HARTFORD, Conn. — A bill that would establish a penalty for Connecticut parents and guardians who fail to report the disappearance of a child has passed the state's House of Representatives.
State Representatives voted 140-to-0 in favor of the measure. It now awaits action in the Connecticut Senate.
Under the proposed legislation, parents and guardians who wait longer than 24 hours to report any child under the age of 12 missing would be charged with a misdemeanor criminal offense. The misdemeanor would be punishable by up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $2,000.
The legislation comes as a response to the 2008 death of Florida toddler Caylee Anthony, who wasn't reported missing for 31 days.