Bill requires timely reporting of missing children

Parents and guardians who fail to report missing children could face felony charges under a bill before the state Senate.

Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz has introduced a bill he calls ‘Caylee’s Law,’ which refers to a widely-publicized missing child case in Florida.

The bill is named for Caylee Anthony, whose mother Casey didn’t report Caylee’s disappearance for about a month.

Dela Cruz says his bill places greater responsibility on parents and guardians by holding them accountable for reporting missing children in a timely manner.

The bill would make it a felony if a parent or guardian fails to report the disappearance of a child under 12 within 48 hours.