HB3718 Summary

• Raises the minimum age for automatic criminal court jurisdiction from 15 to 16 years old for first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated battery with a firearm where the minor personally discharged the firearm.

• Removes armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm from the list of offenses automatically prosecuted in criminal court, making them subject to discretionary transfer proceedings instead.

• Requires courts to sentence minors under age 18 convicted in criminal court under new Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections, which mandates consideration of youth-specific mitigating factors including age, maturity, family background, and rehabilitation potential.

• Establishes mandatory data collection by circuit court clerks for cases involving minors prosecuted in criminal court, including defendant and victim demographics, offenses, dispositions, and sentences, with semi-annual reporting to the General Assembly and county boards.

• Eliminates previous automatic transfer provisions based on school location offenses and adds procedures requiring courts to designate extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecutions based on clear and convincing evidence standards.