This bill seeks to reform Minnesota's juvenile justice system by extending the jurisdiction of juvenile courts to individuals under the age of 21, specifically targeting those aged 16 to 20 accused of first-degree murder. It eliminates the presumption that certain individuals will be certified as adults and modifies the public safety factors that courts must consider before certifying a case for adult court. Additionally, the bill removes the prosecutor's ability to designate a proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile procedure and allows juvenile courts to maintain jurisdiction over individuals adjudicated delinquent in extended jurisdiction juvenile proceedings up to the age of 24. Key amendments include redefining "child" to mean individuals under 21 and "delinquent child" to include those alleged to have committed first-degree murder after age 16.

The legislation also raises the age threshold for certain juvenile offenses, modifies conditions for imposing adult sanctions, and clarifies the roles of guardians ad litem and minors' rights during hearings. It updates terminology by replacing "minor" with "child" in various statutes and ensures that peace officer records of children are kept separate from adult records. The bill aims to enhance the legal framework governing juvenile justice in Minnesota, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment, while ensuring serious crimes are addressed appropriately. Additionally, it streamlines the legal process by repealing certain existing statutes related to juvenile court jurisdiction and certification processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 260B.007, 260B.101, 260B.103, 260B.125, 260B.130, 260B.141, 260B.163, 260B.193, 260B.198, 260B.255, 260B.331, 260B.415, 609.055