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HB5248 • 2026
CRIM CD-ENDANGERING CHILD
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
CRIM CD-ENDANGERING CHILD
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Harry Benton
CRIM CD-ENDANGERING CHILD
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5248 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of HB5248 Home Legislation Full Text HB5248 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Printer Friendly Version Introduced Open PDF 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB5248 Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Harry Benton SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 720 ILCS 5/12C-5 was 720 ILCS 5/12-21.6 Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits endangering the life or health of a child when he or she knowingly leaves an immature child under 18 years unattended. Establishes factors the trier of fact may infer relating to the maturity level of the child. Deletes that the child is unattended if not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older or out of sight of that person. Replaces with the accompanying of the child by a mature person. LRB104 19705 RLC 33154 b A BILL FOR HB5248 LRB104 19705 RLC 33154 b 1 AN ACT concerning criminal law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by 5 changing Section 12C-5 as follows: 6 (720 ILCS 5/12C-5) (was 720 ILCS 5/12-21.6) 7 Sec. 12C-5. Endangering the life or health of a child. 8 (a) A person commits endangering the life or health of a 9 child when he or she knowingly: (1) causes or permits the life 10 or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered; or 11 (2) causes or permits a child to be placed in circumstances 12 that endanger the child's life or health ; or (3) leaves an 13 immature child under 18 years unattended . It is not a 14 violation of this Section for a person to relinquish a child in 15 accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. 16 (b) A trier of fact may infer that a child 6 years of age 17 or younger is unattended if that child is left in a motor 18 vehicle for more than 10 minutes. 19 (b-1) The trier of fact may infer the maturity level of the 20 child by taking into consideration the following factors: 21 (A) the special needs of the child, 22 including whether the child is a person with a physical 23 or mental disability or is otherwise in need of ongoing HB5248 - 2 - LRB104 19705 RLC 33154 b 1 prescribed medical treatment; 2 (B) the duration of time in which the child was left 3 unattended; 4 (C) the time of day or night when the child was left 5 unattended; and 6 (D) the physical and mental capabilities of the person 7 left to supervise the child. 8 (b-2) The trier of fact may infer that a child is not left 9 unattended if the child is supervised by a person 18 years of 10 age or older. 11 (c) "Unattended" means either: (i) not accompanied by a 12 mature person 14 years of age or older ; or (ii) if accompanied 13 by a mature person 1 4 years of age or older , out of sight of 14 that person. 15 (d) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class A 16 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section 17 is a Class 3 felony. A violation of this Section that is a 18 proximate cause of the death of the child is a Class 3 felony 19 for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, 20 shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2 years and not 21 more than 10 years. A parent, who is found to be in violation 22 of this Section with respect to his or her child, may be 23 sentenced to probation for this offense pursuant to Section 24 12C-15. 25 (Source: P.A. 97-1109, eff. 1-1-13.) Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. 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