Relief of Michael Barnett by the Department of Children and Families
Summary
Senate Bill 34 is a claims bill that provides a special appropriation for the relief of Michael Barnett, individually and as the natural parent and legal guardian of R.B., arising from the Department of Children and Families’ handling of a domestic violence and child safety investigation. The bill recounts the 2010 killings and shooting in Riviera Beach, the department’s receipt of a hotline call and subsequent investigation, and the decision to close the case after concluding the children were not at significant risk of harm. It states that investigators missed warning signs and failed to act on information suggesting the children remained in danger.
The bill appropriates $296,400 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Families and directs the Chief Financial Officer to issue payment to Michael Barnett and R.B. It also recognizes a prior settlement agreement and consent final judgment, and provides that the payment under the bill, together with any amount paid under section 768.28, Florida Statutes, is intended to be the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident. Attorney fees are capped at 25 percent of the total amount awarded under the act.
Impact
This bill does not amend the general child welfare or tort statutes; instead, it creates a one-time, private relief appropriation against the Department of Children and Families. Its legal effect is to authorize payment from state funds to resolve claims tied to the department’s alleged negligence in a specific case, while limiting further compensation and capping attorney fees. The affected parties are Michael Barnett, R.B., and the Department of Children and Families, with the General Revenue Fund bearing the cost.
Sentiment
The bill appears to be driven by a remedial and sympathetic sentiment toward the victims of a tragic domestic violence and child fatality case, with the preamble emphasizing missed warning signs and agency failures. Because no committee transcripts or votes are provided, there is no recorded legislative debate or roll-call history to indicate broader support or opposition. On its face, the bill is framed as a corrective measure to compensate for harm rather than a policy dispute.
Contention
The main point of contention suggested by the bill text is whether the Department of Children and Families should be held financially responsible for failing to identify and respond to escalating domestic violence risks before the shootings. The preamble assigns blame to investigative errors and omissions, while the relief mechanism limits the state’s exposure by making the award the sole compensation and capping attorney fees. In the absence of committee discussion, any opposition would likely center on state liability, the size of the appropriation, or whether a claims bill is the appropriate remedy for this tragedy.