Legislative Watch 
LEGISLATIVE
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8/15/05-A bill in the House Committee on Judiciary would bring charges on parents who leave their children in vehicles.
HB4738, sponsored by Rep. Bill Van Regenmorter, R-Georgetown Township, would change the definition of third and fourth degree child abuse.
Existing state law requires that a parent must intend to injure their child to face charges.
The bill would alter the rules, making it a crime to commit an act that would likely cause harm to a child.
That would include leaving a child alone in a hot vehicle, even if the child doesn’t get hurt.
The maximum sentence would be imprisonment for one year. If a child were injured, the penalty would shoot up to 15 years in prison.
For bill status, call (517) 373-0630.
