Bill > H1402

This bill establishes a new crime for failing to report a missing or deceased child, defining "person having care and custody" as anyone responsible for a child's supervision, and "child" as anyone under 14 years old. It mandates that individuals with care and custody must notify law enforcement or emergency medical personnel within two hours of discovering a child's death, or within five days of finding a child missing, if they intend to mislead officials or impede an investigation. Penalties for this offense include up to 10 years in state prison or 2.5 years in the house of correction. Additionally, the bill amends an existing law (Section 13J of chapter 265) to increase the maximum prison sentences for certain related offenses from 2.5 years to 10 years and from five years to 15 years.