This bill provides for the relief of the Estate of Mark LaGatta by appropriating $2.2 million from the General Revenue Fund to compensate the estate for injuries and damages sustained by Mr. LaGatta due to the negligence of the Department of Transportation. The bill outlines the circumstances of the accident that occurred on July 27, 2020, when Mr. LaGatta was involved in a collision with a tractor operated by a Department employee while he was riding his motorcycle through a work zone. The bill acknowledges the severe injuries Mr. LaGatta sustained, including the amputation of his left leg, and the subsequent legal judgment in favor of Mr. LaGatta against the Department of Transportation for $2.32 million, of which $120,000 had already been paid prior to his passing in August 2024.

In addition to the appropriation, the bill includes provisions that the total amount paid by the Department of Transportation and the amount awarded under this act will serve as the sole compensation for all present and future claims related to the incident. It also stipulates that attorney fees related to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount awarded. The bill declares the facts stated in the preamble to be true and directs the Chief Financial Officer to issue a warrant for the payment to the Estate of Mark LaGatta. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law.