HB 215 -- JUVENILE COURTS

SPONSOR:  Tilley (Stevenson)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 5 to 3.

Currently, in Chapter 211, RSMo, relating to juvenile courts, an
"adult" is defined as a person 17 years of age or older and a
"child" is defined as an individual younger than 17 years of age.
This bill changes the age to 18 in both definitions.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of More than
$700,000 in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the juvenile court currently has
no jurisdiction over high school students older than 17 years of
age.  The bill raises the age of jurisdiction for juvenile courts
to 18 years for all municipal ordinance violations and status
offenses such as delinquency and truancy.  Any juveniles between
the ages of 17 and 18 will continue to be prosecuted as adults
for state crimes.  The bill also repeals the statute allowing
parents to petition the juvenile court for jurisdiction of their
adult high school child.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Stevenson and Wilson
(130); Missouri Catholic Conference; and Missouri Council of
School Administrators.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:18 am