Legislature Bans Rapists From Custody Rights
TALLHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Florida lawmakers sent a bill to Governor Rick Scott's desk Monday that would prohibit a convicted rapist from having any custody rights if the rape results in a child.
The House passed the bill on a 115-0 vote, the senate had previously approved the bill.
The law allows for a father's parental rights to be cut off if his child was conceived during an act of sexual battery.
A staff report said at least 19 states allow for the termination of parental rights when the parent is the father of a child conceived as a result of sexual assault or incest.
A federal appeals court has said the U.S. Constitution doesn't forbid states from penalizing a father's illicit conduct by refusing to grant him parental rights.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
