Utah legislator needs to make unwed dads assist pay for being pregnant, beginning

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah lawmakers propose at least a few bills each year targeting abortion. However, one lawmaker says it wants to take a different approach to prevent the trial.

“Often there is this fight between pro-life and pro-choice where some of the pro-life positions really turn into the perception that it is only against abortion. And I got really fed up with these things, wondering what we could do, this is really a thing for life, and how could we help increase responsibility for men to bring life into the world? “Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, asked Wednesday at a House Committee meeting.

“For unmarried fathers, there is often a woman who bears all the brunt of the medical costs from pregnancy through to birth,” said Brammer.

His bill, HB113, would allow pregnant women to require the birth father to pay 50% of their pregnancy and delivery costs and insurance premiums. If paternity is controversial, he would only have to pay after his paternity has been established in the context of the invoice.

A pregnant woman’s medical expenses could still be paid for by charities or other groups without the man receiving a double bill, Brammer told members of the House’s judicial committee. The bill would only cover medical expenses incurred by the woman personally.

Brammer said insurance companies expressed concern about having to send separate bills to fathers and mothers, but Brammer said it wasn’t. Instead, according to Brammer, the mothers would apply for payment directly or in court.

The Office of Recovery Services could handle the process as it would with child support payments, Brammer said. Under this system, the office often garnishes paychecks to collect child support.

Salt Lake City Rep. Brian King expressed concern about the potential impact on women leaving abusive relationships.

“I worry that we … tie a woman who is pregnant with an abusive partner or a partner who engages in domestic violence or otherwise. The last thing we want to do is tie these two people together, ”King said.

Rep. Brian King of D-Salt Lake City interviewed Rep. Brady Brammer of R-Highland on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 during a Standing Committee of Justice of the House at the Capitol in Salt Lake City about HB113 women must pay 50 Charge% of their pregnancy and delivery costs and insurance premiums from the biological father. If paternity is controversial, he would only have to pay after his paternity has been established in the context of the invoice. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

He said he appreciated Brammer’s efforts to increase accountability for men, but he doesn’t want to put women in a situation where they have to rely on others when deciding how to continue their pregnancy.

Brammer said the risk is the same as for those receiving child support – a problem that occurs as soon as the child is born.

“All of these factors are still there in both cases and I don’t think that changes the risk matrix,” said Brammer.

Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, said she was concerned that the bill might force men to pay for abortions they do not approve of.

Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, interviewed Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, about HB113 during a Standing Judiciary Committee of the House at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The bill would allow pregnant women to pay Apply for 50% of your pregnancy and delivery costs as well as the insurance premiums from the biological father. If paternity is controversial, he would only have to pay after his paternity has been established in the context of the invoice. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

If the mother received an abortion, Brammer said, the father would not be responsible for the costs unless the abortion is necessary to prevent the mother’s death as determined by her doctor, or if the pregnancy is the result of Rape was.

Like King, Rep. Cheryl Acton, R-West Jordan, questioned how the bill would affect women who choose to have nothing to do with the father of their unborn child.

Brammer reiterated that the woman would not be required to demand payment from the birth father, but would have this option.

MP Lowry Snow, R-Santa Clara, feared that many women could not afford to go through the legal process to apply for payment.

“It’s pretty disheartening to say, ‘To collect you have to take a case to court and get a garnishment.’ And I’m just wondering, and I’m not suggesting, that you change anything, but these people don’t have a lot of resources to begin with, a lot of them, ”observed Snow.

Rep. Lowry Snow, R-Santa Clara, interviewed Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, on HB113 during a Standing Committee of Justice of the House at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The bill would assist pregnant women allow payment of 50% of their pregnancy and delivery costs and insurance premiums from the biological father. If paternity is controversial, he would only have to pay after his paternity has been established in the context of the invoice. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Brammer said the Office of Recovery Services can help women use federal funds and there are other programs in place to help, as with other child support issues. He said he doesn’t have the “complete solution” to making sure women can go through the process, but he wants to make sure that at least one process exists.

Most women who claim payments from the birth fathers of their unborn children are unlikely to see payments until after the children are born, noted Brammer.

“Because if there isn’t a lot of good communication between mother and father during this time, it would have to be a voluntary payment that they were already making, or it would be systematically delayed enough to happen a little later in the process,” said he.

King said he feared some men will see the language in the bill – which says birth fathers have a “duty” to help pay medical bills – and use it as a vehicle to claim, “I have.” this duty, you cannot escape me. ”

“I don’t think it’s bad for her to have this duty. It is not the intent to use this duty inappropriately to exercise control, and I don’t think it is, especially because I don’t know how he would feel about doing that duty. There has to be a certain amount of petition (from the mother) and he cannot be a petitioner who pays, ”Brammer said.

The bill received a positive recommendation with 8-1 votes from the committee. There will be a vote throughout the House.

Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, will discuss HB113 during a Standing Committee on Justice of the House at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The bill would allow pregnant women to receive 50% of their out-of-payment -Out to apply for pocket pregnancy and delivery medical expenses and insurance premiums from biological father. If paternity is controversial, he would only have to pay after his paternity has been established in the context of the invoice. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News