Florida legislation · 2027 Regular Session
Florida S22: Relief of Michael Barnett by the Department of Children and Families
Status: Introduced, August 7, 2026
Providing for the relief of Michael Barnett, individually and as the natural parent and legal guardian of R.B.; providing an appropriation to compensate them for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the Department of Children and Families; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM WITH
What the bill says
An act for the relief of Michael Barnett, individually and as the natural parent and legal guardian of R.B.; providing an appropriation to compensate them for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the Department of Children and Families; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees; providing an effective date.
From the introduced text, August 7, 2026:
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Michael Barnett, individually and as the natural parent and legal guardian of R.B.; providing an appropriation to compensate them for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the Department of Children and Families; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees; providing an effective date. WHEREAS, in September 2010, Patrick Dell entered the Riviera Beach residence of his estranged wife, Natasha Whyte Dell, where he fatally shot her and four of her children and severely wounded a fifth child by shooting him in the neck, and WHEREAS, Mr. Dell committed suicide shortly after exiting the residence, and WHEREAS, several months before the shootings, on January 26, 2010, the abuse hotline of the Department of Children and Families received a phone call about an incident that occurred in December 2009, and WHEREAS, according to the police report, while Ms. Whyte Dell was visiting a friend, Mr. Dell charged at and threatened Ms. Whyte-Dell with a knife, verbally threatened to kill her, and flattened all four tires on her vehicle, and WHEREAS, later that same morning, Mr. Dell was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief, and WHEREAS, over the course of the following month, the department conducted an investigation …
Sponsors
- Bernard, Mack (D, SD-024) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Filed
Common questions
- What is S22?
- S22 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2027 Regular Session): Relief of Michael Barnett by the Department of Children and Families.
- What does S22 do?
- In its own words: An act for the relief of Michael Barnett, individually and as the natural parent and legal guardian of R.B.; providing an appropriation to compensate them for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the Department of Children and Families; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees; providing an effective date.
- What is the status of S22?
- Introduced as of August 7, 2026. Latest action: Filed (August 7, 2026).
- Who sponsored S22?
- Bernard, Mack (D, SD-024).
- Where is the official record for S22?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2027/22
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.