Senate Bill No. 546–Committee on Judiciary

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to crimes; revising the penalties for abuse or neglect of a child; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

   Section 1.  NRS 200.508 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   200.508  1.  A person who[:

   (a) Willfully] willfully causes a child who is less than 18 years of age to

 suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering as a result of abuse or

 neglect or to be placed in a situation where the child may suffer physical

 pain or mental suffering as the result of abuse or neglect[; or

   (b) Is] :

   (a) If substantial bodily or mental harm results to the child:

     (1) If the child is less than 14 years of age and the harm is the

 result of sexual abuse or exploitation, is guilty of a category A felony

 and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life with

 the possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole beginning when a

 minimum of 15 years has been served; or

     (2) In all other such cases to which subparagraph (1) does not

 apply, is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by

 imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2

 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years; or

   (b) If substantial bodily or mental harm does not result to the child:

     (1) If the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of

 this section or of a violation of the law of any other jurisdiction that

 prohibits the same or similar conduct, is guilty of a category B felony

 and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a

 minimum term of not less than 1 year and a maximum term of not more

 than 6 years; or

     (2) If the person has previously been convicted of a violation of this

 section or of a violation of the law of any other jurisdiction that

 prohibits the same or similar conduct, is guilty of a category B felony

 and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a

 minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more

 than

15 years,

unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for an act or omission

 that brings about the abuse or neglect.

   2.  A person who is responsible for the safety or welfare of a child and

 who permits or allows that child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or

 mental suffering as a result of abuse or neglect or to be placed in a

 situation where the child may suffer physical pain or mental suffering as

 the result of abuse or neglect[,

is guilty of a gross misdemeanor unless a more severe penalty is prescribed

 by law for an act or omission which brings about the abuse, neglect or

 danger.

   2.  A person who violates any provision of subsection 1, if] :

   (a) If substantial bodily or mental harm results to the child:


   [(a)] (1) If the child is less than 14 years of age and the harm is the

result of sexual abuse or exploitation, is guilty of a category A felony and

 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life with the

 possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole beginning when a

 minimum of 10 years has been served; or

   [(b)]    (2) In all other such cases to which [paragraph (a)]

 subparagraph (1) does not apply, is guilty of a category B felony and

 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term

 of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years[.]

 ; or

   (b) If substantial bodily or mental harm does not result to the child:

     (1) If the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of

 this section or of a violation of the law of any other jurisdiction that

 prohibits the same or similar conduct, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor;

 or

     (2) If the person has previously been convicted of a violation of this

 section or of a violation of the law of any other jurisdiction that

 prohibits the same or similar conduct, is guilty of a category C felony

 and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130,

unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for an act or omission

 that brings about the abuse or neglect.

   3.  As used in this section:

   (a) “Abuse or neglect” means physical or mental injury of a

 nonaccidental nature, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent

 treatment or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 years, as set forth

 in paragraph (d) and NRS 432B.070, 432B.100, 432B.110, 432B.140 and

 432B.150, under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or

 welfare is harmed or threatened with harm.

   (b) “Allow” means to do nothing to prevent or stop the abuse or neglect

 of a child in circumstances where the person knows or has reason to know

 that the child is abused or neglected.

   (c) “Permit” means permission that a reasonable person would not grant

 and which amounts to a neglect of responsibility attending the care,

 custody and control of a minor child.

   (d) “Physical injury” means:

     (1) Permanent or temporary disfigurement; or

     (2) Impairment of any bodily function or organ of the body.

   (e) “Substantial mental harm” means an injury to the intellectual or

 psychological capacity or the emotional condition of a child as evidenced

 by an observable and substantial impairment of the ability of the child to

 function within his normal range of performance or behavior.

   Sec. 2.  NRS 207.012 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   207.012  1.  A person who:

   (a) Has been convicted in this state of a felony listed in subsection 2;

 and

   (b) Before the commission of that felony, was twice convicted of any

 crime which under the laws of the situs of the crime or of this state would

 be a felony listed in subsection 2, whether the prior convictions occurred

 in this state or elsewhere,

is a habitual felon and shall be punished for a category A felony by

 imprisonment in the state prison:


     (1) For life without the possibility of parole;

     (2) For life with the possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole

 beginning when a minimum of 10 years has been served; or

     (3) For a definite term of 25 years, with eligibility for parole

 beginning when a minimum of 10 years has been served.

   2.  The district attorney shall include a count under this section in any

 information or shall file a notice of habitual felon if an indictment is

 found, if each prior conviction and the alleged offense committed by the

 accused constitutes a violation of subparagraph (1) of paragraph (a) of

 subsection 1 of NRS 193.330, NRS 199.160, 199.500, 200.030, 200.320,

 200.330, 200.340, 200.366, 200.380, 200.390, subsection 3 or 4 of NRS

 200.400, NRS 200.410, subsection 3 of NRS 200.450, subsection 4 of

 NRS 200.460, NRS 200.465, subsection 1, paragraph (a) of subsection 2

 or subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 2 of NRS 200.508,

 NRS 200.710, 200.720, 201.230, 201.450, 202.170, 202.270, subsection 2

 of NRS 202.780, paragraph (b) of subsection 2 of NRS 202.820,

 subsection 2 of NRS 202.830, NRS 205.010, subsection 4 of NRS

 205.060, subsection 4 of NRS 205.067, NRS 205.075, 207.400, paragraph

 (a) of subsection 1 of NRS 212.090, NRS 453.333, 484.219 or 484.3795.

   3.  The trial judge may not dismiss a count under this section that is

 included in an indictment or information.

