The bill amends the Michigan Penal Code, specifically section 136b, to clarify definitions and penalties related to child abuse. Key definitions are updated, including changing "a person" to "an individual" in the definition of "child," which refers to anyone under 18 years of age who is not legally emancipated. The bill outlines various degrees of child abuse, with first-degree child abuse being a felony punishable by life imprisonment or a term of years for causing serious physical or mental harm. Second-degree child abuse includes acts that cause serious harm or are likely to cause such harm, while third and fourth-degree abuses involve lesser degrees of harm or risk.

Additionally, the bill introduces an affirmative defense for defendants whose actions were a reasonable response to domestic violence, and it specifies that prior convictions can be established through various forms of evidence. Importantly, the bill states that it does not apply to individuals allowing children to engage in independent activities as defined in the child protection law. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of Senate Bill No. 735.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 750.136