Bill Aims to Help Parents of Runaway Teens
Press release
A bill that would give parents a little help on keeping tabs on wayward kids cleared a legislative committee. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio of Sanford, would require a person who knowingly shelters a missing or runaway child for more than 24 hours without the consent of the missing child’s parent or guardian to provide information regarding the child’s location and condition to a law enforcement officer if contacted and asked about the child. A person who violates this provision would be subject to a civil penalty up to $250.
“The teenage years can be trying for parents and teens, and it is not uncommon for children to leave home after a fight. If your child chooses to run away and ends up at someone else’s home, those adults are under no obligation to confirm that fact,” said Mastraccio. “Sometimes all the parent or guardian needs to know is that their child is safe. This bill will do that without requiring the juvenile to return home, and it would ensure that their safety and location can be confirmed without creating an atmosphere where the juvenile is treated like a criminal.”
LD 1150 was heard before the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in the Maine Legislature, where it received a unanimous vote of support from committee members earlier this month.
The bill will come before the full House and Senate for further votes in the coming weeks.
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