The Governor’s Task Force to Determine the Method of Compensation for Victims of North Carolina’s Eugenics Board submitted a preliminary report August 1, 2011 to Governor Purdue pursuant by Executive Order 83 issued March 8, 2011.

The Tasks Force preliminary recommendations included lump sum financial damages for living victims, mental health services for living victims, funding for a traveling NC Eugenics Exhibit, and continuation and expansion for the NC Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation.

A final lump sum financial damages amount for living victims of the NC Eugenics Board program has not been determined by the Task Force but suggestions ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 have been discussed. The Task Force emphasized that no amount of damages is meant to place a value on a victim’s life, or life lost. Relatives have also expressed dissatisfaction with any recommendation that excludes them in a damages package and have requested that all victims receive damages with payments for deceased victims going to their estates.

The preliminary report discusses Daren Bakst’s report proposing state income tax exemption status in addition to a lump sum payout to living victims.

A final report of recommendations will be issued February 1, 2012.