Enacts Joycelynn's Law

Joycelynn's Law creates two new criminal offenses to address severe cases of child endangerment by parents or guardians. The first offense, aggravated endangering the welfare of a child, applies when an adult with criminal negligence causes serious harm or significant risk to a minor under seventeen, such as through failure to provide basic needs or excessive punishment. The second offense, aggravated endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, is charged when the initial negligent act leads to the death of the child. Both charges are classified as felonies, with the death-related charge being the most severe, and the law clarifies that these new charges do not prevent prosecutors from using other existing charges if the circumstances warrant them.