| Last Action | 03/13/26: 2nd reading, to Rules |
|---|---|
| Title | AN ACT relating to the protection of children. |
| Bill Documents | Introduced |
| Fiscal Impact Statements |
Corrections Impact
Additional Fiscal Impact Statements Exist |
| Bill Request Number | 1763 |
| Sponsors | B. Smith, S. Madon, M. Nunn, L. Tichenor |
| Summary of Original Version | Create a new section of KRS Chapter 507 to establish the offense of child abuse homicide as a capital offense; amend KRS 199.896 to require licensed child-care centers to maintain video surveillance of all public areas within the facility and retain video footage for 90 days; amend KRS 507.030 to increase the age of a child victim of manslaughter in the first degree from 12 or under to under 18; amend KRS 507.040 to increase the penalty of manslaughter in the second degree from a Class C to a Class B felony if the victim is under the age of 18; amend KRS 508.100 to add knowingly as a mental state of a person guilty of criminal abuse in the first degree; increase the age of a victim from under age 12 to under age 18; increase the penalty of criminal abuse in the first degree from a Class C to a Class B felony and from a Class B to a Class A felony if the victim is under the age of 18; amend KRS 508.110 to increase the age of a victim of criminal abuse in the second degree from age 12 or less to under 18; increase the penalty from a Class D to a Class C felony; amend KRS 508.120 to increase the age of a victim of criminal abuse in the third degree from age 12 or less to under 18; increase the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony; amend KRS 532.025, relating to aggravating circumstances in death penalty eligible cases, to increase the age of a victim of an intentional killing from under 12 to under 18; amend KRS 625.090 to create a rebuttable presumption that parental rights must be terminated if a parent has been convicted of a felony involving serious physical injury to any child or convicted of causing or contributing to the death of a child as a result of abuse; provide that the Act may be cited as Jayden's Law. |
| Index Headings of Original Version |
Short Titles And Popular Names - Jayden's Law Corrections Impact - Criminal abuse in the first, second, or third degree, increase victim age, penalty enhancement Children And Minors - Child-care centers, video surveillance, requirement Courts, Circuit - Termination of parental rights, felony conviction, abuse or neglect, rebuttable presumption Crimes And Punishments - Child abuse homicide, capital offense, establishment Crimes And Punishments - Criminal abuse in the first degree, mental state Crimes And Punishments - Criminal abuse in the first, second, or third degree, increase victim age, penalty enhancement Crimes And Punishments - Manslaughter in the first degree, age of child victim, increase to under 18 Crimes And Punishments - Manslaughter in the second degree, victim under 18, penalty enhancement Criminal Procedure - Child abuse homicide, capital offense, establishment Criminal Procedure - Criminal abuse in the first degree, mental state Criminal Procedure - Criminal abuse in the first, second, or third degree, increase victim age, penalty enhancement Criminal Procedure - Manslaughter in the first degree, age of child victim, increase to under 18 Criminal Procedure - Manslaughter in the second degree, victim under 18, penalty enhancement Licensing - Child-care centers, video surveillance, requirement Rules Of Evidence - Death penalty case, aggravating circumstances, age of child victim, increase to under 18 |
| Jump to Proposed Amendments |
Senate Committee Substitute 1 with Fiscal Impact Statements Senate Committee Amendment 1 |
| 01/29/26 |
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| 02/11/26 |
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| 03/12/26 |
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| 03/13/26 |
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| Amendment | Senate Committee Substitute 1 |
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| Fiscal Impact Statement | Corrections Impact to Senate Committee Substitute 1 |
| Summary | Delete original provisions, except retain the establishment of child abuse homicide as a capital offense, but remove the definition of "abuse and neglect" from the child abuse homicide offense and add that a person is guilty of child abuse homicide when they knowingly permit another person of whom they have actual custody to be abused and thereby causing death; retain short title; amend KRS 507.030 to remove the requirement that a helpless victim of manslaughter in the first degree be 12 years of age or under. |
| Index Headings |
Children And Minors - Child abuse homicide, knowingly permits abuse, establishment Crimes And Punishments - Child abuse homicide, knowingly permits abuse, establishment Criminal Procedure - Child abuse homicide, knowingly permits abuse, establishment |
| Amendment | Senate Committee Amendment 1 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | B. Storm |
| Summary | Make title amendment. |
| Index Headings | Title Amendments - SB 138 |
Last updated: 3/19/2026 8:27 PM (EDT)