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Senate panel advances bill to raise age for homicide-by-child-abuse charge to 18
Summary
The Senate Judiciary committee advanced S.405, which would change the required maximum age for victims in homicide-by-child-abuse cases from 11 to 18, after unanimous subcommittee support and no opposition in the full committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced S.405, a bill that would raise the maximum age for a victim in a homicide-by-child-abuse and neglect charge from 11 to 18.
The change would allow prosecutors to charge a person with homicide by child abuse if the deceased was under age 18 instead of the current 11-year threshold. Sharon, a committee staff member, told the panel the same bill passed the Senate in February 2024 and then “died in the House Judiciary Committee.”
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Adams, told members the subcommittee had voted unanimously in favor and that solicitors who testified supported the change, reporting past prosecutorial difficulties tied to the lower age ceiling. “Solicitors testified that this would help them out because they've actually had a couple issues regarding the age,” Adams said.
Committee members raised no questions beyond confirming the bill matched the measure that previously passed the Senate. The chair called for a motion; a member moved and seconded to report the bill favorably. The committee approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
If enacted, the statute would permit homicide-by-child-abuse prosecutions when the victim is younger than 18; the bill text as presented does not change any other elements of the offense described in existing code.
The committee moved directly from S.405 to other agenda items after the vote. No amendments were offered or recorded on the transcript for S.405.
