Florida’s qualifying period for hundreds of state and local offices began Monday, signaling the start of what will be a pivotal election year in the state.

A state task force on Wednesday began an emotional debate about how to commemorate the victims of abuse and brutality at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and what to do with the unidentified remains of youths who died at the shuttered reform school.

"The mission and goals of this task force are different and sensitive from most other task forces," Secretary of State Ken Detzner told the nine-member panel, which held its first meeting in Marianna, near the site of the 1,400-acre Dozier property in Jackson County.