MO HB300

Raises the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 17 to 18 years old, redefining "child" as any person under 18 and "adult" as any person 18 or older throughout Missouri's juvenile code

Implementation is contingent on appropriations exceeding fiscal year 2007 spending by $1.9 million for additional juvenile officer positions and $1.9 million for juvenile court personnel costs in first class counties

Prohibits detention of persons under 18 in adult jails or detention facilities, except those transferred to adult court under section 211.071

Allows certification hearings to transfer juveniles ages 12-18 (previously 12-17) to adult court for felony offenses, with mandatory hearings required for serious offenses including first degree murder, rape, sodomy, and first degree robbery

Updates dual jurisdiction provisions to apply to offenders under 18 (previously 17 years and 6 months), allowing courts to impose both juvenile disposition and suspended adult sentences for certified cases