An Act protecting survivors of rape and their children

This bill prohibits courts from granting visitation or custody rights to a parent convicted of certain sexual offenses (including rape under Chapters 265 and 272) against the child’s mother, or who is alleged to have committed such a crime. It specifically applies when the child was conceived during the rape, the victim was pregnant at the time, or the child is a victim/witness. Courts may only grant these rights if the arrangement is deemed in the child’s best interest *and* the mother affirmatively consents. The bill clarifies that lack of conviction does not disprove the crime, but does not affect child support payments or the child’s right to inherit from the perpetrator.