Senate Bill No. 74, introduced by Senator Seabaugh, aims to amend the Children's Code regarding criminal court jurisdiction over juveniles. The bill proposes that special juvenile courts will no longer have exclusive jurisdiction over all juvenile criminal cases. Instead, it allows district, parish, or city courts to have original jurisdiction over juvenile misdemeanor and certain felony cases if a special juvenile court has not been established in the relevant parish. Additionally, the bill grants district attorneys the authority to transfer juvenile cases from special juvenile courts to other courts based on specific circumstances, thereby enhancing flexibility in handling juvenile criminal matters.

The bill also retains provisions that maintain the confidentiality of juvenile records and outlines the conditions under which a juvenile is subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, particularly for serious offenses committed by individuals aged 15 or older. It emphasizes that the district attorney, or the attorney general acting as a district attorney, has discretion in determining whether to proceed under the Children's Code or the Code of Criminal Procedure. The proposed changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2025.