SB 74 Louisiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Provides relative to criminal court jurisdiction over juveniles. (8/1/25) (EG SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 74 grants district attorneys the discretion to transfer certain juvenile criminal cases from special juvenile courts to other courts. For juveniles aged 15 or older charged with a felony, cases may be transferred to district court. Juveniles under 15 charged with a felony or misdemeanor may have their cases transferred to parish or city courts. For serious offenses like murder or rape committed by juveniles 15 or older, district attorneys can choose to file a petition in juvenile court or obtain an indictment, which may lead to the case being handled in a criminal court and the juvenile potentially transferred to an adult detention facility.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 2, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB74 Original → SB74 Engrossed · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes how Louisiana courts handle juvenile criminal cases by clarifying which courts have jurisdiction based on the severity of the offense and the age of the child. It establishes exclusive jurisdiction for special juvenile courts in specific parishes, grants parish and city courts original jurisdiction over misdemeanors and younger felony cases, and allows district attorneys to transfer older juvenile felony cases to district courts. The changes aim to streamline the legal process, ensure appropriate venue for serious crimes, and provide clearer rules for when cases move between different court levels.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of parish and city courts to include original jurisdiction over juvenile misdemeanors and certain juvenile felonies, whereas previously these courts had limited or no original jurisdiction over such cases. It also clarifies the transfer mechanisms for older juveniles charged with serious felonies.

SCOPE

Special juvenile courts in Caddo, Orleans, Jefferson, and East Baton Rouge Parishes now have exclusive original jurisdiction over all criminal juvenile cases, not just specific types.

Parish courts are granted original jurisdiction over all juvenile misdemeanor cases and certain juvenile felony cases if no special juvenile court exists in that parish.

City courts are granted original jurisdiction over juvenile misdemeanor cases and certain juvenile felony cases if no special juvenile court exists in that city's territory.

ELIGIBILITY

The criteria for transferring juvenile felony cases to district courts were updated to include juveniles aged fifteen or older, with specific provisions for serious offenses like murder and aggravated rape.

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions require district attorneys to file petitions or indictments within sixty days for serious juvenile felony cases, with mechanisms for release if prosecution is not timely instituted.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 30, 2025

Committee

Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors