Offenders are expected to pay until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school
go throughmichelle watson, CNN
Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 2:55 pm
AUSTIN, TX — Under House Bill 393, a new Texas law requires convicted drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a child’s parent or guardian.
The video above is about the NTSB looking to design new vehicles to detect and deter drunk drivers.
The law, which went into effect Friday, mandates compensation for those convicted of drunken manslaughter. The legislation states that offenders will be required to pay these fees until the child turns 18 or until the child graduates from high school, “whichever is later.”
State law defines intoxicated manslaughter as “operating a motor vehicle in a public place, operating an airplane, boat, or amusement ride, or assembling a mobile amusement ride; and being intoxicated, and resulting in the accidental or wrongful death of another person as a result of that intoxication.”
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The law says that if someone is unable to pay compensation because they are incarcerated, they have until the first anniversary of their release to pay.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law in June, according to the Texas Bill Tracker website.
In July, Abbott said he was proud to support the legislation.
“I’m proud to have HB 393 signed into law this year, requiring perpetrators to pay child support for the children of their victims,” Abbott said.
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