Ausnepalnews, CALIFORNIA lawmakers approved a $23.76 million ($US20 million) settlement yesterday with the family of Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped as a girl and held captive in a secret backyard for 18 years by a paroled sex offender.

Dugard, 30, resurfaced in August 2009 with two daughters she bore with Phillip Garrido, a convicted rapist.

Dugard, her mother and daughters filed claims in February saying state officials with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation failed to do their jobs. Parole agents began supervising Garrido in 1999, but failed to discover Dugard.

The Dugard family members claimed psychological, physical and emotional damages.

"I can't emphasise enough that we've got to be much more prudent in terms of how we provide oversight for released prisoners in the state of California," Assemblyman Ted Gaines said.

Lawyers for the Dugards did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment. Source: Reuters