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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Every year, an estimated 260,000 children are |
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abducted in the United States, and in more than three-quarters of |
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these cases, the abduction is perpetrated by a family member of the |
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victim, typically a parent; and |
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WHEREAS, Family abductions often occur in the midst of |
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contentious divorce or child custody battles; because the abductor |
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is commonly a parent, kidnappings may not be recognized or reported |
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by witnesses, and the abducting parent may attempt to take the child |
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across state lines or even to a foreign country; in 2022, family |
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abduction cases accounted for 58 percent of all AMBER Alerts that |
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were issued; and |
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WHEREAS, Although most family abductions don't pose the same |
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imminent danger to the child as an abduction by a stranger, family |
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abductions are serious criminal offenses that can have devastating |
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impacts on children and families; and |
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WHEREAS, Parental kidnapping is illegal in every state, and |
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it is often prosecuted as a felony-level offense; these cases are |
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treated with the utmost urgency by law enforcement officials, who |
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work to return kidnapped children to their rightful home, even in |
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cases where the child does not face a threat of physical harm; and |
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WHEREAS, Family abductions are a violation of established |
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custodial rights that can have far-reaching effects on all who are |
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involved, and by focusing attention on the seriousness of this |
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crime, we may better protect our state's youngest and most |
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vulnerable residents from harm; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate May 23 as Family Abduction Awareness Day; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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finally passed by the legislature. |