PRINTER'S NO. 552
No. 474 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, YOUNGBLOOD, THOMAS, GRUCELA, READSHAW,
CRUZ, SOLOBAY, STABACK, MELIO, HARHAI, WATERS, BELFANTI,
TIGUE, JAMES, PISTELLA, KIRKLAND, TANGRETTI, WASHINGTON AND
McGEEHAN, FEBRUARY 25, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 25, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for endangering
3 welfare of children.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 4304(a) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 4304. Endangering welfare of children.
9 (a) Offense defined.--
10 (1) A parent, guardian, or other person supervising the
11 welfare of a child under 18 years of age commits an offense
12 if he knowingly endangers the welfare of the child by
13 violating a duty of care, protection or support.
14 (2) A parent or guardian of a child commits an offense
15 if the parent or guardian, after being diagnosed by a
16 physician as having a chemical dependence, refuses treatment
17 for the chemical dependence. For purposes of this paragraph,
1 treatment includes:
2 (i) voluntary commitment to a facility for treatment
3 for at least 72 hours; and
4 (ii) outpatient treatment for at least 18 months.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
A2L18MEP/20030H0474B0552 - 2 -