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HB986 • 2026

CHILDREN/SUPPORT: Requires child support payments by persons convicted of vehicular homicide

CHILDREN/SUPPORT: Requires child support payments by persons convicted of vehicular homicide

Children Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Timothy P. Kerner
Last action
2026-05-18
Official status
Pending Senate Judiciary A
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how long the convicted person must pay child support or what happens if they cannot afford to pay.

Child Support for Surviving Children After Vehicular Homicide

This bill requires people convicted of vehicular homicide to pay child support if the victim was a parent with minor children.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new law that says when someone is found guilty of causing another person's death through dangerous driving (vehicular homicide), they must also pay money for the care of any young kids left without their parent, if the victim was a parent with minor children.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are found guilty of vehicular homicide.
  • Minor children whose parents die because of vehicular homicide.

Terms To Know

Vehicular Homicide
A crime where someone's death is caused by another person’s dangerous driving.
Child Support
Money paid regularly to help take care of a child when the parents are not together.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how long the convicted person must pay child support.
  • It is unclear what happens if the convicted person cannot afford to pay child support.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes specific references in the bill text from R.S. 9:315.48 to R.S. 9:315.27 and updates a section reference.

  • Changes 'R.S. 9:315.48' to 'R.S. 9:315.27' on page 1, line 2.
  • Changes 'R.S. 9:315.48' to 'R.S. 9:315.27' on page 1, line 6.
  • Changes '§315.48' to '§315.27' on page 1, line 7.
  • The amendment does not provide details about the content of R.S. 9:315.27 or §315.27, so it is unclear what specific changes this will make to existing law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-18 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

  2. 2026-05-14 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  3. 2026-05-13 H

    Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  4. 2026-05-12 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.

  5. 2026-05-12 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  6. 2026-05-11 H

    Reported favorably (6-0).

  7. 2026-03-24 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

  8. 2026-03-23 H

    Read by title. Lies over under the rules.

Official Summary Text

CHILDREN/SUPPORT: Requires child support payments by persons convicted of vehicular homicide

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HLS 26RS-1458 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 986
BY REPRESENTATIVE KERNER
CHILDREN/SUPPORT: Requires child support payments by persons convicted of
vehicular homicide
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 9:315.27, relative to persons convicted of vehicular homicide; to provide
3 relative to a parent of a minor child who dies by vehicular homicide; to provide
4 relative to child support for the surviving child; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 9:315.27 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §315.27. Vehicular homicide; child support payments
8 In addition to the penalties provided in R.S. 14:32.1, any individual convicted
9 of the crime of vehicular homicide wherein the victim is a parent with a minor child,
10 the offender shall also be ordered to pay child support pursuant to the schedule for
11 support provided in R.S. 9:315.19.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 986 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Kerner
Abstract: Requires an offender convicted of vehicular homicide to pay child support if the
offense results in the death of a parent.
Proposed law requires any individual convicted of the crime of vehicular homicide, when
the victim is a parent of a minor child, to pay child support for the surviving child.
(Adds R.S. 9:315.27)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Change the placement of proposed law from R.S. 9:315.48 to R.S. 9:315.27.
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.