Georgia Mother Fights For Passage Of “Juan’s Law”
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Georgia Mother Fights For Passage Of Juan's Law...
A Georgia mother is fighting for justice. In September 2001, Jacqueline Boatwright's son, Anthony DeJuan, fell into a bucket of mop water while at a Hephzibah day care center. He was left with permane...
A Georgia mother is fighting for justice. In September 2001, Jacqueline Boatwright’s son, Anthony DeJuan, fell into a bucket of mop water while at a Hephzibah day care center. He was left with permanent brain damage. The center had no insurance, and now she is going to Washington hoping to change that. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.
Augusta, GA—It’s called Juan’s Law. So far, it’s been passed in Georgia, California, and Virginia…and if Jacqueline Boatwright has it her way, it will be a federal law, passed this week.
Jacqueline Boatwright, Juan’s mother: “In 2004, I started my first campaign, here in Augusta, where I started a walking campaign, carrying a sign, wearing a sign.“
Five years later, Jacqueline Boatwright is still fighting in honor of her son. Anthony DeJuan was left brain damaged after falling into a bucket of mop water, at a Hephzibah day care.
Boatwright: “When my son’s accident happened, I was really taken back to learn that the state, although they issued the center a license, did not require liability insurance. I mean, I thought that was the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard, I mean, it was almost unimaginable. So, I made in my mind, after my son’s tragedy, that no other mother or child would have to go through what I went through.“
Boatwright started meeting with legislators to write “Juan’s Law”, a law that would require day care centers to clearly post whether or not they have liability insurance.
Boatwright: “I hope that it will make them look at the way that they do business. I hope it would make them think of themselves, on the other side of the desk, you know,when the parent comes in, and be more astute with the way they operate business and protect the people that they are caring for.“
“Juan’s Law” has passed the U.S. House of Representatives…next week it goes to the Senate. If passed, it becomes federal law. Boatwright says it’s been an 8-year fight that she’s confident she will win, all in the name of her son.
Boatwright: “It’s not about me, like I said, I just became him…so I could tell you what he would more than likely say, you know, to you.”
Doctors said Anthony DeJuan wouldn’t make it past the age of 2. The accident happened when he was 14-months-old…he is now 9, and in the 3rd grade.
If passed “Juan’s Law” will go into effect next year. If it doesn’t pass, Boatwright says she’ll rewrite the law and keep fighting.
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