"An Act relating to child endangerment."

HB 381 addresses loopholes in Alaska Statute regarding vehicular related child endangerment. This bill includes specific provisions to our existing child endangerment statutes pertaining to transporting a child in a motor vehicle while intoxicated or transporting a child in a motor vehicle and failing to use proper restraints.

Currently, 27 states or territories have similar laws in effect. This bill will demonstrate Alaska's commitment to protecting our children, and our commitment to making adults responsible for their actions while transporting children.

HB 381 amends AS 11.51.100 (a) by adding two specific elements to the crime of child endangerment. First it specifies that a person commits the crime of child endangerment if they transport a child in a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant. Second, it adds that a person commits the crime of child endangerment if they fail to properly restrain a child, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle, and their failure to restrain leads to the injury or death of a child.

HB 381 will further help protect children from vehicular related injury or death, and because of this I encourage your support for this bill.

# # #