Bill
H 1704
Overview: Bill Number: H 1704, Title: An Act to prevent aiding, supporting, or enticing a child to runaway, Status: Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2,
Overview: Bill Number: H 1704, Title: An Act to prevent aiding, supporting, or enticing a child to runaway, Status: Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2, Introduced: February 27, 2025
Purpose and Intent: The main goal of this bill is to strengthen laws against individuals who aid, support, or entice children to run away from their homes or legal guardians. The legislation aims to address the growing issue of child runaways and provide additional legal tools to hold accountable those who contribute to this problem.
Key Provisions:
- Establishes new criminal offenses for "aiding or abetting a child runaway" and "enticing a child to run away"
- Imposes penalties of up to 5 years in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000 for violations
- Allows law enforcement to pursue charges against individuals who knowingly provide shelter, transportation, or other assistance to runaway children
- Requires mandatory reporting by certain professionals (teachers, social workers, etc.) if they have reasonable cause to believe a child may run away
Affected Parties and Impacts: The bill would primarily impact individuals who engage in activities that enable or encourage children to run away from home, such as family members, friends, or other acquaintances. It could also affect certain professionals who fail to report suspected runaway situations. The legislation is intended to protect vulnerable children and reduce the incidence of runaways.
Procedural and Timeline Considerations: The bill is currently scheduled for a public hearing on June 10, 2025, where lawmakers will have the opportunity to discuss the proposal and hear from stakeholders. Depending on the outcome of the hearing and subsequent legislative deliberations, the bill may advance through the committee process and toward a potential floor vote.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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