MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont House has made a strong vote in favor of legislation to deny parental rights to perpetrators when a sexual assault results in pregnancy.
The House gave preliminary approval to the measure Friday on a 135-0 roll call vote. The bill says that if a rape results in pregnancy, the mother can petition the court to deny parental rights to the perpetrator of the rape.
Rep. Vicki Strong, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said Vermont law right now does not prevent a rapist from demanding parental custody and other rights and thereby remaining in a victim’s life for years.
The bill is expected up for final House approval on Tuesday before moving to the Senate.
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