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Vermont House Bill H0002

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont House Bill H0002 Compare Versions

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1-No. 4 Page 1 of 7
2-2025
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4-VT LEG #382344 v.1
5-No. 4. An act relating to increasing the minimum age for delinquency
6-proceedings.
7-(H.2)
1+BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
2+2025 Page1of9
3+H.2
4+IntroducedbyRepresentativesLaLondeofSouthBurlington,Arsenaultof
5+Williston,DolanofEssexJunction,andRachelsonof
6+Burlington
7+ReferredtoCommitteeon
8+Date:
9+Subject:Delinquencyproceedings;minimumage
10+Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestoincreasethe
11+minimumageatwhichachildmaybesubjecttojuveniledelinquency
12+proceedingsfrom10to12.
13+Anactrelatingtoincreasingtheminimumagefordelinquencyproceedings
814 ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
9-* * * Family Division Delinquency Jurisdiction * * *
10-Sec. 1. 33 V.S.A. § 5102 is amended to read:
15+Sec.1.33V.S.A.§ 5102isamendedtoread:
1116 §5102.DEFINITIONSANDPROVISIONSOFGENERALAPPLICATION
1217 Asusedinthejuvenilejudicialproceedingschapters:
1318 ***
1419 (2)“Child”meansanyofthefollowing:
1520 ***
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38+18 BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
39+2025 Page2of9
1640 (C)Anindividualwhohasbeenallegedtohavecommittedorhas
1741 committedanactofdelinquencyafterbecoming1012yearsofageandprior
1842 tobecoming22yearsofage,unlessotherwiseprovidedinchapter52or52A
1943 ofthistitle;provided,however:
2044 (i)thatanindividualwhoisallegedtohavecommittedanact
21-before attaining 10 years of age that would be murder as defined in 13 V.S.A.
22-§ 2301 if committed by an adult may be subject to delinquency proceedings;
23-and
45+beforeattaining1012yearsofagethatwouldbemurderasdefinedin
46+13 V.S.A.§2301ifcommittedbyanadultmaybesubjecttodelinquency
47+proceedings;and
48+(ii)thatanindividualmaybeconsideredachildfortheperiodof
49+timethecourtretainsjurisdictionundersection5104ofthistitle.
50+***
51+Sec.2.EFFECTIVEDATE
52+Thisactshalltakeeffectonpassage.
53+***FamilyDivisionDelinquencyJurisdiction***
54+Sec.1.33V.S.A.§ 5102isamendedtoread:
55+§5102.DEFINITIONSANDPROVISIONSOFGENERALAPPLICATION
56+Asusedinthejuvenilejudicialproceedingschapters:
57+***
58+(2)“Child”meansanyofthefollowing:
59+***
60+1
61+2
62+3
63+4
64+5
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70+11
71+12
72+13 BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
73+2025 Page3of9
74+(C)anindividualwhohasbeenallegedtohavecommittedorhas
75+committedanactofdelinquencyafterbecoming1012yearsofageandprior
76+tobecoming22yearsofage,unlessotherwiseprovidedinchapter52or52A
77+ofthistitle;provided,however:
78+(i)thatanindividualwhoisallegedtohavecommittedanact
79+beforeattaining10yearsofagethatwouldbemurderasdefinedin13 V.S.A.§
80+2301ifcommittedbyanadultmaybesubjecttodelinquencyproceedings;and
2481 (ii),thatanindividualmaybeconsideredachildfortheperiodof
25-time the court retains jurisdiction under section 5104 of this title. No. 4 Page 2 of 7
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82+timethecourtretainsjurisdictionundersection5104ofthistitle.
2983 ***
30-Sec. 2. 33 V.S.A. § 5103(c) is amended to read:
84+Sec.2.33V.S.A.§ 5103(c)isamendedtoread:
3185 (c)(1)Exceptasotherwiseprovidedbythistitleandbysubdivision(2)of
3286 thissubsection,jurisdictionoverachildshallnotbeextendedbeyondthe
3387 child’s18thbirthday.
3488 (2)(A)Jurisdictionoverachildwithadelinquencymaybeextended
3589 untilsixmonthsbeyondthechild’s:
3690 (i)19th20thbirthdayifthechildwas16or17yearsofagewhen
3791 heorshethechildcommittedtheoffense;or
3892 (ii)20th21stbirthdayifthechildwas18yearsofagewhenheor
3993 shethechildcommittedtheoffense.
40-* * *
94+*** BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
95+2025 Page4of9
4196 ***RaisetheAge***
4297 Sec.3.2024ActsandResolvesNo.125,Secs.7–11areamendedtoread:
4398 Sec.7.[Deleted.]
4499 Sec.8.[Deleted.]
45100 Sec.9.[Deleted.]
46101 Sec.10.[Deleted.]
47102 Sec.11.[Deleted.]
48103 Sec.4.2024ActsandResolvesNo.125,Sec.21isamendedtoread:
49104 Sec.21.EFFECTIVEDATES
50-* * * No. 4 Page 3 of 7
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105+***
54106 (b)Secs.7–11shalltakeeffectonApril1,2025.[Deleted.]