   Sec. 3.  NRS 178.5698 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   178.5698  1.  The prosecuting attorney, sheriff or chief of police shall,

 upon the written request of a victim or witness, inform him:

   (a) When the defendant is released from custody at any time before or

 during the trial;

   (b) If the defendant is so released, the amount of bail required, if any;

 and

   (c) Of the final disposition of the criminal case in which he was directly

 involved.

   2.  If an offender is convicted of a sexual offense or an offense

 involving the use or threatened use of force or violence against the victim,

 the court shall provide:

   (a) To each witness, documentation that includes:

     (1) A form advising the witness of the right to be notified pursuant to

 subsection 4;

     (2) The form that the witness must use to request notification; and

     (3) The form or procedure that the witness must use to provide a

 change of address after a request for notification has been submitted.

   (b) To each person listed in subsection 3, documentation that includes:

     (1) A form advising the person of the right to be notified pursuant to

 subsection 4 or 5 and NRS 176.015, 176A.630, 209.392, 209.3925,

 209.521, 213.010, 213.040, 213.095 and 213.130;

     (2) The forms that the person must use to request notification; and

     (3) The forms or procedures that the person must use to provide a

 change of address after a request for notification has been submitted.

   3.  The following persons are entitled to receive documentation

 pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 2:

   (a) A person against whom the offense is committed.


   (b) A person who is injured as a direct result of the commission of the

offense.

   (c) If a person listed in paragraph (a) or (b) is under the age of 18 years,

 each parent or guardian who is not the offender.

   (d) Each surviving spouse, parent and child of a person who is killed as

 a direct result of the commission of the offense.

   (e) A relative of a person listed in paragraphs (a) to (d), inclusive, if the

 relative requests in writing to be provided with the documentation.

   4.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, if the offense was a

 felony and the offender is imprisoned, the warden of the prison shall, if the

 victim or witness so requests in writing and provides his current address,

 notify him at that address when the offender is released from the prison.

   5.  If the offender was convicted of a violation of subsection 3 of NRS

 200.366 or a violation of subsection 1, paragraph (a) of subsection 2 or

 subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 2 of NRS 200.508, the

 warden of the prison shall notify:

   (a) The immediate family of the victim if the immediate family provides

 their current address;

   (b) Any member of the victim’s family related within the third degree of

 consanguinity, if the member of the victim’s family so requests in writing

 and provides his current address; and

   (c) The victim, if he will be 18 years of age or older at the time of the

 release and has provided his current address,

before the offender is released from prison.

   6.  The warden must not be held responsible for any injury proximately

 caused by his failure to give any notice required pursuant to this section if

 no address was provided to him or if the address provided is inaccurate or

 not current.

   7.  As used in this section:

   (a) “Immediate family” means any adult relative of the victim living in

 the victim’s household.

   (b) “Sexual offense” means:

     (1) Sexual assault pursuant to NRS 200.366;

     (2) Statutory sexual seduction pursuant to NRS 200.368;

     (3) Battery with intent to commit sexual assault pursuant to

NRS 200.400;

     (4) An offense involving pornography and a minor pursuant to

NRS 200.710 to 200.730, inclusive;

     (5) Incest pursuant to NRS 201.180;

     (6) Solicitation of a minor to engage in acts constituting the infamous

 crime against nature pursuant to NRS 201.195;

     (7) Open or gross lewdness pursuant to NRS 201.210;

     (8) Indecent or obscene exposure pursuant to NRS 201.220;

     (9) Lewdness with a child pursuant to NRS 201.230;

     (10) Sexual penetration of a dead human body pursuant to

NRS 201.450;

     (11) Annoyance or molestation of a minor pursuant to NRS 207.260;

     (12) An offense that, pursuant to a specific statute, is determined to

 be sexually motivated; or

     (13) An attempt to commit an offense listed in this paragraph.


   Sec. 4.  NRS 213.1255 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   213.1255  1.  In addition to any conditions of parole required to be

 imposed pursuant to NRS 213.1245, as a condition of releasing on parole a

 prisoner who was convicted of committing an offense listed in subsection

 2 against a child under the age of 14 years, the board shall, when

 appropriate:

   (a) Require the parolee to participate in psychological counseling;

   (b) Prohibit the parolee from being alone with a child unless another

 adult who has never been convicted of a sexual offense is present; and

   (c) Prohibit the parolee from being on or near the grounds of any place

 that is primarily designed for use by or for children, including, without

 limitation, a public or private school, a center or facility that provides day

 care services, a video arcade and an amusement park.

   2.  The provisions of subsection 1 apply to a prisoner who was

 convicted of:

   (a) Sexual assault pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 3 of NRS

 200.366;

   (b) Abuse or neglect of a child pursuant to subparagraph (1) of

 paragraph (a) of subsection 1 or subparagraph (1) of paragraph (a) of

 subsection 2 of NRS 200.508;

   (c) An offense punishable pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 200.750;

   (d) Solicitation of a minor to engage in acts constituting the infamous

 crime against nature pursuant to subparagraph (1) of paragraph (a) of

 subsection 1 of NRS 201.195;

   (e) Lewdness with a child pursuant to NRS 201.230; or

   (f) Any combination of the crimes listed in paragraphs (a) to (e),

 inclusive.

   Sec. 5.   1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the

 amendatory provisions of this act do not apply to offenses committed

 before October 1, 2001.

   2.  The amendatory provisions of this act apply to offenses committed

 before October 1, 2001, for the purposes of determining whether a person

 is subject to the provisions of subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of

 subsection 1 or subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 2 of NRS

 200.508, as amended by this act.

 

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