PRINTER'S NO. 1421
No. 1208 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, BEBKO-JONES, WALKO, READSHAW, YOUNGBLOOD,
STETLER, THOMAS, BELFANTI, GRUCELA, JAMES, CALTAGIRONE,
KIRKLAND, TANGRETTI, REICHLEY, STABACK, McGEEHAN, FABRIZIO
AND W. KELLER, MARCH 30, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 30, 2005
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.
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