Lead Sponsors: Senator Nathan Manning and Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson
Status: First hearing in Senate Judiciary (October 8, 2025)
Description: The bill increases the minimum age for commitment to the Department of Youth Services by specifying that a child cannot be committed to DYS if, at the time of the delinquent act, the child was under the age of 14. Current law sets the age at 10.
Juvenile judges are given discretion over committing an adjudicated delinquent child to DYS for offenses that would include a gun specification if committed by an adult.
The bill also eliminates commitment to DYS as a disposition option under certain circumstances.
CCAO Position: No position (as of October 2025)