55-Sec. 5. 33 V.S.A. § 5201(d) is amended to read:
107+Sec.5.33V.S.A.§ 5201(d)isamendedtoread:
56108 (d)Anyproceedingconcerningachildwhoisallegedtohavecommitted
57109 anyoffenseotherthanthosespecifiedinsubsection5204(a)ofthistitleor
58-subdivision (c)(2) or (3) of this section before attaining 19 20 years of age shall
59-originate in the Family Division of the Superior Court, provided that
110+subdivision(c)(2)or(3)ofthissectionbeforeattaining1920yearsofage
111+shalloriginateintheFamilyDivisionoftheSuperiorCourt,providedthat
60112 jurisdictionmaybetransferredinaccordancewiththischapter.
61-Sec. 6. 33 V.S.A. § 5203 is amended to read:
113+Sec.6.33V.S.A.§ 5203isamendedtoread:
62114 §5203.TRANSFERFROMOTHERCOURTS
63115 (a)IfitappearstoaCriminalDivisionoftheSuperiorCourtthatthe
64-defendant was under 19 20 years of age at the time the offense charged was
116+defendantwasunder1920yearsofageatthetimetheoffensechargedwas BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
117+2025 Page5of9
65118 allegedtohavebeencommittedandtheoffensechargedisanoffensenot
66119 specifiedinsubsection5204(a)orsubdivision5201(c)(2)or(3)ofthistitle,
67120 thatcourtshallforthwithtransfertheproceedingtotheFamilyDivisionofthe
68121 SuperiorCourtundertheauthorityofthischapter,andtheminorshallthenbe
69122 consideredtobesubjecttothischapterasachildchargedwithadelinquent
70123 act.
71124 ***
72125 (c)IfitappearstotheState’sAttorneythatthedefendantwasunder1920
73126 yearsofageatthetimethefelonyoffensechargedwasallegedtohavebeen
74127 committedandthefelonychargedisnotanoffensespecifiedinsubsection
75-5204(a) or subdivision 5201(c)(2) or (3) of this title, the State’s Attorney shall No. 4 Page 4 of 7
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128+5204(a)orsubdivision5201(c)(2)or(3)ofthistitle,theState’sAttorneyshall
79129 filechargesintheFamilyDivisionoftheSuperiorCourt,pursuanttosection
80130 5201ofthistitle.TheFamilyDivisionmaytransfertheproceedingtothe
81131 CriminalDivisionpursuanttosection5204ofthistitle.
82132 ***
83-Sec. 7. 33 V.S.A. § 5204 is amended to read:
133+Sec.7.33V.S.A.§ 5204isamendedtoread:
84134 §5204.TRANSFERFROMFAMILYDIVISIONOFTHESUPERIOR
85135 COURT
86136 (a)Afterapetitionhasbeenfiledallegingdelinquency,uponmotionofthe
87137 State’sAttorneyandafterhearing,theFamilyDivisionoftheSuperiorCourt
88-may transfer jurisdiction of the proceeding to the Criminal Division of the
138+maytransferjurisdictionoftheproceedingtotheCriminalDivisionofthe BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
139+2025 Page6of9
89140 SuperiorCourtifthechildhadattained16yearsofagebutnot1920yearsof
90141 ageatthetimetheactwasallegedtohaveoccurredandthedelinquentactset
91142 forthinthepetitionisafelonynotspecifiedinsubdivisions(1)–(11)ofthis
92-subsection or if the child had attained 12 years of age but not 14 years of age at
93-the time the act was alleged to have occurred, and if the delinquent act set forth
94-in the petition was any of the following:
143+subsectionorifthechildhadattained12yearsofagebutnot14yearsofage
144+atthetimetheactwasallegedtohaveoccurred,andifthedelinquentactset
145+forthinthepetitionwasanyofthefollowing:
95146 ***
96-Sec. 8. 33 V.S.A. § 5103(c) is amended to read:
147+Sec.8.33V.S.A.§ 5103(c)isamendedtoread:
97148 (c)(1)Exceptasotherwiseprovidedbythistitleandbysubdivision(2)of
98149 thissubsection,jurisdictionoverachildshallnotbeextendedbeyondthe
99-child’s 18th birthday. No. 4 Page 5 of 7
100-2025
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150+child’s18thbirthday.
