This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to maintain the minimum age of delinquency at ten years old. It specifically clarifies that a "delinquent child" does not include a child who has committed a delinquent act before reaching the age of 13. The bill also removes provisions that would have excluded children under 13 from being classified as delinquent or juvenile petty offenders effective August 1, 2026. Additionally, it updates the definition of a "child in need of protection or services" to include various circumstances, such as being a runaway or a habitual truant, while also ensuring that children who have committed delinquent acts or juvenile petty offenses before the age of ten are not included in this classification.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the definitions of "juvenile petty offense" and "juvenile petty offender" to ensure that children under the age of 13 are not categorized as such for offenses committed prior to that age. The amendments aim to provide clarity in the legal framework surrounding juvenile offenses and the treatment of children within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing the importance of age in determining delinquency and the need for protective services.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 260B.007, 260C.007