HB 5484 Summary

• Creates a new crime of "failure to report a crime against a child" requiring witnesses to report murder, sexual assault, or assault of a child under 16 years old to law enforcement as soon as reasonably practicable.

• Establishes affirmative defenses allowing a person to avoid prosecution if they reasonably believed reporting would expose them or another person to substantial physical injury, another person had already reported the crime, or another person was already providing effective assistance.

• Classifies failure to report as a class A misdemeanor.

• Effective date: October 1, 2010.