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Lawmakers Want To Provide Aid To Dozier Families
November 4, 2015
Two Democratic lawmakers filed bills Tuesday that would direct the Florida Department of State to preserve historical resources from the shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and also to provide money to help families reinter bodies of children found at the Marianna site.
The bills (SB 708 and HB 533), filed by Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, come after extensive excavation work by University of South Florida researchers at the former reform school. The work stemmed from allegations that children were abused and died at the school, which operated for decades.
The bills differ somewhat, but both would put the Department of State in charge of preserving such things as records and artifacts from the site and would direct the department to continue research about what took place at the school. Joyner’s bill would allow reimbursements of up to $7,500 per family to help cover costs such as reinterring bodies exhumed from the site. Narain’s bill would allow payments of $5,000.
Both call for setting aside $1.5 million in the 2016-2017 state budget to carry out the proposed bills.
Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet began discussions in late September about the future of the school site but did not make any decisions.
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: A trench dug in the search for human remains at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Comments
2 Responses to “Lawmakers Want To Provide Aid To Dozier Families”
As a kid growing up in the Florida panhandle, the “reform” school in Marianna was always the “boogie man.” I don’t recall anyone I knew being sentenced there. But there was always that possibility if you “crossed the line,” this would be your destination.
Later on, the Christmas decorations were a popular attraction. Families would drive to Marianna to observe the inmate built attractions.
Little did we know of the sinister secrets hidden there.
Lord bless those little boys.
I would suggest starting with getting depositions from all surviving boys and staff members.
Even if only one is brought to justice, a small measure is better than none.