Modifies provisions relating to the offense of tampering in the second degree

HB 159 modifies juvenile court procedures by adding "tampering in the second degree involving a motor vehicle when a juvenile is in possession of a firearm during the offense" to the list of serious crimes requiring automatic transfer to adult court for youth aged 12-18. If a juvenile commits this specific offense, the court must hold a hearing to determine whether the case should be transferred from juvenile to adult court, rather than allowing the juvenile system to handle it. The bill outlines criteria for this transfer, including the offense's severity, use of violence, and the juvenile's history, while ensuring the youth has legal representation during the process. This change directly affects juveniles aged 12-18 charged with this type of property crime involving firearms and motor vehicles.