HB 22-1131

House Bill 22-1131, titled "Reduce Justice-involvement For Young Children," aims to study the impact of raising the minimum age for juvenile court prosecution from 10 years old to 13 years old. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Human Services to form a task force that will look into any gaps in services for young people aged 10 to 12 if this change is made and recommend ways to address these gaps. The bill also provides funding for the department to carry out its work and for lawmakers' expenses related to the study. Since it has been signed, the bill is now law and the task force will start working on their report by the end of 2022.

Official Summary

Under current law, juveniles who are 10 years of age and older can be prosecuted in juvenile court. The act requires the state department of human services to establish a pre-adolescent services task force to examine gaps in services for juveniles who are 10 years of age or older but under 13 years of age, if any, that would be created if the minimum age of prosecution of juveniles is increased from 10 years of age to 13 years of age, and to make recommendations for addressing any gaps in services identified. The task force shall create a report containing its recommendations made by December 30, 2022, and provide that report to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and the senate, and to the public and behavioral health and human services committee of the house of representatives and the health and human services committee of the senate, or any successor committees. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, the act appropriates $105,000 from the general fund to the state department of human services for use by the division of child welfare. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, the act appropriates $9,433 from the general fund to the legislative department for use by the general assembly for per diem and travel expenses. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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