The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the classification of "abduction of a child from a state agency." Under current law, the abduction is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor only if the person failing to return the child is the child's natural or adoptive parent and their motive is to protect and care for the child. The bill would expand this definition by including "an adult with a biological family relationship to the child," thereby broadening the circumstances under which a person could be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor instead of a felony.

Additionally, the bill would remove the term "natural" from the description of the child's parent, maintaining only "adoptive parent" alongside the new inclusion of adults with biological family relationships. This change aims to clarify the legal framework surrounding child abduction cases involving family members, ensuring that biological relatives are recognized in the same context as adoptive parents when it comes to the legal consequences of abduction.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-1310
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-1310