Report Title:

Child Abandonment

Description:

Makes it a misdemeanor to abandon a child by leaving the child with a person knowing that the person's existence cannot be confirmed or the person cannot be found. Effective 7/1/2050.  (SB2886 HD2)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2886
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD ABANDONMENT.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 709-902, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:

     "§709-902  Abandonment of a child.  (1)  A person commits the offense of abandonment of a child if, being a parent, guardian, or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than fourteen years old, the person [deserts]:

(a) Deserts the child in any place with intent to abandon it[.]; or

(b) Leaves the child with another person knowing that:

(i) The person cannot prove the other person's identity through official records such as a birth certificate, school diploma, court documents, employment applications, Social Security records, or documents proving next of kin; or

(ii) The person subsequently will not able to locate or find the other person."

     SECTION 2.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.