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Subcommittee adopts amendment to send bill shifting vape penalties for minors to juvenile court
Summary
HB 16 79 would move enforcement of vaping violations for youths from civil penalties assessed to parents into juvenile court with community-service and rehabilitative options; the committee adopted an amendment and sent the bill to full Judiciary (7-2).
The committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 16 79 and voted to send the bill as amended to full Judiciary. Sponsor Representative Moody described the bill as redirecting penalties for youth vaping away from parents and toward juvenile-court interventions that emphasize community service and rehabilitation.
Scotty Delashman, Tipton County court administrator, testified the current law (a $50 civil penalty on parents when a minor is caught with a vape) creates hardship in low-income communities and leaves youths with no "skin in the game." Delashman said the amended bill would keep juvenile-court jurisdiction and allow community-service requirements (with a court-determined cap, generally up to 50 hours) and reduce civil penalties in some cases to a $10'$50 range or allow a waiver. "It, an informal adjustment ... doesn't stay on their record for it stays on for 3 months," he said, arguing the rehabilitative model is more appropriate than a parent-only fine.
Members asked practical questions about transportation and family burden for community service and whether the bill affects penalties for vendors who sell to minors; Delashman clarified vendor enforcement and civil citations remain under existing law administered by local authorities and the Department of Agriculture. The committee adopted the amendment and voted 7-2 to send HB 16 79 as amended to full Judiciary.
