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Panel moves Chantry Youth Court Act forward; amendment to close youth hearings denied
Summary
Senator Wiggins explained the Chantry Youth Court Act to shift youth-court oversight toward chancellors and reassign obligations between courts and AOC; an amendment by Senator Turner Ford to make hearings presumptively closed unless a judge orders them open was debated and defeated on a voice vote.
Senator Wiggins (Speaker 12) presented the Chantry Youth Court Act (SB2728), describing the bill as a governor-backed plan to make chancellors the primary judges for youth-court matters and to realign operational responsibilities between the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) and local courts. Wiggins said the committee substitute included a reverse repealer and noted fiscal estimates ranging from $1.5 million to $8.5 million depending on how many chancellors are added and how operations are shifted to AOC.
Senator Turner Ford (Speaker 11) offered an amendment to make youth-court proceedings presumptively closed to the public, allowing opening only after an on-the-record finding and signed order; Turner Ford framed the change as protecting vulnerable children. Senator Wiggins said the amendment was out of order in appropriations because the substantive debate belonged in Judiciary A, and the committee ultimately rejected the amendment in a voice vote ('Nays have it'). The committee then reported the bill favorably as the committee substitute.
