HB 0377, Engrossed 1 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Indian River County School Board;
3	providing for the relief of Taylor Rosemond, a minor, by
4	and through her parents and natural guardians, Alvin and
5	Shirley Rosemond; providing for an appropriation to
6	compensate her for injuries sustained due to the
7	negligence of the Indian River County School Board;
8	providing for the use of such funds; providing an
9	effective date.
10
11	WHEREAS, on January 25, 1999, 7-year-old Taylor Rosemond
12	was a passenger on a school bus owned by the Indian River County
13	School Board and operated by its employee, Deborah Colletti, and
14	WHEREAS, Deborah Colletti failed to stop at a stop sign
15	located at the intersection of 45th Street and 66th Avenue in
16	Indian River County, which failure caused the bus to collide
17	with a tractor-trailer traveling on 66th Avenue, resulting in
18	injuries to Taylor Rosemond and 15 other children and the deaths
19	of two other persons, and
20	WHEREAS, Deborah Colletti was cited with failure to obey a
21	traffic-control device and failure to yield the right-of-way,
22	and
23	WHEREAS, Taylor Rosemond was taken by ambulance to a local
24	hospital and thence airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children's
25	Hospital in Orlando, and
26	WHEREAS, Taylor Rosemond was diagnosed with a lacerated
27	kidney, bruised liver, and right renal laceration, and
28	WHEREAS, Taylor Rosemond's injuries resulting from the
29	negligence of the school bus operator have caused her bodily
30	injury and permanent pain and suffering, disability,
31	disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the
32	enjoyment of life, hospitalization expenses, nursing care
33	expenses, medical expenses, loss of earnings and capacity to
34	earn, and aggravation of previously existing conditions, and
35	WHEREAS, Taylor Rosemond's injuries have caused her parents
36	lost income, permanent loss of support and services, and
37	expenses for medical care, psychiatric care, hospitalization
38	care, and nursing care for their daughter, and
39	WHEREAS, suit was filed in Indian River County following
40	the collision, and prior to trial the case was settled in the
41	amount of $60,000, and
42	WHEREAS, the Indian River County School Board has agreed
43	not to oppose this claim bill, NOW, THEREFORE,
44
45	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
46
47	Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act
48	are found and declared to be true.
49	Section 2. The Indian River County School Board is
50	authorized and directed to appropriate from funds of the school
51	board not otherwise appropriated and to draw a warrant in the
52	sum of $60,000, payable after July 1, 2003, to Alvin and Shirley
53	Rosemond, parents and natural guardians of Taylor Rosemond, a
54	minor, as compensation for injuries and damages sustained by
55	Taylor Rosemond due to the negligence of Indian River County.
56	Such funds are to be deposited into a guardianship account for
57	the exclusive use and benefit of Taylor Rosemond. The amount
58	payable pursuant to this section is inclusive of costs and
59	attorney's fees as limited by s. 768.28(8), Florida Statutes.
60	Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.