This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the classification of child abduction from a state agency. Under the existing law, a person who fails to return a child to a state agency can be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor if they are the child's natural or adoptive parent and their motive is to protect and care for the child. The bill seeks to expand this definition by including "an adult with a biological family relationship to the child," thereby allowing more individuals to potentially qualify for the misdemeanor charge instead of a felony.

The specific changes involve the deletion of the term "natural" from the current statute, which currently limits the definition to natural or adoptive parents. The new language will replace it with a broader category that includes any adult with a biological connection to the child. This change aims to reflect a more inclusive understanding of family relationships in the context of child custody and abduction cases.

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