AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.

Senate
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General Assembly File No. 592
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 502

Senate, April 13, 2026

The Committee on Judiciary reported through SEN. WINFIELD
of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of
the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM
JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 46b-127 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) (1) The court shall automatically transfer from the docket for 3
juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court the 4
case of any child charged with the commission of a capital felony under 5
the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, a class 6
A felony, or a class B felony, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this 7
subsection, or a violation of section 53a-54d, provided such offense was 8
committed after such child attained the age of fifteen years and counsel 9
has been appointed for such child if such child is indigent. Such counsel 10
may appear with the child but shall not be permitted to make any 11
argument or file any motion in opposition to the transfer. The child shall 12
be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court at the 13
next court date following such transfer, provided any proceedings held 14
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prior to the finalization of such transfer shall be private and shall be 15
conducted in such parts of the courthouse or the building in which the 16
court is located that are separate and apart from the other parts of the 17
court which are then being used for proceedings pertaining to adults 18
charged with crimes. 19
(2) A state's attorney may, at any time after such arraignment, file a 20
motion to transfer the case of any child charged with the commission of 21
a class B felony or a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 22
section 53a -70 to the docket for juvenile matters for proceedings in 23
accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 24
(3) No case of any child charged with the commission of a violation 25
of section 53a-55, 53a-59b, 53a-71 or 53a-94, subdivision (2) of subsection 26
(a) of section 53a-101, section 53a-112, 53a-122 or 53a-129b, subdivision 27
(1), (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 53a -134, section 53a-196c, 53a-28
196d or 53a-252 or subsection (a) of section 53a -301 shall be transferred 29
from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the 30
Superior Court, except as provided in this subdivision. Upon motion of 31
a prosecutorial official, the superior court for juvenile matters shall 32
conduct a hearing to determine whether the case of any child charged 33
with the commission of any such offense shall be transferred from the 34
docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior 35
Court. The court shall not order that the case be transferred under this 36
subdivision unless the court finds that (A) such offense was committed 37
after such child attained the age of fifteen years, (B) there is probable 38
cause to believe the child has committed the act for which the child is 39
charged, and (C) the best interests of the child and the public will not be 40
served by maintaining the case in the superior court for juvenile matters. 41
In making such findings, the court shall consider (i) any prior criminal 42
or juvenile offenses committed by the child, (ii) the seriousness of such 43
offenses, (iii) any evidence that the child has intellectual disability or 44
mental illness, and (iv) the availability of services in the docket for 45
juvenile matters that can serve the child's needs. Any motion under this 46
subdivision shall be made, and any hearing under this subdivision shall 47
be held, not later than thirty days after the child is arraigned in the 48
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superior court for juvenile matters. 49
(b) Upon motion of a prosecutorial official, the superior court for 50
juvenile matters shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the case 51
of any child charged with the commission of a class C, D or E felony or 52
an unclassified felony or any other offense not subject to the provisions 53
of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section that is a serious firearm 54
offense, as defined in section 53a-3, shall be transferred from the docket 55
for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. 56
The court shall not order that the case be transferred under this 57
subdivision unless the court finds that (1) such offense was committed 58
after such child attained the age of fifteen years, (2) there is probable 59
cause to believe the child has committed the act for which the child is 60
charged, and (3) the best interests of the child and the public will not be 61
served by maintaining the case in the superior court for juvenile matters. 62
In making such findings, the court shall consider (A) any prior criminal 63
or juvenile offenses committed by the child, (B) the seriousness of such 64
offenses, (C) any evidence that the child has intellectual disability or 65
mental illness, and (D) the availability of services in the docket for 66
juvenile matters that can serve the child's needs. Any motion under this 67
subdivision shall be made [,] and [any hearing under this subdivision ] 68
the hearing on such motion shall be held [,] not later than thirty days 69
after the child is arraigned in the superior court for juvenile matters , 70
except in the case of a child arraigned for a serious firearm offense, in 71
which case such motion shall be made and the hearing on such motion 72
shall be held not later than fifteen days after such child is arraigned. 73
(c) If a case is transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant to 74
subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this 75
section, or if a case is transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant 76
to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and the charge in such 77
case is subsequently reduced to that of the commission of an offense for 78
which a case may be transferred pursuant to subdivision (2) or (3) of 79
subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, the court 80
sitting for the regular criminal docket may return the case to the docket 81
for juvenile matters at any time prior to the court or jury rendering a 82
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verdict or the entry of a guilty plea for good cause shown for 83
proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 84
(d) Upon the effectuation of the transfer, such child shall stand trial 85
and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of 86
age, subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section and section 87
54-91g. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for 88
time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. 89
A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser 90
offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and 91
voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who 92
pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such child's status as a 93
juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if 94
such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was 95
transferred or of any lesser included offenses, the child shall resume 96
such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains the age of 97
eighteen years. 98
(e) Any child whose case is transferred to the regular criminal docket 99
of the Superior Court who is detained pursuant to such case shall be in 100
the custody of the Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of 101
such transfer. A transfer shall be final (1) upon the arraignment on the 102
regular criminal docket until a motion filed by the state's attorney 103
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section is granted by the court, or (2) 104
upon the arraignment on the regular criminal docket of a transfer 105
ordered pursuant to subsection (b) of this section until the court sitting 106
for the regular criminal docket orders the case returned to the docket for 107
juvenile matters for good cause shown. Any child whose case is 108
returned to the docket for juvenile matters who is detained pursuant to 109
such case shall be in the custody of the Judicial Department. 110
(f) The transfer of a child to a Department of Correction facility shall 111
be limited as provided in subsection (e) of this section and said 112
subsection shall not be construed to permit the transfer of or otherwise 113
reduce or eliminate any other population of juveniles in detention or 114
confinement within the Judicial Department. 115
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(g) Upon the motion of any party or upon the court's own motion, the 116
case of any youth age sixteen or seventeen, except a case that has been 117
transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court 118
pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, which is pending on the 119
youthful offender docket, regular criminal docket of the Superior Court 120
or any docket for the presentment of defendants in motor vehicle 121
matters, where the youth is charged with committing any offense or 122
violation for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed, other than 123
a violation of section 14 -227a, 14-227g or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or 124
(2) of subsection (a) of section 14 -227n, may, before trial or before the 125
entry of a guilty plea, be transferred to the docket for juvenile matters if 126
(1) the youth is alleged to have committed such offense or violation on 127
or after January 1, 2010, while sixteen years of age, or is alleged to have 128
committed such offense or violation on or after July 1, 2012, while 129
seventeen years of age, and (2) after a hearing considering the facts and 130
circumstances of the case and the prior history of the youth, the court 131
determines that the programs and services available pursuant to a 132
proceeding in the superior court for juvenile matters would more 133
appropriately address the needs of the youth and that the youth and the 134
community would be better served by treating the youth as a 135
delinquent. Upon ordering such transfer, the court shall vacate any 136
pleas entered in the matter and advise the youth of the youth's rights, 137
and the youth shall (A) enter pleas on the docket for juvenile matters in 138
the jurisdiction where the youth resides, and (B) be subject to 139
prosecution as a delinquent child. The decision of the court concerning 140
the transfer of a youth's case from the youthful offender docket, regular 141
criminal docket of the Superior Court or any docket for the presentment 142
of defendants in motor vehicle matters shall not be a final judgment for 143
purposes of appeal. 144
(h) Not later than January 15, 2027, and each January fifteenth 145
thereafter, the chief administrative judge for the Juvenile Division of the 146
Superior Court, or the chief administrative judge's designee, shall report 147
the number of motions by a prosecutor to transfer a case to the regular 148
criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this 149
section or subsection (b) of this section, the offenses charged in the cases 150
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for which the transfers were sought and the disposition of such motions 151
during the previous calendar year in accordance with the provisions of 152
section 11-4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 153
having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary. 154
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 46b-127

JUD Joint Favorable

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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill makes various changes to laws on the discretionary transfer
of certain cases from juvenile court to adult criminal court and requires
the Judicial Department to annually report on the number of motions
courts receive to transfer a juvenile case to the regular adult criminal
court, resulting in no fiscal impact because the Judicial Department has
the capacity and expertise to meet the bill's requirements.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

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OLR Bill Analysis
SB 502

AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM
JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.

SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes to laws on the discretionary transfer
of cases from juvenile court to adult criminal court for children aged 15
and over at the time of the alleged offense. It:
1. includes all serious firearm offenses , including misdemeanors
(see below), in the list of offenses that make a case eligible for
discretionary transfer, at a prosecutor’s request, from the juvenile
court to the adult court after a hearing (except for those offenses
that are already subject to automatic transfer);
2. requires the prosecutor’s motion and the transfer hearing on a
case involving serious firearm offenses that are not subject to
automatic transfer to be within 15 days of the child ’s
arraignment, rather than 30 days as is the case for other offenses
under current law; and
3. requires the juvenile court’s chief administrative judge , or her
designee, to annually report to the Judiciary Committee on the
number of transfer motions sought, the offenses charged in each
case, and the motions’ disposition for the previous year.
It also makes minor and technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER TO ADULT COURT
By law, the juvenile court must automatically transfer a delinquency
case to the adult criminal court docket if the child is at least age 15 at the
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time of the offense and charged with a class A felony, certain class B
felonies, or arson murder . Otherwise, transferring a case where a
juvenile (at least age 15) is charged with a felony is at the court’s
discretion and may occur only if the prosecutor makes a motion and the
court makes certain findings at the transfer hearing (discretionary
transfer).
The bill adds to the list of crimes that are subject to a discretionary
transfer upon the prosecutor’s request, any serious firearm offense (see
below) that is not subject to an automatic transfer . In doing so, it
includes certain misdemeanors that would not otherwise be subject to
discretionary transfer.
Serious Firearm Offense
Under the law, a “serious firearm offense” is a violation involving (1)
the alteration of a firearm identification mark , serial number, or name;
(2) the manufacture of a firearm or possession of one without a unique
serial number or other identification (including ghost guns) ; (3) the
prohibited sale, transfer, or possession of a large capacity magazine; (4)
the possession of a stolen firearm or a firearm that is altered in a way
that makes it unlawful; or (5) any crime of which an essential element is
that the person discharged, used , or was armed with , and threatened
the use of , a firearm (CGS § 53a -3(24)). A “firearm” is any sawed -off
shotgun, machine gun, rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, or other weapon,
whether loaded or unloaded , from which a shot may be discharged
(CGS § 53a-3(19)).
In most cases, these are felonies and are already subject to
discretionary transfer (or automatic transfer in certain cases). But some
serious firearm offenses are misdemeanors that are not subject to
transfer to adult court under current law. This includes the following, if
committed by someone who is not ineligible to possess a firearm under
state or federal law: (1) violation of the “ghost gun” law and related
provisions or (2) possession of a large capacity magazine.
Date of the Transfer Hearing
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Under existing law, the prosecutor’s motion to transfer the case must
be made, and the hearing held, within 30 days after the child ’s
arraignment in juvenile court. The bill makes an exception when a child
is arraigned for a serious firearm offense. In that case, the motion must
be made, and the hearing held within 15 days after the child is
arraigned.
Juvenile Court Report on Prosecutors’ Motions for Case Transfer
Starting by January 15, 2027, the bill requires the juvenile court’s chief
administrative judge or her designee, to annually report to the Judiciary
Committee on the number of motions the cour t received from
prosecutors to transfer a juvenile case to the regular adult criminal court.
This applies to the discretionary transfer of class C, D, E, or unclassified
felonies, certain class B felonies, and serious firearm offenses that are not
subject to automatic transfer.
The report must also include the offenses charged in these cases and
the disposition of the motions during the previous calendar year.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/24/2026)