Bill > H2298

This bill seeks to amend Massachusetts law to increase the penalties for failing to notify law enforcement officials of a missing or deceased child. The key provisions are: 1) It creates a new crime of "Failure to Notify Law Enforcement of Missing or Deceased Child," which applies to anyone with care and custody of a child under 14 years old. Offenders can be punished by up to 10 years in state prison or 2.5 years in county jail if they fail to notify authorities within 2 hours of discovering a child's death or 48 hours of a child going missing, and they intend to mislead officials or impede an investigation. 2) It also increases the maximum penalties for the existing crime of "Wanton or Reckless Behavior Creating a Risk of Serious Bodily Injury to a Child," from 2.5 years to 10 years in state prison, and from 5 years to 15 years for causing serious bodily injury.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H2298