The case of a surviving abuse victim that led to the overhaul of Florida鈥檚 child welfare system may be close to reaching a resolution. While the claims bill to further compensate the victim has usually died in the past legislative sessions, it鈥檚 now headed to the Governor for final approval.
鈥淵ou know, it鈥檚 the worst,鈥� said Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami), about a year ago. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the most horrifying of all, and it鈥檚 incredibly disappointing that we couldn鈥檛 get something done this year.鈥�
It was just in Florida鈥檚 legislative committee process.
At the time, Flores said she wouldn鈥檛 give up trying to compensate Victor Barahona for the numerous abuses he and his twin sister Nubia suffered at the hands of their foster parents who later adopted them. Left to die and covered in toxic chemicals in the bed of a truck, 10-year-old Nubia didn鈥檛 survive.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 back here next year, I鈥檒l fight for this issue, and I think that next year, we鈥檒l have both a Senate President and a [House] Speaker, who will be a lot more open and willing to deal with claims bill on average,鈥� she added, at the time.
Now, the Flores prediction has come true. This year, both Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran have allowed for many claims bills that have usually stalled to get to the floor.
That includes Flores鈥� Barahona bill, which unanimously passed the Senate last week.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 even say that it feels good because it鈥檚 a horrible tragedy that befell these children at the hands of DCF, but to be able to have some sort of resolution to I think the most horrible, tragic case of child abuse in recent history, I think brings some small solace,鈥� Flores said, Friday.
This week, the House bill version by Rep. Jose Felix Diaz (R-Miami) had a similar positive reception in his chamber. Speaking on the floor, he recounted some of the specific abuses the younger Barahonas endured.
鈥淚n 2010, when many of us were elected, we heard about Nubia Barahona and her brother who were adopted by a husband and wife who tortured these kids for years,鈥� said Diaz, Wednesday. 鈥淭hey would tie them up, they would beat them they would smear feces on their face, and make them eat it鈥攖he most horrible, atrocious things that you can imagine. And unfortunately, the Department of Children and Families鈥攁long the way鈥攈ad many red flags that they did not pay attention to.鈥�
The Barahona鈥檚 case led to a major overhaul of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Included in the reforms was beefing up the state鈥檚 abuse hotline as well as legislative fixes, like hiring more child protective investigators and creating a team responsible for child death investigations.
鈥淟uckily, as a legislative body, we came together and we passed significant child welfare reforms a year after. It鈥檚 one of the votes I鈥檓 most proud of,鈥� Diaz added. 鈥淎nd, I think that today, we have an opportunity to make the surviving brother鈥攂ecause the sister was killed鈥攚hole鈥here was a judgment entered into against the Department for $5 million. They鈥檝e paid $1.25 million through the CFO鈥檚 office. This claim is for the remaining $3.75 million.鈥�
With the House and Senate鈥檚 passage of the bill for Victor Barahona, it now heads to the Governor鈥檚 desk.
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