Lawmakers consider juvenile firearm early-intervention program that would dismiss charges on completion

Committee counsel Luke Wickham opened the hearing on House Bill 24-56 by outlining the proposal: the bill establishes a juvenile firearm early-intervention alternative for juveniles charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree and, if the participant completes the program, requires dismissal of that charge. The alternative requires prosecutor agreement, must be offered within two weeks of filing, and includes 12 months of intensive community supervision with a reduced probation caseload, multi-systemic therapy or other evidence-based services, credible-messenger mentorship, and random suspicionless searches and probation arrest authority under specified conditions. Wickham also noted the bill would raise initial and renewal concealed pistol license (CPL) fees by $100 and deposit the revenues into a newly created juvenile firearm early intervention services account to be used only by appropriation for required services.