PRINTER'S NO. 608
No. 557 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY TRICH, BELARDI, SCRIMENTI, RUDY, STABACK,
COLAIZZO, NAILOR, JAROLIN, BELFANTI, KENNEY, DeLUCA, DALEY,
TRELLO, YANDRISEVITS, GIGLIOTTI, J. TAYLOR, BATTISTO,
McGEEHAN, L. I. COHEN, HECKLER, TOMLINSON, PISTELLA,
MICHLOVIC, PESCI, MELIO, VEON, MUNDY, ROONEY, LaGROTTA,
BARLEY, GERLACH, CIVERA, GEIST, COY, KASUNIC AND STEELMAN,
MARCH 15, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 15, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of child
3 abandonment.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 6315. Child abandonment.
9 (a) Offense defined.--A parent, legal guardian or caretaker
10 who abandons a child under ten years of age for 24 hours or more
11 commits a felony.
12 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates this section shall, upon
13 conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $10,000
14 or to imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
15 (c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
16 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
1 subsection:
2 "Abandon." To leave a child without the supervision of an
3 adult or other person who is of suitable age to assume
4 responsibility for the care of the child.
5 "Caretaker." An individual who has responsibility for the
6 care of a child as a result of a family relationship or who has
7 assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care of a
8 child.
9 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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