Bill > HB257

This bill, known as "Charlotte's Law," establishes the new crime of criminal neglect of a child, making it illegal for any person responsible for a child's welfare to negligently fail to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical attention, shelter, or protection from controlled drug exposure or ingestion, if such failure seriously endangers the child's physical, mental, or emotional health, and is not due to poverty. A "child" is defined as anyone under 18 years old, and "necessary care" is broadly defined as care vital to a child's well-being considering their age, condition, and special needs. Penalties vary based on the outcome of the neglect: a class A felony if the child dies, a class B felony if the child suffers serious bodily injury or becomes a victim of certain other offenses due to the neglect, or if the offender has two prior convictions for this offense, and a class A misdemeanor for any other violation. The bill also amends existing law to allow for an extended term of imprisonment for certain crimes, including this new criminal neglect offense, when committed against a child under 13 years of age, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=324&inflect=2