Convicted drunk drivers to pay for child support if they kill a child’s parent
A new law that has been adopted requires convicted drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a child’s parent or guardian, according to House Bill 393.
The law, which went into effect Friday, says those convicted of intoxication manslaughter must pay restitution.
The convicted driver will be expected to make those payments until the child is eighteen years old or until the child graduates from high school, depending on what comes up after the other, the child can turn to eighteen before graduating or the other way around, the legislation says.
Intoxication manslaughter is defined by state law as a person operating “a motor vehicle in a public place, operates an aircraft, a watercraft, or an amusement ride, or assembles a mobile amusement ride; and is intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by accident or mistake.”
If the convict is not able to pay the restitution because they are incarcerated, they are expected to make payments no “later than the first anniversary of the date,” of their release, the law says.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill in June, according to Texas’ bill tracking website.
Convicted drunk drivers to pay for child support if they kill a child’s parent
In July, Abbott said he was proud to back the legislation.
“I was proud to sign HB 393 into law this year to require offenders to pay child support for the children of their victims.”
The new law will help in reducing incidences of drivers drinking and driving in their intoxicated states which is a major cause of accidents and this may reduce accidents by a big percentage.
Convicted drunk drivers to pay for child support if they kill a child’s parent
