N.Y. Penal Law § 260.10: Endangering the welfare of a child

§ 260.10 Endangering the welfare of a child.

A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child when:

1. He or she knowingly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the

physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than seventeen years

old or directs or authorizes such child to engage in an occupation

involving a substantial risk of danger to his or her life or health; or

2. Being a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the

care or custody of a child less than eighteen years old, he or she fails

or refuses to exercise reasonable diligence in the control of such child

to prevent him or her from becoming an "abused child," a "neglected

child," a "juvenile delinquent" or a "person in need of supervision," as

those terms are defined in articles ten, three and seven of the family

court act.

3. A person is not guilty of the provisions of this section when he or

she engages in the conduct described in subdivision one of section

260.00 of this article: (a) with the intent to wholly abandon the child

by relinquishing responsibility for and right to the care and custody of

such child; (b) with the intent that the child be safe from physical

injury and cared for in an appropriate manner; (c) the child is left

with an appropriate person, or in a suitable location and the person who

leaves the child promptly notifies an appropriate person of the child's

location; and (d) the child is not more than thirty days old.

Endangering the welfare of a child is a class A misdemeanor.