HB 6507 is a claims bill that provides special legislative relief to Marcus Button and his mother, Robin Button, arising from a 2006 school bus crash involving an employee of the Pasco County School Board. The bill directs the school board to appropriate $1 million to a trust for Marcus Button and $200,000 to Robin Button as compensation for injuries, losses, and related harms caused by the crash. It also states that these payments, together with amounts already paid under Florida’s sovereign immunity limits, are intended to fully resolve all claims connected to the incident.
The bill further expresses legislative intent that government liens, including Medicaid liens, related to Marcus Button’s treatment be waived and paid by the state. It caps attorney fees at 25 percent of the amounts awarded under the act and makes the act effective upon becoming law. In practical terms, the bill creates a one-time, case-specific appropriation and settlement mechanism outside the ordinary tort claims process, while also addressing lien recovery and finality of payment.
Impact
The bill does not amend Florida’s general negligence or school board liability statutes, but it authorizes a specific payment beyond the standard sovereign immunity cap in section 768.28, Florida Statutes, as referenced in the text. It directs the Pasco County School Board to make the payments from unencumbered funds and declares the awards to be the sole compensation for all claims arising from the crash. The bill also signals that state-paid lien obligations, including Medicaid liens, are to be waived for this claim, affecting how medical reimbursement claims are handled in this individual case.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support, with unanimous approval in both the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee and the House Judiciary Committee, each by 18-0 votes. The bill’s findings and structure suggest a sympathetic response to severe, long-term injuries suffered by Marcus Button and the family’s prolonged legal and medical burdens. No committee transcript objections are provided, and the recorded votes indicate broad agreement on providing relief.
Contention
The main substantive issue reflected in the bill is the size and finality of the compensation package, including how much should be paid to Marcus Button, to Robin Button, and whether government liens should be waived and paid by the state. The bill also addresses attorney fees, limiting them to 25 percent of the total awards, which can be a point of concern in claims bills. Although no recorded committee debate is included, the text indicates that the settlement is intended to fully and forever resolve the school board’s responsibility, which is typical of claims legislation and may be the principal legal policy consideration.