Committee concurs with House amendment to juvenile-code rewrite; SB488 amended and advanced

A Senate committee on Wednesday concurred with a House amendment and approved a major rewrite clarifying parts of the juvenile code.

Senator Missy Irvin moved the committee to concur in a House amendment to SB320 (the juvenile justice rewrite) and asked the committee to approve. The amendment includes technical clarifications addressing juvenile-court jurisdiction and ensures juveniles under age 10 are not subject to delinquency adjudication.

Lori Compuris, deputy prosecutor coordinator, told the committee the amendment had been developed with input from the Administrative Office of the Courts and prosecuting attorneys. "Basically, it was just to clarify some of the language," Compuris said, noting the amendment clarifies that offenses committed prior to a juvenile turning 18 may still proceed in juvenile court if adjudication occurs after the juvenile reaches majority in appropriate cases.

With no one signed to testify for or against, the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and later voted to pass SB488 as amended. Senator Urban, who presented SB488 as amended, said the changes would give judges clearer direction on jurisdictional issues and limit delinquency adjudication for very young children.

The bills will proceed to the full Senate.