HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2429

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO NONREPORTING ON CHILD ABUSE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in a 2015 report by the department of human services, a total of 3,747 reports were made regarding child abuse in the State of Hawaii.  Of those reports, 2,813 were reported by those mandated in section 350-1.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and nine hundred thirty-four were reported by others.  These numbers only represent the number of reports that the department of human services has received.  It is estimated that for every report made, two go unreported in the United States.

     The legislature further finds that the current lawsuit that was filed by thirty-four former Kamehameha Schools students between the ages of nine and fourteen at the time, who were abused by a psychiatrist recommended by the school, shows the importance of reporting any case of child abuse to the proper authorities.

     The purpose of this Act is to change the penalty for nonreporting of the abuse or neglect of a child, from a petty misdemeanor to a class C felony.

     SECTION 2.  Section 350-1.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§350-1.2  Nonreporting; penalty.  Any person subject to section 350-1.1(a) who knowingly prevents another person from reporting, or who knowingly fails to provide information as required by section 350-1.1(c) or (d), shall be guilty of a [petty misdemeanor.] class C felony."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.


 


 

Report Title:

Child Abuse; Nonreporting; Class C Felony

 

Description:

Changes the penalty for nonreporting of child abuse or neglect from a petty misdemeanor to a class C felony.  (HB2429 HD1)

 

 

 

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