One lawmaker is attempting to find ways to help women and people who can have children. This comes primarily after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Ohio’s six-week abortion ban.
Senator Tina Maharath (D-Columbus) has created a bill that will allow Ohioans to file a lawsuit over unintentional pregnancies. Thus, the financial hardship of giving birth would be lessened, she says.
“The average cost of giving birth in our state is over $15,000. It can rise substantially if they’re complications. Too often, this is solely the mother’s to bear, especially in the case of an unintended pregnancy. However, the father shares equal responsibility for the pregnancy. It is only right that he pays equally for it,” Maharath commented in a statement.
Senate Bill 262 says that a person can file a lawsuit if someone else impregnates them unintentionally, for any reason.
The offending impregnator, if said to be guilty, would have to pay a $5,000 fine. This is in addition to court and attorney expenses. It would be a civil lawsuit that could result to up to 5 years in prison.
The “Heartbeat Bill,” a recent abortion ban implemented in Ohio, has strict restrictions on ending a pregnancy after a fetal heartbeat is detected. There are no exceptions in the case of rape nor incest. There is an exception if the mother’s life is in danger.
S.B. 262 hasn’t been heard in the state Senate, yet, which is mostly Republican-led.
