MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representatives Buck (72nd), Buck (5th)
AN ACT TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF FAILURE TO REPORT THE DISAPPEARANCE OR DEATH OF A CHILD; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Any parent, guardian or legal custodian having the care, custody and control of a child ten (10) years of age or younger who willfully fails to notify law enforcement that the child has been missing for a period of forty-eight (48) hours shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than three (3) years or fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) Unless the death is known by medical personnel or law enforcement, any parent, guardian or legal custodian of a child ten (10) years of age or younger who willfully fails to report the child's death to law enforcement or emergency personnel within twelve (12) hours after learning about the child's death or who fails to report the location of the corpse to law enforcement within twelve (12) hours after learning the location of the corpse shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years or fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.