LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas lawmaker is proposing that the state prohibit convicted rapists from having any custody or visitation rights of children conceived during rape.
Democratic Rep. John Edwards of Little Rock filed legislation Monday that would remove all parental rights to the father of children conceived by rape. The rights would be terminated immediately when the father is convicted under Edwards' proposal.
Edwards said he doesn't know of any cases in the state where a rapist has been granted custody, but wanted the restriction on the books pre-emptively.
The proposal was among the first filed ahead of next year's legislative session. Republican Rep. Duncan Baird of Lowell also filed a proposed ballot measure that would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment creating a rainy day fund.
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