Local Assemblyman Joins Efforts To Introduce Caylee's Law

Local Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski is co-authoring a bill to introduce Caylee’s Law in California, a law that requires a faster response in reporting missing children cases.

The law would require parents and legal guardians to notify law enforcement within 24 hours about deaths or disappearances of children under 14 years old in California, according to a press release issued Friday.

Caylee’s Law was inspired by Caylee Anthony, a 2 year old who disappeared in 2008 and was found dead six months after the last time she was seen alive.

Known as AB 1432, the bill would make it so that a parent or guardian is guilty of a felony “if they fail to notify law enforcement that a child has gone missing under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe the child is in danger of physical harm.”

The bill was introduced Friday by co-author and Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell (D-Culver City). On the same day, three other assemblymembers, introduced their version of Caylee's Law.

The bill by Assemblymembers Isadore Hall, III (D- Los Angeles), Paul Cook (R – Yucaipa) and Cathleen Galgiani (D- Stockton) would make it a felony for a guardian to not report a missing child under the age of 12 to authorities within 48 hours.

Casey Anthony, the mother of Caylee, was acquitted of the child’s murder but was found guilty of lying to investigators about Caylee’s death. She had told law enforcement officers that a babysitter kidnapped Caylee.

“In this day and age, is it too much to ask a parent or guardian to notify police within 24 hours if a reasonable person would suspect a child has died as a result of a crime or has disappeared and is in danger of physical harm?  The answer is no,” Wieckowski said.  “We must protect the children from the predators who would do them harm.”

Wieckowski added that the introduction of the bill “is the first step of the legislative process and legislators would take into account all of the concerns of parental rights supporters, crime victim advocates and law enforcement as the bill moves forward.”