Criminal Justice (Juvenile Justice)

Requires each public school, state educational institution, correctional facility, juvenile detention facility, and certain governmental entities to designate a multiple occupancy restroom or changing area as follows: (1) For the exclusive use of the male sex. (2) For the exclusive use of the female sex. Provides, with exceptions, that an individual may only use a multiple occupancy restroom or changing area that is designated for the sex that is the individual's sex, as determined at birth in accordance with the individual's genetics and reproductive biology. Establishes a civil action for a violation of these provisions. Prohibits each public school, correctional facility, state educational institution, juvenile detention facility, and certain governmental entities from requiring certain individuals to share sleeping quarters with a member of the opposite sex, as determined at birth in accordance with the individual's genetics and reproductive biology, unless the individual who is a member of the opposite sex is a family member. Establishes a civil action for a violation of these provisions.

HB 1249 changes juvenile court jurisdiction by adding "unlawful carrying of a handgun charged as a felony" to the list of offenses where juvenile courts cannot handle cases. This means juveniles facing felony handgun charges would be processed in adult court instead of juvenile court. The bill directly affects young people under 18 charged with this specific weapon-related offense. It modifies existing law by expanding the category of serious crimes excluded from juvenile court jurisdiction, requiring such cases to move to adult criminal court proceedings. The bill passed the House unanimously (74-18) and is now before the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.

Adds felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a child to the list of crimes for which a juvenile court shall, upon motion of the prosecuting attorney, waive jurisdiction under certain circumstances. Removes certain crimes concerning children and firearms from the list of crimes in which a juvenile court does not have jurisdiction for an alleged violation. Removes language in the unlawful carrying of a handgun statute prohibiting a person less than 18 years of age from carrying a handgun. Provides that the unlawful carrying of a handgun statute applies to a person who has been adjudicated as a delinquent child under the statute, and is at least 18 years of age but less than 23 years of age. Renames the "dangerous possession of a firearm" crime to "unlawful possession of a firearm by a child" and provides that the enhanced penalty applies if the offense was committed: (1) on or in school property; (2) within 500 feet of school property; or (3) on a school bus. Removes the reckless mens rea for unlawful possession of a firearm by a child. Makes technical changes.