H400

Bentley's Law requires restitution in the form of child support for minor children of victims of certain felony death by vehicle offenses.

Bentley's Law mandates that if a defendant is convicted of a felony death by vehicle offense and the deceased victim was the parent of a minor child, the sentencing court must order the defendant to pay child support to the victim's children until they reach 18 years of age and graduate from high school. The court determines the amount of support based on factors such as the child's financial needs, the surviving parent's resources, and the child's standard of living. Payments are made to the clerk of court as trustee for remittance to the child's surviving parent or guardian.