Yesterday Governor Branstad signed House File 2386, known nationally as the “Rape Survivor Child Custody Act.” This legislation protects the survivors of sexual assault when the offense results in pregnancy.

The bill was authored by Representative Greg Heartsill. The law provides the judicial system with additional grounds to terminate the parental rights of a sexual assault perpetrator. The court would be required to find that there is clear and convincing evidence that the child was conceived as the result of sexual assault. Heartsill tells KNIA/KRLS News he was pleased to have played a part in the legislation.