The bill amends section 27-20.4-05.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, which outlines 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 alleged delinquent act. Additionally, if a child is taken into custody, the law enforcement officer is required to send the referral to juvenile court within twenty-four hours.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that a child who commits an infraction or misdemeanor on school property cannot be referred to juvenile court unless previous school interventions have failed, and documentation of these attempts, including internal or external consultations, must accompany the referral. Schools are mandated 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 grants law enforcement officers specific powers related to investigating delinquent acts 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
Enrollment: 27-20.4-05.1