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HB 986

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Kerner

Anyone convicted of vehicular homicide must pay child support for surviving minor children if the victim was a parent, in addition to existing penalties.

Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.
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Bill Summary · HB 986

Overview

HB 986 (Louisiana, 2026) would require a person convicted of vehicular homicide to pay child support for the surviving minor child(ren) when the victim is a parent of a minor child. The bill adds a new provision to R.S. 9:315.48 establishing this obligation in addition to any penalties already provided for vehicular homicide.

Main purpose and intent

  • Ensure financial support for children who survive when the other parent is killed in a vehicular homicide.
  • Align penalties for vehicular homicide with an additional child support duty when the victim is a parent of a minor child.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds new statute: R.S. 9:315.48, titled “Vehicular homicide; child support payments.”
  • Requirement: Any individual convicted of vehicular homicide must pay child support for the surviving child(ren) if the victim was a parent of a minor child.
  • Relationship to existing penalties: The child support obligation is in addition to penalties already imposed under R.S. 14:32.1 (the criminal penalties for vehicular homicide).

Who or what is affected

  • Offenders convicted of vehicular homicide.
  • Surviving minor children whose parent was the victim of vehicular homicide.
  • Potentially, custodial arrangements and support enforcement agencies tasked with collecting and distributing support.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill would take effect upon enactment and require enforcement consistent with the new statute (R.S. 9:315.48).
  • The child support would be determined using the existing support schedule referenced in R.S. 9:315.19.
  • The DOI indicates this is a new enforceable obligation added to the offender’s penalties rather than a standalone civil action.

Additional notes

  • The bill’s digest emphasizes that the new obligation applies specifically when the vehicular homicide victim is a parent of a minor child.
  • As a procedural matter, the measure was referred to the Civil Law and Procedure committee and has a sponsor (Representative Kerner) with a co-sponsor (Tim Kerner).

If you’d like, I can compare this to existing Louisiana child support enforcement mechanisms or provide a short layperson-friendly example of how the payment schedule might work in practice.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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