Morrisey signs bills to increase pregnancy support, increase jail time for child abusers
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Last week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey was in Beckley at CrossPoint Church to sign three pro-life bills into law – including one that expands the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program.
“West Virginia has a proud history defending the sanctity of life for a long, long time,” Morrisey said, prior to ceremoniously signing Senate Bill 537, House Bill 2123 and House Bill 2871 into law. “I’ve been very humbled to be an important part of that.”
The first bill signed, Senate Bill 537, strengthens the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program under the Bureau for Public Health.
According to Morrisey, this bill “expands the use of state funds for pregnancy help organizations, which now can cover some new expenditures for some new land or buildings, for some additional services for the young moms in need, to help some of the providers meet licensing and accreditation, and to engage in staff training.”
Morrisey continued that the state legislature dedicated $3 million in their budget for this program.
“An abortion industry organization may not receive funding from the program,” according to the text of the bill.
Next, House Bill 2123 increases the criminal penalties imposed on a parent, guardian or custodian after being found guilty of child abuse.
“We are now increasing the jail time for abuse of a child that causes bodily injury from one to five years to two to 10 years,” Morrisey explained. “For abuse that creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, incarceration time, once again, is increased from one to five years to two to 10 years. And, for abuse causing serious bodily injury, the incarceration time is increased from two to 10 years to five to fifteen years.”
House Bill 2871 expands Vehicular Homicide and Homicide by Operation of Motorized Watercraft penalties and considers the loss of a child in the womb as a death for the purposes of prosecution.
“A life in the womb is still a life,” Morrisey stated. “And our laws have to reflect that fact. And, they are.”
Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, added that he is proud of the work accomplished by the state’s legislature regarding abortion laws.
“I was privileged to be the caucus chairman for the Senate Majority and lead that caucus into eliminating almost every kind of the abortions that were performed,” Roberts said. “ I think, at that time, there were 38 abortions a week.”
However, Roberts added that he knew wraparound services would become necessary to support pregnant mothers.
“There was a commitment that several of us made in both chambers, at that time, to make something good happen for the mothers and the babies,” Roberts continued. “That’s part of why we’re here today.”
In addition to Roberts, other members of the state’s legislature, as well as local officials, were in attendance at the signing ceremony.
