WV Sexual Assault Survivors' Child Protection Act

SB 229, the West Virginia Sexual Assault Survivors' Child Protection Act, protects children conceived during sexual assault and their mothers by ending perpetrators' legal parental rights. The bill requires courts to terminate a perpetrator's parental rights if a child was conceived through sexual assault, while still mandating child support payments unless the survivor waives them. It also creates a faster court process to minimize survivors' contact with perpetrators and ensures privacy and safety during proceedings. The bill directs state agencies to develop guidelines for filing petitions, holding hearings, and providing support services to affected survivors and children.