HB 6541 2025
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hb6541-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act for the relief of C.C. by the Department of 2
Children and Families; providing an appropriation to 3
compensate C.C. for injuries and damages sustained as 4
a result of the negligence of the department; 5
providing a limitation on compensation and the payment 6
of certain fees and costs; providing an effective 7
date. 8
9
WHEREAS, on August 12, 2014, Anna Highland, a resident of 10
Fort Myers, gave birth to C.C., who w as born addicted to 11
methadone as a result of Ms. Highland's opiate dependence, 12
cocaine abuse, and intravenous drug use, and 13
WHEREAS, at the time of C.C.'s birth, Ms. Highland was 14
licensed as a foster parent by the Department of Children and 15
Families and had significant involvement with the department 16
dating back to 2012, and 17
WHEREAS, due to Ms. Highland's drug abuse throughout her 18
pregnancy, C.C. suffered severe withdrawal symptoms after his 19
birth which required him to be hospitalized for a month in a 20
neonatal intensive care unit and treated with morphine, and 21
WHEREAS, during the 6 months before C.C.'s birth, the 22
department received three separate child abuse hotline reports 23
against Ms. Highland, including reports alleging that she was 24
abusing drugs and physically abusing her foster child, and 25
HB 6541 2025
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hb6541-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
WHEREAS, the department opened an investigation after 26
receiving a fourth child abuse hotline report made on August 12, 27
2014, the day of C.C.'s birth, alleging that Ms. Highland had 28
tested positive for drugs while pr egnant, and 29
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2014, while the investigation was 30
pending, the department received two additional child abuse 31
hotline reports alleging that Ms. Highland was abusing drugs, 32
and 33
WHEREAS, despite its receipt of six abuse allegations 34
within a 7-month period, the department advised the hospital on 35
September 3, 2014, that there was no hold on C.C. and that he 36
was free to be released to Ms. Highland, and 37
WHEREAS, on September 6, 2014, C.C. was discharged from the 38
hospital to Ms. Highland's care with no intervention and no 39
services in place to protect C.C. from the potentially dangerous 40
effects of Ms. Highland's drug addiction, and 41
WHEREAS, on September 23, 2014, the department closed its 42
investigation with findings of substance misuse not 43
substantiated and a determination that Ms. Highland's methadone 44
use had no implications for child safety, and 45
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2015, and again on August 6, 2015, the 46
department received two new child abuse hotline reports alleging 47
that Ms. Highland was abusing the foster child in her care, both 48
of which the department closed without investigation, and 49
WHEREAS, on September 12, 2015, when C.C. was 13 months 50
HB 6541 2025
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hb6541-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
old, he overdosed on Ms. Highland's methadone, was found 51
unresponsive and not breathing, and was r ushed to the hospital 52
in critical condition, where he remained in a coma for 2 weeks 53
and was hospitalized for 1 month, and 54
WHEREAS, the department's investigation of C.C.'s overdose 55
revealed that Ms. Highland, as well as her mother who was 56
present, waited 5 hours before seeking medical attention for 57
C.C. while his condition continued to deteriorate, and 58
WHEREAS, as a result of the department's investigation of 59
the overdose, C.C. was finally removed from Ms. Highland's care 60
and placed in the care of his fa ther, and 61
WHEREAS, as the state agency charged with operating the 62
child welfare system in this state, including conducting child 63
protective investigations to ensure child safety and prevent 64
further harm to children under s. 39.001, Florida Statutes, the 65
department owed C.C. a duty to ensure his safety and protect him 66
from further harm, and 67
WHEREAS, the department failed to protect C.C. from further 68
harm when it negligently allowed him to be released from the 69
hospital to Ms. Highland's care after his birth with no services 70
or interventions in place to protect him from the potentially 71
dangerous effects of her drug addiction, and 72
WHEREAS, the department's negligence resulted in severe and 73
permanent injuries to C.C., now 9 years of age, including, but 74
not limited to, an anoxic brain injury; seizures; strokes and 75
HB 6541 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
neurological impairments; permanent hearing, vision, and speech 76
impediments; cognitive impairment, including memory loss and 77
learning disabilities; and permanent injuries impacting his 78
coordination and gross and fine motor skills, requiring lifelong 79
care, and 80
WHEREAS, the State of Florida recognizes an equitable 81
obligation to redress the injuries and damages C.C. sustained as 82
a result of the negligence of the department and its failure to 83
exercise its duties to ensure the safety of children in this 84
state and protect them from further harm, NOW, THEREFORE, 85
86
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 87
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Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act 89
are found and declared to be true. 90
Section 2. The sum of $20 million is appropriated from the 91
General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and F amilies 92
for the relief of C.C. for injuries and damages sustained. 93
Section 3. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw 94
a warrant in favor of C.C., payable to an irrevocable trust 95
created for the exclusive use and benefit of C.C., in the sum of 96
$20 million upon funds of the Department of Children and 97
Families in the State Treasury, and the Chief Financial Officer 98
is directed to pay the same out of such funds in the State 99
Treasury. The trust shall be responsible for payment of attorney 100
HB 6541 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
fees and costs, lobbying fees, and other similar expenses 101
relating to this claim, subject to the limitations set forth in 102
this act. 103
Section 4. The amount awarded under this act is intended 104
to provide the sole compensation for all present and future 105
claims arising out of the factual situation described in this 106
act which resulted in injuries and damages to C.C. The total 107
amount paid for attorney fees and costs, lobbying fees, and 108
other similar expenses relating to this claim may not exceed 25 109
percent of the total amo unt awarded under this act. 110
Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 111