Bill Text: CT HB06643 | 2013 | General Assembly | Introduced

Connecticut House Bill 6643 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Failure Of A Witness To Report A Serious Crime.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-11 - Public Hearing 04/15 [HB06643 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2013-HB06643-Introduced.html


General Assembly		*Raised Bill No. 6643*
*January Session, 2013*		LCO No. 4406
		04406_______JUD
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF A WITNESS TO REPORT A SERIOUS CRIME.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2009) (a) A person is guilty of failure to report a crime when such person witnesses what the person knows or reasonably should know is the murder of another person, the assault or sexual assault of another person that constitutes a felony or the physical abuse of a child that constitutes a felony, or the attempt thereof, and does not, as soon as reasonably practicable, report that crime to a law enforcement agency.

(b) In any prosecution for an offense under this section, it shall be an affirmative defense that the defendant: (1) Did not, as soon as reasonably practicable, report a crime to a law enforcement agency because the defendant reasonably believed that (A) reporting the crime to a law enforcement agency would have exposed the defendant or another person to a substantial risk of physical injury, or (B) another person had already reported the crime to a law enforcement agency; (2) acted to stop the commission of the crime and stopped (A) the commission of the crime, or (B) the completion of the crime being attempted; or (3) was a victim of the crime.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2009	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To require a person who witnesses a murder, or a sexual assault, other assault or child abuse that constitutes a felony, to report that crime to a law enforcement agency.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]