1Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of failure 
3of duty to report disappearance of a child.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

8§ 4304.1. Duty to report disappearance of child.

9(a) Offense defined.--A parent of a child under 14 years of
10age commits an offense if the parent, with reckless disregard
11for the risk of harm to the child or for the health, safety or
12welfare of the child, fails to report the disappearance of the
13child to a law enforcement agency.

14(b) Grading.--An offense under subsection (a) constitutes a
15felony of the third degree.

16(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

1words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
2subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

3"Disappearance." Any instance in which the whereabouts of
4the child are unknown to the parent and have been unknown for
5more than 24 hours.

6"Parent." A natural parent, stepparent, adoptive parent,
7guardian or custodian of a child.

8Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.