Arizona 2024 2024 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1302 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 04/05/2024

                      	SB 1302 
Initials IG 	Page 1 	Transmitted 
 
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-sixth Legislature 
Second Regular Session 
Senate: JUD DP 5-2-0-0 | 3rd Read DPA 28-0-2-0 
House: JUD DP 8-0-0-1 | 3
rd
 Read DP 41-8-10-0 
 
SB 1302: child abduction from state agency 
Sponsor: Senator Farnsworth, LD 10 
Transmitted to the Governor 
Overview 
Lowers the sentencing classification for the abduction of a child from a state agency from a 
felony to a class 1 misdemeanor if specified circumstances apply. 
History 
A person commits abduction of a child from a state agency if, knowing or having reason to 
know that the child is lawfully in a state agency's custody, the person: 1) takes, entices or 
keeps the child from the custody of the agency (which is a class 3, 4 or 6 felony depending on 
the circumstances of the offense); or 2) intentionally fails or refuses to immediately return or 
impedes the immediate return of a child to a state agency's custody, including at the 
expiration of visitation or access (which is a class 5 felony). For purposes of this offense, state 
agency means the Department of Child Safety or the Department of Juvenile Corrections 
(A.R.S. § 13-1310). 
Provisions 
1. Reduces the classification for the abduction of a child from a state agency from a felony 
to a class 1 misdemeanor if all the following apply:  
a) the child has voluntarily and without consent left the placement location;  
b) the person who fails or refuses to return the child is the child's natural or adoptive 
parent;  
c) the person's motive for keeping the child is to protect and care for the child. (Sec. 1) 
2. Makes a conforming change. (Sec. 1) 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note