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AB-1647 • 2026

Juveniles: transfer to criminal court: criminal procedure.

Juveniles: transfer to criminal court: criminal procedure.

Children Crime Education Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bryan
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not explicitly confirm that it is merely stating existing case law, only that it codifies such laws.

Juveniles: Rules for Moving from Juvenile Court to Criminal Court

This law changes how minors can be moved from juvenile court to adult criminal court and protects their statements made during the process.

What This Bill Does

  • It stops judges from using a minor's words or actions at a transfer hearing against them in future cases, whether in juvenile or criminal courts.
  • It makes it harder for prosecutors to move minors from juvenile court to adult criminal court by requiring stronger proof that rehabilitation won't work.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Minors involved in serious crimes
  • Judges, prosecutors, and probation officers dealing with these cases

Terms To Know

Transfer hearing
A meeting where a judge decides if a minor should be moved from juvenile court to adult criminal court.
Rehabilitative services
Help and support given to minors in the juvenile system to help them change their behavior.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not say when it will start.
  • It might require local governments to pay for more services, but some costs are exempt from this requirement.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  2. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21).

  3. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  4. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  5. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

  6. 2026-03-03 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  7. 2026-02-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  8. 2026-01-28 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 27.

  9. 2026-01-27 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1647, as amended, Bryan.
Juveniles: transfer to
court of criminal jurisdiction.
criminal court: criminal procedure.
Existing law, as amended by the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016, enacted by Proposition 57 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, authorizes the district attorney to make a motion to transfer a minor from juvenile court to a court of criminal jurisdiction in a case in which a minor is alleged to have committed a felony when the minor was 16 years of age or older, or in a case in which a specified serious offense is alleged to have been committed by a minor when the minor was 14 or 15 years of age, but the minor was not apprehended prior to the end of juvenile court jurisdiction. Existing case law prohibits the use of a minor’s statements made at a transfer hearing or to a probation officer from being used during a criminal prosecution of the minor transferred to the court of
criminal jurisdiction.
This bill would codify existing case law to prohibit the use of the minor’s statements made during a transfer hearing or to the minor’s probation officer from being used against the minor during subsequent juvenile proceedings or subsequent criminal proceedings, as specified. This bill would state that the provisions of this bill are declaratory of existing law.
Existing law, as amended by the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016, enacted by Proposition 57 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, authorizes the district attorney or other prosecuting officer to make a motion to transfer a minor from juvenile court to a court of criminal jurisdiction in a case in which a minor is alleged to have committed a felony when the minor was 16 years of age or older, or in a case in which a specified serious offense is alleged to have been committed by a minor when the minor was 14 or 15 years of age, but the minor was not apprehended prior to the end of juvenile court jurisdiction. Under existing law, in order to find that the minor should be transferred to a court of criminal jurisdiction, the court is required to find by clear and convincing evidence that the minor is not amenable to rehabilitation while under the jurisdiction of the
juvenile court.
This bill would instead require that the court find beyond a reasonable doubt that the minor is not amenable to rehabilitation while under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court in order to find that the minor should be transferred to a court of criminal jurisdiction. By increasing the number of minors retained under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, thereby increasing the number of minors who are entitled to county-funded rehabilitative services, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the
Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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