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Legislative Committee Advances Bills To Address Post-Roe Louisiana
A Louisiana legislative committee has moved the first of many bills introduced to address the expected increase in births.
April 19, 2023
14:01
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Find out what's happening in Across Louisianafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Legislative committee advances bills to address post-Roe Louisiana
By: Piper Hutchinson - April 19, 2023 2:01 pm
Find out what's happening in Across Louisianafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A Louisiana legislative committee has moved the first of many bills introduced to address the expected increase in births following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. (Canva image)
A Louisiana legislative committee has moved the first of many bills introduced to address the expected increase in births following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year.
The House Civil Law and Procedure Committee unanimously approved two bills Wednesday that would soften the blow of Louisiana’s abortion ban.
House Bill 5, sponsored by Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, would allow a parent to sue the biological father of their child for out-of-pocket pregnancy-related expenses.
“In light of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and which was a good thing in my opinion, we now have to start looking to protect mothers and give them more rights,” Frieman said.
His bill was amended in committee to specify that only appropriate medical expenses could be recouped, including travel to receive medical expenses, as well as “other” expenses, which could include prenatal vitamins or other pregnancy-related items.
Committee Chairman Rep. Gregory Miller, R-Norco, was concerned Frieman’s bill would allow parents to recoup luxury expenses, such as staying at the Four Seasons when traveling to an appointment.
Frieman said the bill, as amended, gives judges the ability to determine what expenses are reasonable.
Morgan Lamandre, president of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response, pointed out the bill’s requirements for proving paternity are actually higher than what courts require in child support proceedings. But she also fears the bill might exclude pregnancies that end in stillbirths or miscarriages, and that the two-year period parents are given to sue might not be enough because insurance disputes often drag on for long periods.
The committee also heard House Bill 298, sponsored by Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, which would allow survivors of sexual assault who become pregnant as a result of their assault to have the parental rights of the perpetrator terminated.
As he presented the bill to the committee, Hughes was joined by Lamandre and Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill, Attorney General Jeff Landry’s top lieutenant and a candidate to replace him..
“The law can become a weapon to further victimize women who have made a difficult and personal decision and are raising their child, so we want to protect those women,” Murrill said.
Hughes’ bill would also apply to parents who want to place their child up for adoption. Under the current law, the perpetrator could dispute the adoption.
Both were advanced unanimously by the bipartisan committee and now go to the House floor for a vote of the body.
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