Bill > H3295

This bill aims to protect survivors of rape and their children by restricting visitation and custody rights for perpetrators of certain sexual crimes, such as rape and sexual assault. The key provisions include: 1. Prohibiting courts from granting visitation rights to a parent who has been convicted of or found by clear and convincing evidence to have committed specific sexual crimes against the child's other parent, unless it is in the best interests of the child and the mother consents. This applies to crimes like rape, sexual assault, and incest. 2. Restricting custody rights for parents who have committed these sexual crimes against the child's other parent, unless it is in the best interests of the child and the mother consents. 3. Creating an irrebuttable presumption of unfitness for a parent who has committed these sexual crimes, allowing the court to dispense with the need for that parent's consent for the child's adoption. The bill also allows for post-termination contact agreements and preserves the child's right to inherit from the perpetrator, as well as the perpetrator's obligation to pay child support.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3295