So far, Gov. Charlie Crist is pleased with how the Legislature has gone about the claims bill process for the parents of Martin Lee Anderson, the Bay County teenager who died after being hit and kicked by guards in a juvenile boot camp last year.
But, once and if the bill comes up for debate, it's sure to bring a battle.
The Senate introduced the bill last week, which would give the parents $5 million. The lawyer for Anderson's family said he would seek the same amount from the Bay County defendants in the suit.
Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced concurrent special master hearings on the proposed compensation bill. A special master takes evidence and makes a recommendation to the Legislature to pass or reject the claim bill.
On Friday, Jay Vail, special counsel to the Senate, and Stephanie Birtman, an attorney for the House, were named as special masters for their respective chambers. Pruitt's spokeswoman said a tentative date for the hearing is April 6.
"Gov. Crist said he's encouraged by the response from the Legislature," said spokeswoman Kathy Torian. "He believes the family of Martin Lee Anderson should be justly compensated for their loss."
Anderson died Jan. 6, 2006, after he was struck and kneed by drill instructors at the Bay County juvenile boot camp. The family has filed a civil suit against the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Bay County Sheriff's Office, and the seven drill instructors and nurse seen on the video of the incident.
Pruitt has written Crist promising support for the compensation bill.
But Rubio has steered clear of such backing, saying there are numerous other claims bills that have been in the process a long time and he does not know how much support the Anderson claim bill has in his chamber.
House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach said the state shouldn't put off a settlement for Anderson's family just because other cases might deserve treatment, too.