HB 509 - Juvenile Justice Summary

• Creates exceptions to civil rights suspension for children convicted as adults and revises factors courts must consider when transferring juveniles to adult court, emphasizing rehabilitation prospects and the child's age and maturity.

• Eliminates mandatory direct filing for certain age groups and revises the list of crimes for which children aged 14-17 can be prosecuted as adults; raises minimum age from 14 to 16 for some discretionary direct file offenses.

• Requires courts to include detailed information in disposition orders regarding detention time, plea agreements, discovery conducted, and sentencing details for cases eligible for adult prosecution.

• Establishes data collection requirements beginning January 1, 2019, for the Department of Juvenile Justice to track children prosecuted as adults, with annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature analyzing outcomes and demographic information.

• Allows children transferred to adult court to request a fitness hearing to determine whether they should remain in adult court; prohibits transfer of incompetent children until competency is restored; and requires separate housing of children from adult offenders.