A state lawmaker says the death of a ten year old boy in Bradford County is what led him to file legislation aimed at strengthening the state's child protection laws.

More on our look back at legislative news from earlier this week that we call PostScript.

Jayden Spicer was killed last year.

His mother is charged with his death.

State Senator Brandon Smith of Hazzard participated in the search for Spicer, whose body was found days after he was reported missing.

Smith filed Senate Bill 138, known as Jayden's Law, in his honor.

The bill would make child abuse homicide a capital offense and raise the penalties for manslaughter and First-Degree criminal abuse.

It also raises the age of victims protected under the state's Child Protection laws from the age 12 to 18.

Smith told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that he wants the bill to send the message.

We just basically stripped down to where a person is guilty of child abuse, homicide when he or she intentionally abuses another person or knowingly permits another person of whom he or she actually has custody of, to be abused, and thereby causes the death to a person who is under 18.

Child abuse is a capital offense.

We're we should be children in the state of Kentucky.

Should be one of our greatest priority.

After all, there are there are future.

But I want people to know that we can't stop what's happening.

But I want them to understand that if you do this in Kentucky, there's going to be the highest possible punishment that we can get out to the.

The bill which passed the committee also calls for the termination of custody rights for parents or guardians accused of serious crimes against their children.