The bill amends sections 14-1-27 and 14-1-36 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1, which pertains to proceedings in Family Court. It introduces new provisions that prohibit the family court from detaining or committing any juvenile under the age of twelve (12) years to the training school for any offense, except in cases of murder, first-degree sexual assault, or attempts to commit such offenses. Additionally, the court must determine that there are no other reasonable placement options to ensure the safety of the juvenile or the public before committing a child under twelve for these serious offenses.

The bill also establishes procedures for temporary detention in public or private institutions and emphasizes the importance of timely adjudicatory hearings. It mandates that the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) assess the appropriateness of relative placements within thirty days and provides rights for relatives to petition the court if their placement requests are denied. Overall, the act aims to ensure that young children are not unnecessarily detained or committed to the training school while still addressing serious offenses appropriately. The act will take effect upon passage.