Kentucky Joins Other Staes In Caylee's (Anthony) Law That Will Require Parents To Report Child Missing Within 24 Hours, Or Face Felony Charge. GREAT Idea.

Lawmaker proposes 'Caylee's Law' in Kentucky
Written by Mike Wynn

FRANKFORT, Ky — A state House member says the high-profile Florida murder case of Caylee Anthony

highlights the need for new penalties against parents who fail to report missing children in a timely manner.

Rep. Richard Henderson, D-Jeffersonville, said Thursday he is prefiling a bill for 2012 legislative session that would require parents of missing children to notify authorities within 12 hours or face a Class D felony charge, which can carry a sentence of one to five years in prison.

Called “Caylee's Law” in honor of the slain 2-year-old, the proposal would apply to children 12 years old and younger.

“The reason it would be such a stiff penalty is to provide protection for those that can't protect themselves,” Henderson said.

The bill will “fix a portion of the judicial system that I feel like is gray or flawed,” he said.

Kentucky law forbids child abandonment but does not establish a timeframe for notifying police about missing children, according to officials. Henderson said his bill would close that legal gap, and he hopes to receive bipartisan support next year.

“I want to work with anyone,” he said. “If the legislation needs to be tweaked or if somebody can add something to enhance it … I am open for all dialogue that would help protect our children more.”

The Florida murder case has captured national attention since Caylee's disappearance in June 2008. Her mother, Casey Anthony, delayed notifying authorities of the missing child for a month, and prosecutors said holdups in locating the child's body wreaked havoc on forensic evidence.

A jury cleared Casey Anthony of murder charges in a trial that ended Tuesday but convicted her on four misdemeanor counts of lying to police. After the acquittal, outraged legislators and citizens have called for versions of “Caylee's Law” around the county.

According to news reports, lawmakers in Florida, New York, West Virginia and Oklahoma are considering bills, and the Internet petition Website Change.org had received more than 430,000 signatures by Thursday afternoon expressing support for a federal law.

Henderson said he decided to file the bill after reviewing concerns from a constituent.

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House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, praised the proposal in a press release Thursday, saying “we must do whatever we can to ensure the protection of our young children.”