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New drug treatment program proposed for expectant mothers
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Two state lawmakers are proposing a new drug-treatment program for expectant mothers, hoping to encourage them to seek help for addictions without fear of losing their soon-to-be-born children.
Reps. Sean O’Brien of Bazetta, D-63rd, and Doug Green, a Republican from Mount Orab, announced the introduction of what they are calling “Maiden’s Law” during a press conference at the Statehouse Wednesday.
“The impetus of this bill is to get these women who are pregnant as much help as we can to get them treatment,” O’Brien said.
Under current law, doctors are required to report to children services agencies when pregnant women in their care are found to be using illegal drugs. Those women can lose custody of their newborn children as a result.
Under the proposed legislation, those pregnant women would be referred for treatment. The legislation would bar children services agencies from removing children from the homes of those mothers solely based on drug use during their pregnancies, if the women complete the treatment programs and meet other requirements.
“CSB does still have the opportunity to go to the home, investigate, make sure there’s other things not going on, happening in the home,” O’Brien said. “... If there’s other issues, we want CSB involved.”
Green said the legislation is modeled after a comparable law in Tennessee.