Text to be removed highlighted in red.
1 Short Title. This act may be known as and cited to as "Charlotte's Law."
2 New Section; Criminal Code; Criminal Neglect of a Child. Amend RSA 639 by inserting after section 3 the following new section:
639:3-a Criminal Neglect of a Child.
I. A person is guilty of criminal neglect of a child if the person is responsible for a child's welfare and, through his or her action or failure to take action for reasons other than poverty, negligently fails to provide any of the following, so as to seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health of a child:
(a) Necessary care.
(b) Necessary food.
(c) Necessary clothing.
(d) Necessary medical care.
(e) Necessary shelter.
(f) The protection from ingestion of or exposure to distribution or manufacture of controlled drugs.
II. For purposes of this section:
(a) "Child" means a person under 18 years of age.
(b) "Necessary care" means care that is vital to the needs of a child's physical, emotional, or mental health based on all of the facts and circumstances bearing on the child's need for care, including the child's age; the child's physical, mental, or emotional condition; and any special needs of the child.
III. A person who violates paragraph I is guilty of:
(a) A class A felony, if the neglect resulted in the child's death.
(b) A class B felony, if the neglect resulted in a serious bodily injury to the
child or if the child becomes a victim of any offense under RSA chapters 632-A or 649-A, as a consequence of the neglect.
(c) A class B felony, if the actor has twice before been convicted of an offense under this section.
(d) A class A misdemeanor for any other violation of this section.
2 Extended Term of Imprisonment. Amend RSA 651:6, I(e) to read as follows:
(e) Has committed or attempted to commit any of the crimes defined in RSA 631 or 632-A against a person under 13 years of age;
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 Short Title. This act may be known as and cited to as "Charlotte's Law."
2 New Section; Criminal Code; Criminal Neglect of a Child. Amend RSA 639 by inserting after section 3 the following new section:
639:3-a Criminal Neglect of a Child.
I. A person is guilty of criminal neglect of a child if the person is responsible for a child's welfare and, through his or her action or failure to take action for reasons other than poverty, negligently fails to provide any of the following, so as to seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health of a child:
(a) Necessary care.
(b) Necessary food.
(c) Necessary clothing.
(d) Necessary medical care.
(e) Necessary shelter.
(f) The protection from ingestion of or exposure to distribution or manufacture of controlled drugs.
II. For purposes of this section:
(a) "Child" means a person under 18 years of age.
(b) "Necessary care" means care that is vital to the needs of a child's physical, emotional, or mental health based on all of the facts and circumstances bearing on the child's need for care, including the child's age; the child's physical, mental, or emotional condition; and any special needs of the child.
III. A person who violates paragraph I is guilty of:
(a) A class A felony, if the neglect resulted in the child's death.
(b) A class B felony, if the neglect resulted in a serious bodily injury to the
child or if the child becomes a victim of any offense under RSA chapters 632-A or 649-A, as a consequence of the neglect.
(c) A class B felony, if the actor has twice before been convicted of an offense under this section.
(d) A class A misdemeanor for any other violation of this section.
2 Extended Term of Imprisonment. Amend RSA 651:6, I(e) to read as follows:
(e) Has committed or attempted to commit any of the crimes defined in RSA 631 , 632-A , or 639:3-a against a person under 13 years of age;
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.