Call Today - One Day Left to Pass SB411 and Protect Rape Survivors Who Become Pregnant from Rape

Apr 07th, 2014

URGENT ACTION NEEDED - PLEASE CALL TODAY House Judiciary Committee Leadership -Urge support for a vote on SB411:  410-841-3488 WE HAVE ONE DAY LEFT TO PASS SB411 and END PARENTAL RIGHTS OF RAPISTS 5% of rape victims of reproductive age (age 12-45) became pregnant as a result of rape, with the majority of pregnancies in adolescents.  Under Maryland state law, rapists who impregnate women in the course of sexually assaulting them have full parental rights. Senate Bill 411 will allow rape victims who become pregnant as a result of rape to ask the family law court to end the parental rights of the rapist.  The high standard of proof used in other termination of parental rights cases would be required:  clear and convincing evidence.  Rape victims should have to meet the same standard used in other termination of parental rights cases – no more, no less. This bill needs a vote. SB411 has overwhelming support from:
  • Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women
  • Women's Law Center of Maryland
  • Maryland National Organization for Women
  • Maryland Chapter of the National Social Workers Association
  • NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland
  • Maryland Catholic Conference
  • Planned Parenthood of Maryland
  • Adoptions Together
  • Governor Martin O'Malley
  • Attorney General Douglas Gansler
  • Maryland Department of Human Resources
This bill has made it through the full Senate and a majority of the House of Delegates co-sponsoring the bill, but has never had a vote in the House Judiciary Committee. SB411 is ready for a vote and today is the last day of the legislative session.  The time has come to let this bill out of committee and support rape survivors who choose to have a child conceived through rape.  Your voices make a difference - please call or email as soon as possible. Urge support for SB411. Lisae Lisae C. Jordan Executive Director and Counsel House Judiciary Committee:  Phone Numbers & Emails House Judiciary Committee Leadership -Urge support for a vote on SB411:  410-841-3488 Call your delegates: Allegany County Kevin Kelly Phone: 410-841-3404 Email: [email protected] Baltimore City Curt Anderson Phone: 410-841-3291 Email: [email protected].us Jill P. Carter Phone: 410-841-3283 Email: [email protected] Luke H. Clippinger Phone: 410-841-3303 Email: [email protected].md.us Frank M. Conaway, Jr. Phone: 410-841-3189 Email: [email protected].us Sandy (Samuel) Rosenberg Phone: 410-841-3297 Email: [email protected].md.us Baltimore County John W. E. Cluster, Jr. Phone: 410-841-3526 Email: [email protected] Cecil, Caroline, Kent, & Queen Anne's Counties Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. Phone: 410-841-3555 Email: [email protected].md.us Cecil & Harford Counties Glen Glass Phone: 410-841-3280 Email: [email protected] Frederick & Washington Counties Michael J. Hough Phone: 410-841-3472 Email: [email protected].us Harford County Susan K. McComas Phone: 410-841-3272 Email: [email protected].us Montgomery County Kathleen M. Dumais, Vice-Chair Phone: 410-841-3052 Email: [email protected].md.us Sam Arora Phone: 410-841-3528 Email: [email protected] Susan C. Lee Phone: 410-841-3649 Email: [email protected] Luiz R. S. Simmons Phone: 410-841-3037 Email: [email protected] Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher Phone: 410-841-3130 Email: jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us Prince George's and Calvert Counties Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., Chair Phone: 410-841-3488 Email: [email protected].md.us Prince George’s County Darren M. Swain Phone: 410-841-3692 Email: [email protected] Kriselda Valderrama Phone: 410-841-3210 Email: [email protected].md.us Geraldine Valentino-Smith Phone: 410-841-3101 Email: geraldine.valentino@house.state.md.us Washington County Neil C. Parrott Phone: 410-841-3636 Email: [email protected] Wicomico & Worcester Counties Michael A. McDermott Phone: 410-841-3431 Email: [email protected].us

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