This bill, known as "Charlotte's Law," establishes the crime of criminal neglect of a child under a new section, RSA 639:3-a. It defines criminal neglect as the failure of a person responsible for a child's welfare to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical care, shelter, or protection from controlled drugs, resulting in serious endangerment to the child's physical, mental, or emotional health. The bill specifies that neglect must occur for reasons other than poverty and outlines penalties for violations, including class A felonies for cases resulting in a child's death, class B felonies for serious bodily injury or repeated offenses, and class A misdemeanors for other violations.

Additionally, the bill amends RSA 651:6, I(e) to include the new crime of criminal neglect of a child in the list of offenses that can lead to an extended term of imprisonment for crimes committed against individuals under 13 years of age. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems, potentially influencing costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 651:6