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Committee advances bill expanding restitution for victims of impaired-driving deaths
Summary
House Bill 712 would require courts to order restitution for families of people killed by drivers convicted of vehicular homicide while under the influence; sponsors said the courts would set amounts case by case.
House Bill 712 would add restitution provisions for cases in which a person is convicted of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Representative Bob Carter, the sponsor, said the bill directs courts to consider the circumstances — including lost income, the decedent’s role in the household and ability to pay — and order restitution as justice requires.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) testified in support; Frank Harris, director of state government affairs for MADD, said several other states have adopted similar measures and that the bill provides an additional pathway for victims’ families to seek financial redress while retaining judicial discretion for hardship. No opponents appeared in the hearing record and the committee recorded concurrence during executive action.
Representative Carter emphasized the courts would consider ability to pay and other factors and that judicial safeguards would remain in place.
