Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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SB 94 was a bill that dealt with firearms, but was stripped in House the Non-Civil Judiciary Committee and HB 185, the Runaway Youth Safety Act was inserted.
Under current law, it is a crime for someone to help a child who has run away. HB 185 allows community based programs that provide services to runaway children, homeless children or those at risk of becoming homeless to assist these children so long as the program contacts the parent, guardian or custodian of the child within 72 hours. Alternatively, if the program provider believes that the child has been abused, the provider does not have to notify the parents, guardian or custodian, but must make a report to a child welfare agency providing protective services, to law enforcement or to the district attorney. |