ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Cecilia Williams has been pushing for law changes since experiencing an unthinkable tragedy in 2021.  Her son, daughter-in-law, and one of her grandchildren were killed by a drunk driver. 

“Missouri has an extremely huge problem with impaired driving,” she said.

Williams said what’s become “Bentley’s Law” has passed in other states but failed to pass again in Missouri. The state’s legislative session ended on Thursday. 

The law would require impaired offenders who take the lives of parents to pay child support to caregivers left to care for surviving children.  

The law is named after one of the surviving children Williams is caring for.

“Financially, a lot of people can’t afford it, but with Bentley’s law, it gives them the extra support that is needed,” Williams said.

She attended a banquet in St. Charles on Thursday night, hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  

The awards ceremony honored 133 members of law enforcement for their dedication to impaired driving enforcement. 

Jerod Breit, MADD’s regional executive director, credits Williams’ determination for other states passing legislation she’s fighting for.

“She’s been triumphant across the country and even outside the United States when it comes to Benley’s Law,” he said.

Williams said that states that have passed the law include Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, Texas, Utah, South Dakota and Montana.  

She said the law has even passed in the Cayman Islands and South Korea.

“There’s no reason why Missouri cannot pass this important piece of legislation to help families who really need it,” she said.

Breit said MADD and the agency’s supporters pushed for several measures aimed at reducing impaired driving in Missouri, but the effort failed despite overwhelming support from lawmakers and near unanimous support in the House, where the measure easily passed.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t make it through in the Senate,” Breit said.

Williams blamed political bickering for the measure failing to pass before the session ended.

She and Breit vow to push again for a change in Missouri’s law when the next legislative session starts in January.

State Senator Mike Henderson sponsored SB 235 and supported the effort to pass the legislation.  

He said, “I am very disappointed. I do not believe it had anything to do with Benley’s Law or actually the bill itself.  We just ran out of time.”