Wolk strengthens penalties for impeding abuse reports

Bill that punishes for failure to report domestic, child, and elder abuse passes Assembly with unanimous vote

Assembly Bill 1188, sponsored by Attorney General Bill Lockyer, would make failure to report, or impeding or inhibiting the report of these crimes punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to 6 months, or by a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If that failure to report or impeding or inhibiting a report results in death or great bodily injury the punishment would be imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

“I am grateful for the Assembly’s unanimous and bipartisan support of AB 1188,” said Assemblywoman Wolk. “This bill strives to give equal protection to children, elders and dependent adults, the most vulnerable members of society. It deserved nothing short of unanimous support.”

AB 1188, sponsored by Attorney General Bill Lockyer, now goes to the State Senate. The bill’s supporters include the Klass Kids Foundation, California Protective Parents Association, and the California District Attorneys Association.