NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A bill in Tennessee that aims to hold drunk drivers accountable by requiring DUI offenders to pay child support if their actions resulted in the death of a parent has passed unanimously in the state legislature.
House Bill 1834, also known as "Bentley’s Law," passed the Tennessee Senate on Wednesday and now goes to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for an expected signature into law.
Under the law, an impaired driver convicted of vehicular homicide will be ordered to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance to each of the victim’s children until they are 18 years old and graduate high school.If the defendant is incarcerated and can’t pay, the defendant is given one year after their release to begin payments.
If the child reaches 18 but hasn’t been paid in full, payments will continue until the child is entirely paid, the bill says.The court determines an amount that is "reasonable and necessary for the maintenance of the victim's child," considering factors such as the surviving parent's financial needs and resources and the standard of living to which the child is accustomed, according to the bill.