HCS HB 1182 -- JURISDICTION OF JUVENILE COURTS

SPONSOR:  Phillips (Stevenson)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children
and Families by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute allows a parent, legal guardian, or other person
having legal custody of a child at least 15 years of age to
petition the court to extend the jurisdiction of the juvenile
court until the minor child is 18 years old.  These provisions
will not apply to a child who has received a high school diploma
or its equivalent.

A law enforcement officer, juvenile officer, school personnel, or
court personnel will not be held civilly or criminally liable if
his or her action or failure to act was based on a good faith
belief that the child was not under the jurisdiction of the
juvenile court.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill is necessary to allow
parents to maintain control of their child until his or her
eighteenth birthday.  With court approval, the child will remain
a minor for all purposes under state law and will be subject to
compulsory school attendance requirements.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Moore for
Representative Stevenson; Missouri Eagle Forum; Missouri Family
Network; Woody Cozad, CNS Corporation; Cathy Jackson; Rick
Crawford; and Sandra Adams.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am