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Lawmakers again propose prison time for leaving kids in car
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Parents who leave a child unattended in their car could face a year in prison under a bill being considered by Rhode Island state legislators.
The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a Tuesday hearing on the legislation.
Democratic Rep. Patricia Serpa’s proposal would make it a crime to leave a child under 7 years old in a car for longer than five minutes. Parents could also be fined or imprisoned for leaving a child under 14 years old unattended in the car if the weather is extremely hot or cold.
Some parents spoke out against similar bills introduced last year.
A Senate bill died in the final hours of last year’s session, causing its sponsor, Democratic Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, to criticize lawmakers for caring more about animal welfare than children.
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