This bill creates a new crime called "failure to summon aid for a suicide attempt," making it a Class 1 misdemeanor if someone who is present when another person is attempting suicide intentionally fails to call law enforcement, medical personnel, or other emergency help. The law includes several defenses, such as if the person reasonably feared harm to themselves or others, already believed help was called, is under 18 years old, or couldn't reasonably summon aid in the circumstances.
The amendment fundamentally rewrote the bill to criminalize failure to summon emergency aid specifically for suicide attempts (a Class 1 misdemeanor) rather than establishing a general duty to assist in any emergency, and added affirmative defenses including reasonable fear of harm, belief that aid was already summoned, and being under eighteen years old. This significantly NARROWS the bill's scope from a broad duty-to-rescue statute to a targeted suicide intervention law while removing the original good-Samaritan liability protections for helpers.
Judiciary Deferred to the 41st legislative day Passed, YEAS 9, NAYS 4.
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Judiciary H.J. 279
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 24, NAYS 9. S.J. 222
Judiciary Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0. S.J. 14
Judiciary Motion to amend S.J. 13
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 112
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Judiciary — Deferred to the 41st legislative day
Do Pass Amended
Judiciary — Do Pass Amended