment facility. A child in the family later said he had been sexually assaulted by J.W., who moved into the family home in 2002.

A lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County circuit court on behalf of the child who was assaulted led to a judgment of $5,176,543 against the department. The state’s sovereign immunity laws placed a $100,000 limit on what could be paid to the victim, identified by the initials C.M.H., without legislative approval of a higher amount. Garcia’s bill would direct payment of the remaining $5,076,543.

Bills call for compensating sexual assault victims[NEWS 4Jax 7/29/15 by News Service of Florida]

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