LEGISLATION; JUVENILES;
JUVENILES;
Connecticut laws/regulations;
April 25, 2003 |
2003-R-0361 | |
EFFECT OF INCLUDING 16- AND 17-YEAR OLDS IN STATUTORY DEFINITION OF CHILD | ||
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By: Susan Price-Livingston, Associate Attorney | ||
You asked what impact passage of HB 6567 “An Act Concerning the Age of a Child for Purposes of Jurisdiction in Juvenile Matters” would have on emancipation, school attendance, divorce, and parental tort liability laws.
It does not appear that any of these laws would be affected by expanding the juvenile court’s jurisdiction over “children” to include 16- and 17-year olds. This age group is already covered under those laws.
At its April 16, 2003 meeting, the Judiciary Committee adopted a strike-all amendment and favorably reported sHB 6567 to the floor. The substitute language establishes a two-step process for expanding juvenile court jurisdiction. Sixteen-year-olds wills be covered on October 1, 2006; 17-year olds will be covered on October 1, 2007.
The bill sets up an implementation team comprised of executive and judicial branch officials, prosecutors and public defenders, and the child advocate. The team must submit a report to the Judiciary Committee by January 15, 2004 on (1) progress made to date, (2) tasks that still need to be completed, and (3) impediments and recommendations for eliminating them.
SP-L: eh