JEFFERSON CITY — State lawmakers Wednesday renewed a Missouri grandmother’s push to secure financial support for children orphaned by drunken drivers.

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Henderson, R-Bonne Terre, that would create Bentley’s Law, named for a Missouri child whose parents were killed in a Jefferson County accident caused by an intoxicated driver.

The proposal stems from the efforts of Bentley’s grandmother, Cecilia Williams , who lost a grandson, her son and his fiancée in the deadly 2021 wreck and is now raising their two surviving children.

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Williams, who has crisscrossed the U.S. lobbying states to adopt the policy, was not present at the hearing, but has made numerous previous trips to the Capitol to press for its passage in Bentley’s home state.

“It’s become a nationwide program,” Henderson told the panel.

The legislation stems from an incident involving David Thurby, who was arrested on April 13, 2021, on suspicion of driving drunk and causing a deadly wreck on Highway 30 in Jefferson County.

The crash killed Lacey K. Newton, 25, her fiancé Cordell S. Williams, 30, and their 4-month-old son. They lived in Bonne Terre.

Prosecutors said Thurby’s blood-alcohol level was 0.17%, more than twice the legal limit. Evidence suggested Thurby’s car was traveling as fast as 107 mph in a 60-mph zone.

Nearly two years after the fiery crash, the Fenton man was sentenced to eight years in prison .

Williams wants lawmakers to require drunken drivers to pay child support if they kill the parents of a minor.

The proposal requires drunken drivers who kill one or both of a child’s parents to pay child maintenance. The driver would have up to one year after release from incarceration to begin payments, and the child would receive payments up to age 18 or 21 if they enroll in secondary education.

Henderson said vehicle insurance typically can help survivors, but not in all cases.

“We have so many uninsured drivers in Missouri,” Henderson said.

Jerod Breit of Mothers Against Drunk Driving told the committee that the law could make people think twice about getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

“If you commit this crime, this is your responsibility post-incarceration,” Breit said. “We think this is a great deterrent.”

In all, seven states have implemented the law and 17 others are considering it, Breit said.

But, it’s not yet clear if the change has had an effect since it is new in most states.

“We don’t have the data to show that yet,” Bright said.

The measure was not voted on in the committee Wednesday.

The legislation is Senate Bill 235 .

Young drivers are already higher-risk than other age groups due to their inexperience, their likelihood of being distracted while driving, and the higher prevalence of dangerous behaviors like speeding or not wearing a seatbelt.

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