SB277 • 2026

Clarify that child independent activity is not abuse or neglect

Children

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Theresa Gavarone
Last action
Official status: As Passed by the Senate
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Clarify that child independent activity is not abuse or neglect

To enact section 2151.032 of the Revised Code to clarify that a child who is granted permission to engage in independent activities is not considered to be an abused or neglected child.

What This Bill Does

To enact section 2151.032 of the Revised Code to clarify that a child who is granted permission to engage in independent activities is not considered to be an abused or neglected child.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

Ohio Legislature
As Introduced
Ohio Legislature
As Reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Ohio Legislature
As Passed by the Senate

Official Summary Text

To enact section 2151.032 of the Revised Code to clarify that a child who is granted permission to engage in independent activities is not considered to be an abused or neglected child.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

sb277_02_PS

As Passed by the Senate

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. B. No. 277

2025-2026

Senator Gavarone

Cosponsors: Senators Manning, Landis,
O'Brien, Patton, Reineke, Romanchuk, Timken, Wilkin

To
enact section 2151.032 of the Revised Code
to
clarify that a child who is granted permission to engage in
independent activities is not considered to be an abused or neglected
child.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 2151.032 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
2151.032.
(A)
No child whose parent, guardian, or custodian allows the child to
engage in independent activities without adult supervision shall,
solely for that reason, be considered to be an abused or neglected
child, provided that both of the following apply:

(1)
The independent activities are appropriate based on the child's age,
maturity, and physical and mental abilities.

(2)
The lack of supervision does not constitute conduct that is so
grossly negligent as to endanger the health or safety of the child.

(B)
As used in this section, "independent activities" include
any of the following:

(1)
Traveling to and from school or nearby commercial or recreational
facilities, including by walking, running, or bicycling;

(2)
Engaging in outdoor play;

(3)
Remaining at home unattended for a reasonable amount of time;

(4)
Engaging in activities similar to those listed in divisions (B)(1) to
(3) of this section either alone or with other children.