This bill amends section 27-20.4-05.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, which pertains to the process of making delinquency referrals to juvenile court. The key changes include allowing referrals to be made not only by law enforcement officers but also by employees of public or nonpublic schools attended by the child. Additionally, the bill stipulates that a school must exhaust all school discipline policies before referring a child to juvenile court, and it requires documentation of any internal or external consultations regarding interventions attempted prior to the referral.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that a child who commits an infraction or misdemeanor on school property can only be referred to juvenile court if previous school interventions have failed. However, it specifies that schools are not required to engage in interventions for certain serious offenses, including drug-related offenses, offenses against a person, sex offenses, and any offenses involving firearms or dangerous weapons. The bill also outlines the powers of law enforcement officers in relation to investigating delinquent offenses occurring at schools and ensuring the safety of students and the school community.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 27-20.3-01, 27-20.4-05.1
Adopted by the House Judiciary Committee: 27-20.4-05.1
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 27-20.4-05.1