Bill > S997

This bill aims to protect survivors of rape and their children by restricting the parental rights and visitation privileges of individuals convicted of or found to have committed certain crimes, including rape, sexual assault, and crimes involving a child victim or witness. Specifically, the bill prohibits courts from granting custody or visitation rights to parents who were convicted of or found to have committed these crimes against the child's mother, unless it is found to be in the best interest of the child and the mother consents. The bill also creates an irrebuttable presumption of parental unfitness in adoption proceedings for individuals convicted of or found to have committed these crimes, allowing for the termination of their parental rights. Additionally, the bill permits post-termination contact agreements between the petitioner and birth parent, which become null upon adoption or guardianship.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S997