CS/HB 7181 - Juvenile Justice Summary

• Includes children age 9 or younger referred for delinquent acts in the definition of those eligible for comprehensive mental health services and expands "child in need of services" and "family in need of services" definitions to cover this age group.

• Prohibits children age 9 or younger from being placed in secure detention unless charged with a capital felony, life felony, or first-degree felony; prohibits detention based solely on misdemeanor domestic violence charges if the child lives in a home with domestic violence history or is a victim of abuse or neglect.

• Encourages law enforcement, school districts, counties, municipalities, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to establish prearrest or postarrest diversion programs, with first-time misdemeanor offenders and children age 9 or younger given opportunity to participate.

• Authorizes courts to commit female juveniles to the department for placement in a mother-infant program designed for juvenile mothers or expectant juvenile mothers; requires the department to adopt rules governing program operation.

• Increases the number of members that a juvenile justice circuit board may add from three to five to reflect population and community organization diversity; requires juvenile probation officers to refer children ineligible for secure detention to appropriate shelters.