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 bill was extensively rewritten (hoghoused) to replace a general duty-to-assist-in-emergencies law with a specific crime targeting failure to summon aid during suicide attempts, narrowing the offense to Class 1 misdemeanor with limited defenses based on fear of harm, belief aid was already summoned, age under eighteen, or impossibility of summoning aid. This shifts the bill from creating broad emergency assistance obligations to addressing a specific public health crisis around suicide response.
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