A new law in Texas 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 offender will be expected to make those payments until the child is 18 or until the child graduates from high school, “whichever is later,” 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.”

  • Evie
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    241 year ago

    Serious question, how do they do that, while in prison with no residual income? And if they were already near broke, how does this work?

    • @[email protected]
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      291 year ago

      I would like for someone to try and get corporations to pay child support when one of their workers dies from neglectful maintenance or dangerous policies.

      • @[email protected]
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        11 year ago

        That doesn’t seem like a bad thing per se- but I do somewhat worry that this would simply lead to corporations refusing to hire parents, firing people who become parents (for “some other reason” if necessary), or at least preferentially hiring people deemed unlikely to have children.

    • ᗪᗩᗰᑎ
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      71 year ago

      it probably won’t hurt in most cases. BUT if your parents get murdered by someone with money, you’re at least getting some kinda support.

        • @[email protected]
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          01 year ago

          Then yeah, there’s nothing to do besides garnish their wages after they get out (if they get out.)

          Still, it’s something that they should do if they can.