| Hartford, CT –
State Senator Len Fasano ( R- North Haven) testified today
at a public hearing before the General Assembly’s
Select Commission on Children in support of SB
174: An Act Concerning Child Support Obligations After
Parental Rights Are Terminated Due To Abuse Or Neglect.
The bill would require any parent to continue to be responsible
for child support payments despite being stripped of their
legal rights as parent.
“When a parent neglects or abuses a child, it
does an immense amount of damage to the child and the
entire family,” said Senator Fasano.
“When the situation becomes so dangerous and unhealthy,
it’s very common for that parent’s rights
to be terminated. Under current law, when that termination
occurs the abusive parent is absolved of any financial
obligation. How can it be that someone can do so much
damage yet be legally absolved of all obligations
to that child, specifically financial. This loss of
financial support places an impossible burden on the
remaining family members and I believe this bill effectively
addresses that injustice.”
Senator Fasano introduced the bill after working with
a constituent, Abigail True. Ms. True and her four children
live in Wallingford. She and her children are victims
of domestic abuse at the hands of her former husband.
At today’s public hearing, Ms. True and her daughter,
Jessica, testified before the Commission.
“There is an injustice in the system in regard
to termination of parental rights when the termination
results from domestic abuse or violence, said
Ms. True. “For years, my children have
suffered losses because of the bad choices of their
father. Although termination of their relationship meant
foregoing child support, what price wouldn’t one
pay to protect their child from harm? However, there
were days when I didn’t even know if we’d
have electricity. It is an injustice to reward the abuser
by absolving them of financial responsibility at the
expense of the victims. I hope no other family suffers
the same loss.”
“It takes tremendous courage to share such a
private and painful ordeal,” said Senator
Fasano. “I am so impressed with the willingness
of Abigail, and her children, to reach out to other
families who may be experiencing similar hardship through
this bill. I am honored they’ve asked me to share
in fighting this injustice and hope the General Assembly
has the chance to make this bill a law.”
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