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House approves option for some juveniles to enter National Guard as part of court dispositions
Summary
First substitute HB99 was approved to allow eligible juveniles under court disposition the option of entering the Army or Air National Guard in lieu of other sanctions if they meet service and eligibility criteria; the House passed the bill and referred it to the Senate.
Representative Matt Throckmorton explained first substitute HB99, which adds an option allowing a juvenile in the disposition of the court to enter the Army or Air National Guard in lieu of regular court sanctions. The sponsor emphasized the provision is optional: judges and the juvenile must agree, and the individual must meet service eligibility (age 17–18, high school completion or enrollment, test and physical standards) and the National Guard recruiter's determination.
Throckmorton noted automatic disqualifying factors (drug offenses, weapons offenses or felonies if the individual were an adult) and explained the limitation to Army and Air National Guard because juvenile jurisdiction may be maintained only until age 21 and active-duty service would create jurisdictional complications.
The House voted and passed the measure (65 yes, 0 no as recorded) and referred HB99 to the Senate.
