DE HB305

Removes juvenile adjudications from counting as a second "prior qualifying Title 16 conviction" for purposes of drug offense sentencing enhancements.

Allows prosecutors to continue applying sentencing enhancements based on a single prior adult drug conviction or two prior adult convictions within the specified timeframe.

Permits judges to still consider a defendant's juvenile record as a sentencing factor but prevents automatic sentence elevation based on juvenile adjudications.

Preserves the ability to use convictions where a juvenile was tried and sentenced as an adult for sentencing enhancement purposes.

Addresses concerns about juvenile adjudications triggering dramatic sentence increases (e.g., elevating class D felonies to class B felonies with mandatory minimums) without jury trial protections.