Bill > H3766

This bill, titled "Relative to the protection of children," introduces new criminal offenses related to failing to report a missing or deceased child to law enforcement authorities. It defines key terms such as "person having care and custody" to include parents, guardians, or anyone with equivalent supervision of a child, and "child" as any person under 14 years of age. The bill establishes that anyone with care and custody of a child who discovers the child is deceased must notify a "law enforcement authority," meaning any police department, within two hours of discovery, with the intent to mislead or impede an investigation, facing potential imprisonment of up to 10 years in state prison or 2.5 years in a house of correction. Similarly, if a child under 14 is found missing, the person responsible must notify law enforcement within five days with the same intent, also facing similar penalties. Additionally, this bill amends existing law (Section 13J of chapter 265) to increase the maximum prison sentences for certain related offenses, specifically changing the maximum imprisonment for one offense from two and one-half years to 10 years, and for another from five years to 15 years, and for a third from two and one-half years to 10 years.