January 30, 2012: A bill, AB 1432 -- "Caylee's Law", so-named after 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, later found dead, wasn't reported missing for 31 days -- passed the Assembly 67-3 last Thursday (January 26) and is now headed for the state Senate, reports Jim Sanders for the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert".
The bill, introduced by Assembly member Holly Mitchell (D-Culver City), at left, would require parents or guardians to report a missing child under the age of 14 within 24 hours; if it passes the Senate by a 2/3 majority, it will immediately become law.
Parents would be charged with a misdemeanor but maximum penalties would vary:
Offenders could be jailed for a year and fined $2,000 for failing to report the death of a child from crime, or one who is missing under circumstances that would suggest danger.
Violations stemming from disappearances in which no danger of physical harm exists would be punishable by maximum jail sentences of six months and fines of up to $1,000.
Written for California's Children by Elizabeth J Carlyle.
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