SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2020 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 673 Cruelty to children; increases penalty to a Class 4 felony.

Introduced by: Michael P. Mullin | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Cruelty to children; penalty. Increases the penalty from a Class 6 felony to a Class 4 felony for any person employing or having custody of a child to willfully cause or permit such child to be tortured physically or psychologically, tormented, mutilated, beaten, or cruelly treated. The bill includes such offense in the definition of "violent felony" for purposes of determining felony sentencing guidelines. The bill also includes willful and negligent acts of cruelty and injuries to children in offenses prohibiting a person from operating or residing in a family day home and provides that a conviction is a barrier crime for persons providing care to certain children or the elderly or disabled.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Cruelty to children; penalty. Increases the penalty from a Class 6 felony to a Class 4 felony for any person employing or having custody of a child who willfully causes or permits such child to be tortured physically or psychologically, tormented, mutilated, beaten, or cruelly treated. The bill includes such offense in the definition of "violent felony" for purposes of determining felony sentencing guidelines. The bill also includes willful and negligent acts of cruelty and injuries to children in offenses prohibiting a person from operating or residing in a family day home and, if such offense is in conjunction with a homicide, requiring registration under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act. The bill moves the provisions criminalizing cruelty and injuries to children from Title 40.1 (Labor and Employment) to Title 18.2 (Crimes and Offenses Generally).