The Judiciary Committee met this morning and advanced House Bill 2113.
House Bill 2113 increases the criminal penalties imposed on a parent, guardian, or custodian for child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse or neglect creating a risk of injury. This bill does not change fines; it changes criminal sentencing penalties.
The changes are as follows:
- Abuse causing the child bodily injury
- The current penalty is 1 to 5 years
- Bill changes the penalty to 2 to 10 years
- Abuse with serious bodily injury
- The current penalty is 2 to 10 years
- Bill changes the penalty to 5 to 15 years
- Abuse with a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm
- The current penalty is 1 to 5 years
- Bill changes the penalty to 2 to 10 years
- Abuse with a substantial risk of bodily harm
- Misdemeanor with fine
- Bill does not change this penalty.
- A second offense of child abuse bodily injury (the misdemeanor)
- The current penalty is a misdemeanor
- Bill changes the penalty to a felony with 1 to 5 years. Â
- Second felony conviction
- Bill changes the penalty to twice the term and the fine authorized
- Neglect causing child bodily injury
- The current penalty is 1 to 3 years
- Bill does not change this penalty.
- Neglect causing serious bodily injury
- The current penalty is 1 to 10 years
- Bill does not change this penalty.
- Gross neglect with a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm
- The current penalty is 1 to 5 years
- Bill changes the penalty to 1 to 10 years
- Neglect with risk of bodily injury
- Misdemeanor with fine
- Bill does not change this penalty.
- A second offense of neglect with risk of bodily injury (the misdemeanor)
- The current penalty is a misdemeanor
- Bill changes the penalty to a felony with 1 to 5 years
- Second felony conviction
- Bill changes the penalty to twice the term and the fine authorized
An additional change is that the provisions MAY not apply if neglect is due primarily due to a lack of financial means.
