REFERENCE TITLE: child neglect; prenatal substance exposure

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

 

 

 

SB 1476

 

Introduced by

Senator Bolick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

Amending title 13, chapter 36, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-3619.01: relating to family offenses.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 13, chapter 36, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-3619.01, to read:

START_STATUTE13-3619.01. Child neglect; affirmative defense; classification

A. A person having custody of a child commits child neglect by engaging in conduct that harms the child and that involves neglect as defined in section 8-201, paragraph 25, subdivision (c) or (d).

B. It is an affirmative defense to a violation of this section if the person is the mother of the child and during the mother's pregnancy, the mother completed alcohol or drug treatment.

C. Child neglect is a class 6 felony. END_STATUTE