A North Florida woman who says the state Department of Education discriminated against her because she’s a Christian would get $2.7 million in relief from the state under a bill filed by Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.

Posey filed the bill in August on behalf of Karen “Kay” Stripling, an evangelical Christian who alleged in a lawsuit filed in June that she and her company, Read & Lead, were targeted by DOE officials in 2003 and 2004 during a “witch hunt” of faith-based providers – a witch hunt that led to an FBI investigation and the threat of a federal indictment (see St. Petersburg Times story here and Gradebook post here.) According to the bill language, DOE offered to pay Stripling $163,000.

Posey’s bill was referred to the Senate rules committee in September. Stripling’s lawsuit was served Oct. 23. An FBI spokesman told The Gradebook in July that matters referenced in Stripling’s suit are now the subject of a wider investigation. He said Monday night that the investigation is ongoing.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter