Brief (1)
SB 291 creates the new crime of causing harm to another person by motor vehicle. The crime is defined as leaving a child, 10 years of age or younger, unattended in a motor vehicle and the child causes the death or bodily harm to another person by causing an accident involving another motor vehicle or pedestrian.
Causing harm to another person by motor vehicle when the child causes the death of another person is a class A person misdemeanor. Causing harm to another person by motor vehicle when the child causes bodily harm to another person is a class B person misdemeanor. The word "unattended" means not accompanied by a person 12 years of age or older.
This act takes effect upon publication in the Kansas Register.
Background
The bill was requested by Senator Allen. The idea for the law was a result of contact by a Missouri woman whose two-year-old son was killed when a motor vehicle occupied by two toddlers hit her and her son from behind while they were sitting on a park bench.
The bill has no fiscal impact.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi