AN ACT to create and enact three new sections to chapter 27-20.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to juvenile court petitions, fitness to proceed in juvenile court proceedings, and collateral consequences the juvenile court may order; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-04.1-01, 12.1-04.1-20, and 12.1-17-01.2, subsection 2 of section 12.1-17-07.2, section 12.1-20-01, subsections 2 and 6 of section 12.1-31-03, sections 12.1-32-15 and 15.1-09-33.4, subsection 6 of section 27-20.2-01, subsection 3 of section 27-20.2-09, subsection 5 of section 27-20.4-11, subsection 1 of section 27-20.4-18, subsection 1 of section 27-20.4-20, and section 62.1-02-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to lack of criminal responsibility, court jurisdiction, distribution of intimate images without consent, domestic violence, criminality of a child regarding sex offenses, sale and use of tobacco by an individual under the age of twenty-one, child registration requirements, restitution, probation of a delinquent child, extracurricular activities for students, and persons not allowed to possess a firearm; to repeal sections 27-20.4-12, 27-20.4-13, and 27-20.4-19 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to delinquency; to provide an appropriation; and to provide a penalty.
What changed between versions
Criminal responsibility assessments can now be conducted for individuals aged ten years or older, clarifying the minimum age threshold for mental illness defenses in criminal cases.
Domestic violence provisions now explicitly apply to individuals under eighteen when the victim is in a dating relationship or they share a child, closing a previous gap in protection for minors.
Jurisdiction over individuals found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility is standardized, with juvenile cases limited to one year of court jurisdiction unless involuntary commitment proceedings are initiated.
The definition of 'child in need of protection' was updated to reference chapter 27-20.3, ensuring consistency with current child welfare statutes.
Minor formatting and numbering corrections were made to align section references and improve clarity throughout the bill text.