Crimes.

Existing law makes it a crime for a parent or guardian of a minor child to willfully omit, without lawful excuse, clothing, food, shelter, or medical care for the child. Existing law also makes it a crime for a parent or guardian to desert a child under 14 years of age with the intent to abandon him or her. This bill would make it a felony for a parent, guardian, or caregiver having the care, custody, and control of a child under 18 years of age to knowingly fail to report the child's death and the location of the child's remains to law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, or the coroner within 2 hours of the discovery of the child's death or as soon as possible thereafter if reasonable and expedient means to notify were not previously available. This bill would provide that the reporting requirement described above is fulfilled if the child dies in a hospital or other medical care facility or under the care of a licensed medical professional. The bill would further make it a felony for a parent, guardian, or caregiver having the care, custody, and control of a child under 12 years of age to knowingly fail to report the child's disappearance to law enforcement within 48 hours of the child's disappearance or as soon as possible thereafter if reasonable and expedient means to notify were not previously available. By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.