Legislation to require fathers to pay for half of the out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses advances to the House floor. Bill author, Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman said it’s crucial to have such a law with the state’s abortion ban in place.
“I just think this is a very good bill to really help the pregnant women in our state who have no way to recover these medical expenses and I think this is a step in the right direction,” said Frieman.
The Republican’s bill requires proof of paternity. Frieman said the bill was crafted out of was drafted out of fundamental fairness because it’s not right that the mother has to bear the expenses and the father gets off scot-free before the child is even born.
“In light of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which was a good thing in my opinion, we now have to start looking to protect mothers and give them more rights,” said Frieman.
Frieman said post-birth expenses fall under child-support laws. Examples of reimbursable expenses under this bill would be insurance co-pays and over-the-counter prenatal vitamins.
“It’s really what comes out of their pocket that they have to pay that they could get half of that back,” said Frieman.
House Bill 5 had no opposition in House Civil Law and will be heard on the House floor.
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