Governor Kristi Noem has taken a significant step towards ensuring justice for the families affected by vehicular homicide cases in South Dakota. On Monday, she signed a bill into law that mandates offenders to pay child support if the victim of the accident is a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 18. This legislation aims to provide financial stability for the children who have lost a parent due to such tragic incidents.
House Bill 1195 allows the sentencing court to require the defendant to provide child support as restitution to each of the victim’s children until they reach either 18 or 19 years old.
The court may take into account several factors when making decisions, such as the financial needs and resources of the child, along with the standard of living that the child is accustomed to.
The bill successfully passed the House and Senate without any objections.
