The bill amends the Kansas juvenile justice code to establish that no juvenile under the age of 18 shall be prosecuted as an adult. Specifically, it modifies K.S.A. 38-2347 by deleting the previous age threshold of 14 and replacing it with 18, thereby ensuring that all individuals below this age are treated as juveniles in the legal system. The bill outlines the process for prosecuting juveniles, including the conditions under which a county or district attorney may file a motion to prosecute a juvenile as an adult or designate the proceedings as an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution.

Additionally, the bill details the factors the court must consider when determining whether to authorize adult prosecution or extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution, such as the seriousness of the offense, the juvenile's history, and the availability of rehabilitation programs. It also emphasizes the rights of juveniles during the proceedings, including the right to a trial by jury and effective legal counsel. The existing section of K.S.A. 38-2347 is repealed, and the new provisions will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 38-2347