103151 (2)(A)Jurisdictionoverachildwithadelinquencymaybeextended:
104152 (i)untilsixmonthsbeyondthechild’s:
105153 (i)(I)20thbirthdayifthechildwas16or17yearsofagewhen
106154 thechildcommittedtheoffense;or
107155 (ii)(II)21stbirthdayifthechildwas18yearsofagewhenthe
108156 childcommittedtheoffense;or
109157 (ii)untilthechild’s22ndbirthdayifthechildwas19yearsofage
110158 whenthechildcommittedtheoffense.
111-* * *
112-Sec. 9. 33 V.S.A. § 5206 is amended to read:
159+*** BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
160+2025 Page7of9
161+Sec.9.33V.S.A.§ 5206isamendedtoread:
113162 §5206.CITATIONOF16-TO18-YEAROLDS19-YEAR-OLDS
114163 (a)(1)Ifachildwasover16yearsofageandunder1920yearsofageat
115164 thetimetheoffensewasallegedtohavebeencommittedandtheoffenseisnot
116165 specifiedinsubsection(b)ofthissection,lawenforcementshallcitethechild
117166 totheFamilyDivisionoftheSuperiorCourt.
118167 ***
119168 Sec.10.AGENCYOFHUMANSERVICESPROGRESSREPORTS
120169 (a)OnorbeforeJuly1,2026andDecember1,2026,theAgencyofHuman
121170 ServicesshallreporttotheJointLegislativeJusticeOversightCommittee,the
122171 SenateandHouseCommitteesonJudiciary,theHouseCommitteeon
123172 CorrectionsandInstitutions,theSenateCommitteeonInstitutions,theHouse
124-Committee on Human Services, and the Senate Committee on Health and No. 4 Page 6 of 7
125-2025
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127-VT LEG #382344 v.1
173+CommitteeonHumanServices,andtheSenateCommitteeonHealthand
128174 Welfareonitsprogresstowardimplementingtherequirementofthisactthat
129175 theRaisetheAgeinitiativetakeeffectonJuly1,2027.Theprogressreports
130176 requiredbythissectionshalldescribeprogresstowardimplementationofthe
131177 RaisetheAgeinitiative,asmeasuredbyqualitativeandquantitativedata
132178 relatedtothefollowingpriorities:
133179 (1)establishingasecureresidentialfacility;
134180 (2)expandingcapacityfornonresidentialtreatmentprogramstoprovide
135-community-based services;
181+community-basedservices; BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
182+2025 Page8of9
136183 (3)ensuringthatresidentialtreatmentprogramsareusedappropriately
137184 andtotheirfullpotential;
138185 (4)expandingcapacityforBalancedandRestorativeJustice(BARJ)
139186 contracts;
140187 (5)expandingcapacityfortheprovisionofservicestochildrenwith
141188 developmentaldisabilities;
142189 (6)establishingastabilizationprogramforchildrenwhoare
143190 experiencingamentalhealthcrisis;
144191 (7)enhancinglong-termtreatmentforchildren;
145192 (8)programmingtohelpchildren,particularly18-and19-year-olds,
146193 transitiontoadulthood;
147194 (9)developingdistrict-specificdataandinformationonfamilyservices
148-workforce development, including turnover, retention, and vacancy rates; times No. 4 Page 7 of 7
149-2025
150-
151-VT LEG #382344 v.1
152-needed to fill open positions; training opportunities and needs; and instituting a
153-positive culture for employees;
195+workforcedevelopment,includingturnover,retention,andvacancyrates;times
196+neededtofillopenpositions;trainingopportunitiesandneeds;andinstituting
197+apositivecultureforemployees;
154198 (10)installationofacomprehensivechildwelfareinformationsystem;
155199 and
156200 (11)plansforandmeasurestakentosecurefundingforthegoalslisted
157201 inthissection.
158202 (b)Thereportrequiredbythissectionshallprovideutilizationdataforthe
159-Red Clover Treatment Facility, including how many youths utilize the Facility
203+RedCloverTreatmentFacility,includinghowmanyyouthsutilizetheFacility BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSEANDSENATE H.2
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160205 onamonthlyandannualbasis,thelengthofstay,thetreatmentneedsofthe
161206 youthswhoareplacedattheFacility,racialandgenderdemographicdatafor
162207 youthswhoareplacedattheFacility,andanyotherdatadeemedrelevantby
163208 theDepartment.
164209 (c)Failuretomeetoneormoreoftheprogressreportelementslistedin
165210 subsection(a)ofthissectionshallnotbeabasisforextendingthe
166211 implementationoftheRaisetheAgeinitiativebeyondJuly1,2027.
167212 ***EffectiveDates***
168213 Sec.11.EFFECTIVEDATES;APPLICABILITY
169214 (a)Secs.1,2,and10shalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
170215 (b)Secs.3and4andthissectionshalltakeeffectonMarch31,2025.
171216 (c)Secs.5–9shalltakeeffectonJuly1,2027.
172-Date Governor signed bill: March 31, 2025