HB4362 S JUD AM #1

Smith 7883

The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

§61-8D-5a. Verbal abuse of noncommunicative child; penalties.

(a) Any person, 18 years of age or older, who has supervisory responsibility over a noncommunicative minor child, who repeatedly engages in verbal conduct toward the child in an insulting, demeaning or threatening manner, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less that $500 nor more that $2,500 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined.

(b) As used in section (a) of this section:

(1) “Noncommunicative child” means a child who, due to physical or developmental disabilities is unable to communicate verbally, in writing, or through a recognized sign language;

(2) “Repeatedly” means on two or more occasions;

(3) “Supervisory responsibility” means any situation where an adult has direct supervisory decision-making, oversight, instructive, academic, evaluative, or advisory responsibilities regarding the child. Supervisory responsibility can occur in a residence, in or out of a school setting, institutional setting, and in curricular, co-curricular, or extra-curricular settings.

Adopted

Rejected