This bill amends the jurisdiction of juvenile courts in Arkansas concerning certain traffic offenses. Specifically, it introduces a provision that grants circuit courts concurrent jurisdiction with district courts over traffic offenses, as outlined in the newly added section 9-27-372. This allows for a more integrated approach to handling cases where a traffic offense is related to a juvenile delinquency proceeding.

Additionally, the bill establishes a process whereby a circuit court judge can request the transfer of a traffic offense from district court to circuit court. This transfer can occur if the traffic offense is connected to the delinquent act that the juvenile is accused of committing. This amendment aims to streamline the adjudication process for juveniles facing both traffic and delinquency charges, ensuring that related offenses are handled within the same judicial framework.

Statutes affected:
SB 422: 9-27-306(a)