A new bill that was passed in Tennessee will make the punishment even harsher for someone who kills the parent of a minor in a drunk driving accident.
House Bill 1834 was passed by the Tennessee House of Representatives by a vote of 93-0 and requires people convicted of a DUI to pay child support if the person they killed in an accident was the parent of a child under the age of 18.
The defendant will be forced to pay child support for each child, and until each of the person's children reach 18-years-old and have graduated high school.
Cecilia Williams came up with the idea for the law after her 30-year-old son Cordell, his fiancé Lacey Newton, 25, and their four-month-old son Cordell II were killed by a drunk driver on April 13, 2021 in Missouri, according to News Channel 9 ABC.
The couple left behind two children, Lacey and Bentley. Their grandmother nicknamed the bill "Bentley's Law" and is now trying to get it passed by all 50 states, according to KMOV. There have been versions of the bill filed in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. While there are others being drafted in in Indiana, Michigan, Utah, and Texas.
Williams has been taking care of her two grandchildren since the accident, and told the news station how challenging it has been for her family.
"I really did not want to see another family have to go through what we go through every single day," Williams said.
Missouri Rep. Mike Henderson is following Tennessee's lead and sponsoring the bill. He mentioned the financial challenges a grandparent may have to go through to take care of the children.
"Some of them have to go back to work and try to find the financial means to take care of these kids the way they’d like to. And I think those people who selfishly drove drunk and took these parents away should have some responsibility," Henderson said.
Williams said the punishment will be a constant reminder to the person that drove drunk to never to do it again.
“They will always remember, this is what I did to the family, you know, and it will sink into them. I can't do this again. You know, I'm supporting children that aren't mine," Williams said.
Losing her son, future daughter-in-law, and grandson has been very difficult for Williams, but she knows deep down that they are now helping the lives of people all over the country.
"It’s hard, because I would I would love to have them here, but them three really are making a difference in other people's lives," Williams said.
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