Failure to report disappearance or death of child; penalties

21-5938. Failure to report disappearance or death of child; penalties. (a) Failure to report the disappearance of a child is knowingly failing to report to a law enforcement officer, law enforcement agency or state investigative agency, as soon as practically possible, the disappearance of a child under the age of 13 by a parent, legal guardian or caretaker when: (1) Such person knows or reasonably should know that such child has been missing, with the intent to conceal the commission of a crime, other than a violation of this subsection; or (2) such person knows that such child is missing and has reason to believe that such child is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. (b) (1) Failure to report the death of a child is knowingly failing to promptly report the death of a child to a law enforcement officer, law enforcement agency or state investigative agency, with the intent to conceal the commission of a crime, other than a violation of this subsection, by a: (A) Parent, legal guardian or caretaker; or (B) person required to make a report as provided in subsection (a) of K.S.A. 38-2223, and amendments thereto, unless such person is a parent, legal guardian or caretaker. (2) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply when the child's death has been reported by another person or is otherwise known by a law enforcement officer, law enforcement agency or state investigative agency. (c) (1) Failure to report the disappearance of a child is a severity level 8, nonperson felony. (2) Failure to report the death of a child as defined in: (A) Subsection (b)(1)(A) is a severity level 8, nonperson felony; and (B) subsection (b)(1)(B) is a class B nonperson misdemeanor. (d) As used in this section, "caretaker" means a person 16 years of age or older that had willfully assumed responsibility for the care of a child at the time of the child's disappearance or death. History: L. 2012, ch. 119, § 1; July 1. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026