CA SB439

Modifies juvenile court jurisdiction to apply only to minors between 12 and 17 years of age, inclusive, for status offenses (such as truancy and disobedience) and criminal violations, except for specified serious crimes.

Allows minors under 12 years of age to remain under juvenile court jurisdiction only if alleged to have committed murder, rape, sodomy, oral copulation, or sexual penetration involving force, violence, duress, menace, or threat of great bodily harm.

Requires counties to release minors under 12 years of age to their parent, guardian, or caregiver when they come to law enforcement attention for behavior that would otherwise bring them within juvenile court jurisdiction, effective January 1, 2020.

Requires counties to develop processes for determining and implementing least restrictive responses to serve minors under 12 years of age, utilizing existing school-, health-, and community-based services and behavioral health funding.

Provides for state reimbursement to local agencies and school districts if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes state-mandated costs.