The bill amends various sections of Vermont's juvenile justice laws, primarily to raise the age of delinquency jurisdiction from 18 to 22 years. Specifically, it changes the definition of a "child" to include individuals who have committed acts of delinquency between the ages of 12 and 22, and it extends the jurisdiction of the Family Division of the Superior Court over children with delinquency until they reach 22 years of age, depending on their age at the time of the offense. The amendments also adjust the age thresholds for jurisdictional extensions, changing references from 19 to 20 years and from 20 to 21 years, thereby aligning the legal framework with the new age limits.

Additionally, the bill mandates progress reports from the Agency of Human Services regarding the implementation of the "Raise the Age" initiative, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2027. These reports will cover various aspects of the initiative, including the establishment of secure residential facilities and the expansion of community-based services. The effective dates for the different sections of the bill are staggered, with some provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025, and others on March 31, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 33-5102
As Passed By the House -- Official: 33-5102, 33-5103(c), 33-5103, 33-5201(d), 33-5201, 33-5203, 33-5204, 33-5206
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 33-5102, 33-5103(c), 33-5103, 33-5201(d), 33-5201, 33-5203, 33-5204, 33-5206
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 33-5102, 33-5103(c), 33-5103, 33-5201(d), 33-5201, 33-5203, 33-5204, 33-5206
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 33-5102, 33-5103(c), 33-5103, 33-5201(d), 33-5201, 33-5203, 33-5204, 33-5206
As Enacted: 33-5102, 33-5103(c), 33-5103, 33-5201(d), 33-5201, 33-5203, 33-5204, 33-5206