Carpino Applauds Passage of 'Caylee's Law'

A bill championed by State Rep. Christie Carpino that mandates a parent or legal guardian report a missing child under the age of 12 within 24 hours, in cases where the parent knew or should have known that the child was unaccounted for, was passed by the House of Representatives Friday night, 140-0. 

“This effort shows you can work across party lines to pass good legislation. We want to avoid any future tragedies similar to the tragedy in Florida when little Caylee Anthony’s mother waited over 30 days before reporting her missing,” said Carpino, a member of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee.

Carpino (R-Cromwell) worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to craft the bill. The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association testified in March in support of the concept. The bill also had the support of multiple police chiefs in her district. Over 50 people in her district alone reached out to Carpino over the last year and asked her to propose this important legislation.

“I put this bill forward on behalf of the children in both my district and across the state. I am proud I was able to be their advocate," Carpino said. “It’s unfortunate that we need to legislate common sense the responsibility to report a young child missing but there are children out there who need protecting. It’s our job to protect our most vulnerable citizens, our children."

The bill now moves to the State Senate for debate.

Carpino represents Portland, Cromwell and part of Middletown.