When parents cannot care for a child, the children often go to relatives.
This leaves family members with extra children to care for and provide for. In some cases, its not the childs fault. For example, when parents get killed by a drunk driver. Oklahoma seeks to make life a little easier for the ones left behind.
The bill, Bentleys Law, was first passed in Missouri. Cecilia Williams was left to care for her grandson, Bentley, after his parents were killed in an accident with a drunk driver. This allows judges to include child support in a sentence for a person convicted of a DUI, providing a little bit of relief for those left to care for those often left behind.
Now, Oklahoma is preparing to pass the same bill. Fox News reports, The Oklahoma House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 2130 this week, which would allow courts to include child support for minors in the sentence for a DUI accident, KTUL-TV reported.
Now, the bill is on its way to the Oklahoma Senate, which Republicans currently control. It is not yet clear if the measure will have the support that it needs to pass or not.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, also known as MADD, support the issue. Per Fox News, This, to me, seems like a legitimate solution for us to keep Oklahoma children who are too often left behind, told the outlet, Jerod Breit, Mothers Against Drunk Drivings regional executive director.
Some people do not entirely support the bill because they want to know how an offender will pay. They will be in jail, which makes it impossible for them to pay child support. However, politicians for the bill were quick to point out that offenders should think about that before getting behind the wheel. In their opinion, this is a wonderful preventative measure.
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