The bill amends section 27-20.4-05.1 of the North Dakota Century Code to clarify the process for making delinquency referrals to juvenile court. It allows referrals to be made not only by law enforcement officers but also by employees of public or nonpublic schools attended by the child, provided they have reasonable grounds and knowledge of the facts. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a child is taken into custody for an alleged delinquent act, the referral must be sent to the juvenile court within twenty-four hours.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that a child who commits an infraction or misdemeanor on school property cannot be referred to juvenile court unless school interventions have been unsuccessful, and documentation of these interventions is included with the referral. Schools are required to exhaust all school discipline policies before making a referral, although there are exceptions for certain serious offenses, such as drug-related crimes and offenses involving firearms. The bill also outlines the powers of law enforcement officers in relation to investigating delinquent offenses occurring at schools.

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
Enrollment: 27-20.4-05.1