Bill to terminate rapists’ parental rights heads to LePage’s desk

AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate has passed bill designed to make it easier for victims to strip their attackers of parental rights to children conceived as a result of rape.

State law says a man convicted of rape can be stripped of parental rights to children conceived during the crime. But Sen. Bill Diamond, a Windham Democrat, and other advocates for victims say the standard of proof is too high.

Diamond’s bill calls for victims to be allowed to petition the court to terminate their attackers’ parental rights without a conviction. The victims must present “clear and convincing evidence” that the child was conceived as a result of rape.

The bill is headed to Gov. Paul LePage for signature.

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