This bill amends the existing law on endangering the welfare of a child by expanding the definition of violative conduct. Specifically, it removes the requirement that a person must "purposely" violate a duty of care, protection, or support to be guilty of endangering a child. The bill introduces new provisions that classify certain actions as endangering a child's welfare, including engaging in conduct that places a child under 18 in danger of serious bodily injury or death, as well as conduct that results in serious bodily injury or death to a child under 18. Additionally, the bill specifies that tattooing or branding a child, improperly placing a child for adoption, and soliciting a child under 16 for sexual activity also constitute endangerment.

The bill establishes varying degrees of felony charges based on the severity of the offense, with violations resulting in serious bodily injury or death classified as a class A felony, while other specified violations are classified as class B felonies. It also defines a "pattern" of violations and clarifies that individuals acting in accordance with certain religious tenets are not guilty under this section. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and its implementation may have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local judicial and correctional systems.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 639:3