COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- An Ohio state lawmaker says he is sponsoring a bill that would offer cash, healthcare and college tuition to three women held captive by Ariel Castro.
The reparations to Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight would be paid from the state's victims of crime fund, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Barnes, D-Cleveland, would give the women $25,000 for each year they were held in captivity by Castro.
Knight would receive up to $275,000; Berry, $250,000; and DeJesus, $225,000.
The state would also issue a federal waiver to grant the women Medicaid coverage for life. In addition, Ohio would pay tuition and living expenses for each of them if they enrolled in a state college or university.
The bill does not apply exclusively to the three women. Anyone held in captivity for at least eight years would be eligible for reparations.
The House committee website said the House Health and Aging Committee was scheduled to vote on the proposal Wednesday.
The Cleveland Courage Fund had also raised more than $750,000 for the women as of June.
