The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1215, aims to amend the definition of "child" in section 46b-120 of the general statutes, specifically in the context of delinquency matters and proceedings. The bill repeals the existing definition and introduces a new one that clarifies that a "child" is any person under eighteen years of age who has not been legally emancipated. Notably, for delinquency matters, the definition is expanded to include individuals who are at least ten years old at the time of the alleged delinquent act, as well as those who turn eighteen before the adjudication of a verified petition alleging neglect, uncared for status, or abuse.

The bill also specifies that if a child or youth turns eighteen before the adjudication of such a petition, they will still be considered a child for the purposes of that adjudication. This change is intended to ensure that the legal protections and processes available to minors in cases of neglect, uncared for status, or abuse remain applicable even if the individual reaches adulthood before the case is resolved. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.