HB-4468, As Passed House, April 21, 2004

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 4468

                                                                             A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled                                             

"The Michigan penal code,"                                                  

by amending section 136b (MCL 750.136b), as amended by 1999 PA              

273.                                                                        

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1       Sec. 136b.  (1) As used in this section:                                    

2       (a) "Child" means a person who is less than 18 years of age                 

3   and is not emancipated by operation of law as provided in section           

4   4 of 1968 PA 293, MCL 722.4.                                                

5       (b) "Cruel" means brutal, inhuman, sadistic, or that which                  

6   torments.                                                                   

7       (c) "Omission" means a willful failure to provide the food,                 

8   clothing, or shelter necessary for a child's welfare or the                 

9   willful abandonment of a child.                                             

10      (d) "Person" means a child's parent or guardian or any other                

1   person who cares for, has custody of, or has authority over a               

2   child regardless of the length of time that a child is cared for,           

3   in the custody of, or subject to the authority of that person.              

4       (e) "Physical harm" means any injury to a child's physical                  

5   condition.                                                                  

6       (f) "Serious physical harm" means any physical injury to a                  

7   child that seriously impairs the child's health or physical                 

8   well-being, including, but not limited to, brain damage, a skull            

9   or bone fracture, subdural hemorrhage or hematoma, dislocation,             

10  sprain, internal injury, poisoning, burn or scald, or severe                

11  cut.                                                                        

12      (g) "Serious mental harm" means an injury to a child's mental               

13  condition or welfare that is not necessarily permanent but                  

14  results in visibly demonstrable manifestations of a substantial             

15  disorder of thought or mood which significantly impairs judgment,           

16  behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with            

17  the ordinary demands of life.                                               

18      (2) A person is guilty of child abuse in the first degree if                

19  the person knowingly or intentionally causes serious physical or            

20  serious mental harm to a child.  Child abuse in the first degree            

21  is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15                 

22  years.                                                                      

23      (3) A person is guilty of child abuse in the second degree if               

24  any of the following apply:                                                 

25      (a) The person's omission causes serious physical harm or                   

26  serious mental harm to a child or if the person's reckless act              

27  causes serious physical harm or serious mental harm to a child.             

1       (b) The person knowingly or intentionally commits an act                    

2   likely to cause serious physical or mental harm to a child                  

3   regardless of whether harm results.                                         

4       (c) The person knowingly or intentionally commits an act that               

5   is cruel to a child regardless of whether harm results.                     

6   (d) The person knowingly or intentionally commits 3 or more                 

7   acts within a 24-month period that cause physical harm to a                 

8   child.  For purposes of this subdivision, the 3 or more acts need           

9   not be committed against the same child.

10      (4) Child abuse in the second degree is a felony punishable                 

11  by imprisonment for not more than  4 10 years.                             

12      (5) A person is guilty of child abuse in the third degree if                

13  the either of the following applies:                                      

14      (a) The person knowingly or intentionally causes physical                   

15  harm to a child.                                                            

16  (b) The person knowingly or intentionally commits an act                    

17  likely to cause physical harm to a child, and the act results in            

18  physical harm to a child.                                                   

19      (6) Child abuse in the third degree is a  misdemeanor felony

20  punishable by imprisonment for not more than  2 4 years.                   

21  (7)  (6)  A person is guilty of child abuse in the fourth                   

22  degree if  the either of the following applies:                            

23      (a) The person's omission or reckless act causes physical                   

24  harm to a child.                                                            

25  (b) The person knowingly or intentionally commits an act                    

26  likely to cause physical harm to a child, regardless of whether             

27  physical harm results.                                                      

1       (8) Child abuse in the fourth degree is a misdemeanor                       

2   punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year.                        

3   (9)  (7)  This section does not prohibit a parent or                        

4   guardian, or other person permitted by law or authorized by the             

5   parent or guardian, from taking steps to reasonably discipline a            

6   child, including the use of reasonable force.                               

7       Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act takes effect 90                    

8   days after the date it is enacted into law.