If you break the law, be ready to pay for your actions! Tennessee has passed a law that would require drunk drivers to pay restitution that mimics child support. CBS News reports that House Bill 1834 unanimously passed in the state’s House before it unanimously passed in the Senate on Wednesday.

House Bill 1834 would require a person convicted of vehicular homicide to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance. That is, if their victim was the parent of a minor child. Reports state that each victim’s child would receive the restitution until they reach 18-years-old and graduate high school. This form of restitution directly resembles child traditional child support, as a parent pays the primary caregiver of their child(ren) until they become a legal adult.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day. That’s one person every 52 minutes. To determine how much a child would receive in restitution is based on the financial needs and resources of the child and their surviving parent or guardian. It’s also determined by if the child is in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services. House Bill 1834 name was also amended to include the names of fallen police officer Nicholas Galinger’s children.

The similarities to traditional child support continue as the standard of living the child is accustomed to will also be a determining factor for the payment amount. While this is a great program, it does come with delays if the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance. They are permitted one year after their release from incarceration to begin payment.

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