This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding child neglect by clarifying that a parent's, guardian's, or custodian's inability to provide necessary resources to a child due to a lack of financial resources does not constitute neglect. Under current law, neglect is defined as the inability or unwillingness to provide supervision, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care that poses a substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare. The bill would insert language specifying that such inability due to financial constraints is not considered neglect, thereby providing legal protection for parents who are financially unable to meet these needs.

Additionally, the bill would maintain the existing definition of neglect while adding a requirement that a risk of serious harm must be present for a situation to be classified as neglect. This change aims to ensure that financial hardship alone cannot be used as a basis for neglect allegations, thus protecting families facing economic difficulties. The proposed amendments would enhance the legal framework surrounding child welfare by distinguishing between neglect due to financial inability and other forms of neglect that pose a genuine risk to a child's well-being.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-201