Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §554-B is enacted to read:

§554-B.__Aggravated endangering welfare of child

1.__A person is guilty of aggravated endangering the welfare of a child if:

A.__The person is a parent, foster parent or guardian or is otherwise responsible for the care and custody of a child under 16;

B.__The person knows that the child in fact sustained serious bodily injury or bodily injury under circumstances posing a substantial risk of serious bodily injury and that bodily injury was caused by the unlawful use of physical force by another person; and

C.__The person thereafter recklessly fails to take reasonable measures to protect the child from the risk of further bodily injury.

2.__Aggravated endangering the welfare of a child is a Class C crime.

SUMMARY

This bill creates the crime of aggravated endangering the welfare of a child, which is committed when a parent, foster parent, guardian or person responsible for the care and custody of the child knows that the child has been subject to serious bodily injury by another and fails to protect the child from further injury.