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SB 747 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Juvenile & domestic relations district courts; delinquent juveniles; social assessment & evaluation.

Summary
Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; mental health and social assessments. Provides that if a juvenile is found to be delinquent, that a juvenile and domestic relations district court may, before final disposition of the case, direct the appropriate public agency to evaluate such juvenile's service needs using an interdisciplinary approach. The bill permits the juvenile and domestic relations district court, in the alternative, to consider an existing report from an interdisciplinary team if such interdisciplinary team met not more than 90 days prior to the finding that the juvenile is delinquent.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates mental health/social assessments for delinquent juveniles to address service needs, promoting rehabilitation-focused approach aligned with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health assessments for juveniles in court proceedings, directly supporting mental health services within the juvenile justice system.85% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 18, 2024 Last action Feb 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute → Engrossed · 4 edits · Jan 27, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand its scope from a single section to two sections, adding new rules for court report timelines, fees for social services, and guardian ad litem requirements. Additionally, it removed the requirement for local school divisions to participate in interdisciplinary evaluations for delinquent juveniles and updated the list of offenses requiring restitution.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include amendments to § 16.1-274, which previously was not part of the Substitute version.
REQUIREMENT

New subsections added to § 16.1-274 requiring court reports to be filed within 72 hours (or 15 days for custody cases), establishing fee schedules for social services investigations, and mandating specific compliance certifications for guardians ad litem.

New provision allowing local departments of social services to charge fees before conducting investigations or supervised visitation for out-of-state or inter-local requests.

The requirement for local school divisions to be part of the interdisciplinary team evaluating delinquent juveniles was removed.

The list of offenses requiring restitution and community service was updated to include additional specific code sections.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 23, 2025

How they voted

39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jan 23, 2025
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment by Senator Favola agreed to
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 5-N)
upper
Nov 18, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Barbara Favola
Barbara Favola
DDemocratic
VA
40