February 14th, 2018 by WCBC Radio
Maryland on Tuesday joined more than 40 other states in allowing women who become pregnant as a result of a sexual assault to terminate their attacker’s parental rights. Governor Larry Hogan signed the emergency bill at a ceremony in the morning; it will take effect immediately. The governor was joined by Senate President Thomas Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch. The legislation is seen as a major victory for victims’-rights advocates, who fought for nine years to get the General Assembly to approve the measure. Only five other states have no laws on the books regarding parental rights and sexual assault, said Lisae C. Jordan, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault. President Miller said it isn’t a perfect law as there was much debate on a proposed amendment to allow a woman to seek child support from her assailant even after his parental rights were terminated…
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