HB 4783 Summary

• Amends Michigan's child abuse statute (MCL 750.136b) to add definitions including "vulnerable child" (a person under 18 with developmental disability, mental illness, physical disability, or who is nonverbal due to developmental disability).

• Establishes child abuse in the second degree charge when a person knowingly or intentionally commits an act that poses an unreasonable risk of harm to a vulnerable child, regardless of whether harm actually results.

• Maintains existing child abuse penalties: first degree (life or any term of years imprisonment), second degree (up to 10 years for first offense, up to 20 years for subsequent offenses), third degree (up to 2 years), and fourth degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year).

• Preserves parental/guardian rights to use reasonable discipline including reasonable force, and maintains affirmative defense for conduct that was a reasonable response to domestic violence.

• Takes effect 90 days after enactment.