Enact Bentley's Law Now
When an impaired driver kills a parent, the surviving children face not only grief but sudden financial hardship. Bentley's Law addresses this by requiring convicted impaired drivers to pay restitution in the form of child support to the minor children of any parent they kill — an additional consequence that goes beyond existing civil liability.
First introduced in Missouri and named after a child who lost a parent to a drunk driver, Bentley's Law has gained bipartisan momentum across the country. Since 2022, eight states and three other jurisdictions enacted Bentley's Law. (Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Maine, South Dakota, Utah, Montana, Missouri, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Cayman Islands).. The payments typically continue until each surviving child reaches adulthood, providing a measure of financial stability during an extraordinarily difficult time.
Constituents are urging their state legislators and governor to support, sponsor, or enact Bentley's Law in their state — ensuring that impaired drivers are held accountable not just criminally and civilly, but also for the long-term financial wellbeing of the children whose lives they devastate.
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Live Call Script
Hello, I am an assistant calling on behalf of a constituent, {{first_name}} {{last_name}} from {{city}}, {{state}} zip code {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support and help pass Bentley's Law in this state. Bentley's Law would require convicted impaired drivers to pay restitution in the form of child support to the minor children of any parent killed as a result of their impaired driving. This obligation would be in addition to — not a replacement for — existing criminal penalties and civil liability. This legislation has passed with strong bipartisan support in eight other states and is championed nationally by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. It ensures that children who lose a parent to an impaired driver receive ongoing financial support through childhood. The constituent is asking {{representative_name}} to cosponsor or actively support Bentley's Law legislation, and to work to advance it through committee and to a floor vote. Will {{representative_name}} commit to supporting this measure?
Voicemail Version
I am calling on behalf of {{first_name}} {{last_name}}, a constituent from {{city}}, {{state}} {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support and help pass Bentley's Law — legislation that requires convicted impaired drivers to pay restitution in the form of child support to the minor children of any parent they kill in a crash. This bipartisan measure has already been enacted in eight other states and is backed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The constituent asks that {{representative_name}} cosponsor or champion this bill and help bring it to a vote. You may contact me at {{phone_number}} to discuss further.