The proposed bill amends chapter 568 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri by adding a new section, 568.180, which establishes the offense of failing to supervise a child. Under this new provision, a parent, guardian, or person responsible for a child under fifteen years of age can be found guilty if the child commits certain acts, such as engaging in behavior that brings them under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, violating local curfew laws, or failing to attend school as mandated. The bill specifies that this law does not apply to child-placing agencies or foster parents. Additionally, the bill outlines affirmative defenses for individuals accused of failing to supervise a child, including being a victim of the child's actions or having reported the incident to authorities. It also allows for the possibility of demonstrating that reasonable steps were taken to control the child's behavior. Penalties for this offense include a maximum of 250 hours of community service, and the juvenile court will have jurisdiction over first offenses, which will be classified as infractions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (5685H.01): 568.180