This bill seeks to align various statutes with the juvenile delinquency statute, RSA 169-B, by changing the age that defines a delinquent from under 17 years to under 18 years of age. The bill amends several sections of the law to reflect this change. For instance, it modifies the definition of a "child" in the context of restraint practices in schools and treatment facilities, arrest records, pleas and refusal to plead by minors, place of committal, duration of registration for juvenile offenders, and the definition of a shelter care facility. The amendments include replacing the age of 17 with 18, updating language to be more inclusive (e.g., replacing "his" with "the minor's" or "the person's"), and ensuring that certain protections and procedures apply to individuals who are under 18 years old.

The bill also includes provisions for the handling of juvenile records upon termination of registration, specifying that information should be removed from the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) system and handled according to RSA 169-B:35 and RSA 169-B:36. Additionally, it updates the requirements for criminal record checks in the context of residential care and health facility licensing to include household members who are 18 years of age or older. The act was approved on May 31, 2024, and is set to take effect on July 30, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 126-U:1, 605:1, 618:6, 651-B:6, 169-B:2, 169-D:2, 151:2-d
As Amended by the Senate: 126-U:1, 605:1, 618:6, 651-B:6, 169-B:2, 169-D:2, 151:2-d
Version adopted by both bodies: 126-U:1, 605:1, 618:6, 651-B:6, 169-B:2, 169-D:2, 151:2-d
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 126-U:1, 605:1, 618:6, 651-B:6, 169-B:2, 169-D:2, 151:2-d