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House rejects bill to downgrade some child‑left‑in‑vehicle cases after extended debate
Summary
SB 124, which would have made certain brief instances of leaving children in vehicles a Class C misdemeanor rather than child neglect/abuse, failed in the House 29–41 after lengthy debate and a rejected amendment to lower the minimum age from 12 to 9.
Representative Perry introduced Senate Bill 124 as a targeted measure to reduce the severity of charges in certain circumstances where a child is left temporarily unattended in a motor vehicle. He characterized the bill as a way to avoid charging well‑intentioned parents with child neglect or abuse in low‑risk, short‑duration situations. "This cleans that problem up," Perry said, arguing the bill would allow officers to issue a lesser citation rather than pursue…
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