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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0409*
HOUSE BILL 409
E3 6lr2422
SB 422/25 – JPR CF SB 323
By: Delegates Bartlett, Toles, and Lehman
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Juvenile Court – Jurisdiction 2
(Youth Charging Reform Act) 3
FOR the purpose of altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions 4
specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to 5
have committed certain acts; and generally relating to the jurisdiction of the juvenile 6
court. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 9
Section 3–8A–03 and 3–8A–27(a)(2)(iii) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Criminal Procedure 14
Section 4–202(b), (c), and (i), 4–202.2(a), 10–215(a)(20), and 10–216(d) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2025 Replacement Volume) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Education 19
Section 7–303(a)(6) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 23
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 24
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 25
2 HOUSE BILL 409
3–8A–03. 1
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction specified in Subtitle 8 of this title, the court has 2
exclusive original jurisdiction over: 3
(1) A child: 4
(i) Who is at least 13 years old alleged to be delinquent; or 5
(ii) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, who is at least 6
10 years old alleged to have committed an act: 7
1. That, if committed by an adult, would constitute: 8
A. A crime of violence, as defined in § 14–101 of the Criminal 9
Law Article; 10
B. A crime involving handguns under § 4 –203 or § 4 –204 of 11
the Criminal Law Article; 12
C. A crime involving firearms under § 5 –133, § 5 –134, § 13
5–138, § 5–142, § 5–203, or § 5–703 of the Public Safety Article; 14
D. Aggravated cruelty to animals under § 10 –606 of the 15
Criminal Law Article; or 16
E. Sexual offense in the third degree under § 3 –307 of the 17
Criminal Law Article; or 18
2. Arising out of the same incident as an act listed in item 1 19
of this item; 20
(2) A child who is in need of supervision; 21
(3) A child who has received a citation for a violation; 22
(4) Except as provided in subsection [(d)(6)] (D)(5) of this section, a peace 23
order proceeding in which the respondent is a child; and 24
(5) Proceedings arising under the Interstate Compact on Juveniles. 25
(b) The court has concurrent jurisdiction over proceedings against an adult for 26
the violation of § 3 –8A–30 of this subtitle. However, the court may waive its jurisdiction 27
under this subsection upon its own motion or upon the motion of any party to the 28
proceeding, if charges against the adult arising from the same incident are pending in the 29
criminal court. Upon motion by either the State’s Attorney or the adult charged under § 30
HOUSE BILL 409 3
3–8A–30 of this subtitle, the court shall waive its jurisdiction, and the adult shal l be tried 1
in the criminal court according to the usual criminal procedure. 2
(c) (1) The jurisdiction of the court is concurrent with that of the District Court 3
in any criminal case arising under the compulsory public school attendance laws of this 4
State. 5
(2) The jurisdiction of the court is concurrent with that of a federal court 6
sitting in the State over proceedings involving a violation of federal law committed by a 7
child on a military installation of the U.S. Department of Defense if: 8
(i) The federal court waives exclusive jurisdiction; and 9
(ii) The violation of federal law is also a crime under State law. 10
(d) The court does not have jurisdiction over: 11
(1) [A child at least 14 years old alleged to have done an act that, if 12
committed by a n adult, would be a crime punishable by life imprisonment, as well as all 13
other charges against the child arising out of the same incident, unless an order removing 14
the proceeding to the court has been filed under § 4–202 of the Criminal Procedure Article; 15
(2)] A child at least 16 years old alleged to have done an act in violation of 16
any provision of the Transportation Article or other traffic law or ordinance, except an act 17
that prescribes a penalty of incarceration; 18
[(3)] (2) A child at least 16 yea rs old alleged to have done an act in 19
violation of any provision of law, rule, or regulation governing the use or operation of a boat, 20
except an act that prescribes a penalty of incarceration; 21
[(4)] (3) A child at least 16 years old alleged to have committed any of the 22
following crimes, as well as all other charges against the child arising out of the same 23
incident, unless an order removing the proceeding to the court has been filed under § 24
4–202 of the Criminal Procedure Article: 25
[(i) Abduction; 26
(ii) Kidnapping;] 27
(I) ANY CRIME PUNISHABLE BY LIFE IMPRISONMENT; 28
[(iii)] (II) Second degree murder; 29
[(iv)] (III) Manslaughter, except involuntary manslaughter; 30
[(v)] (IV) Second degree rape; 31
4 HOUSE BILL 409
[(vi) Robbery under § 3–403 of the Criminal Law Article; 1
(vii) Third degree sexual offense under § 3 –307(a)(1) of the Criminal 2
Law Article; 3
(viii) A crime in violation of § 5 –133, § 5–134, § 5–138, or § 5 –203 of 4
the Public Safety Article; 5
(ix) Using, wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm during and 6
in relation to a drug trafficking crime under § 5–621 of the Criminal Law Article; 7
(x) Use of a firearm under § 5–622 of the Criminal Law Article; 8
(xi)] (V) Carjacking or armed carjacking under § 3 –405 of the 9
Criminal Law Article; 10
[(xii) Assault in the first degree under § 3 –202 of the Criminal Law 11
Article; 12
(xiii)] (VI) Attempted murder in the second degree under § 2 –206 of 13
the Criminal Law Article; 14
[(xiv)] (VII) Attempted rape in the second degree under § 3–310 of the 15
Criminal Law Article; 16
[(xv) Attempted robbery under § 3 –403 of the Criminal Law Article; ] 17
or 18
[(xvi)] (VIII) A violation of [§ 4–203,] § 4–204[, § 4–404, or § 4–405] of 19
the Criminal Law Article; 20
[(5)] (4) A child who previously has been convicted as an adult of a felony 21
and is subsequently alleged to have committed an act that would be a felony if committed 22
by an adult, unless an order removing the proceeding to the court has been filed under § 23
4–202 of the Criminal Procedure Article; 24
[(6)] (5) A peace order proceeding in which the victim, as defined in § 25
3–8A–01(cc)(1)(ii) of this subtitle, is a person eligible for relief, as defined in § 4–501 of the 26
Family Law Article; or 27
[(7)] (6) Except as provi ded in subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section, a 28
delinquency proceeding against a child who is under the age of 13 years. 29
(e) If the child is charged with two or more violations of the Maryland Vehicle 30
Law, another traffic law or ordinance, or the State B oat Act, allegedly arising out of the 31
HOUSE BILL 409 5
same incident and which would result in the child being brought before both the court and 1
a court exercising criminal jurisdiction, the court has exclusive jurisdiction over all of the 2
charges. 3
(f) A child under the age of 13 years may not be charged with a crime. 4
3–8A–27. 5
(a) (2) This subsection does not prohibit: 6
(iii) A law enforcement agency of the State or of a political subdivision 7
of the State, when necessary and for the sole purposes of facilitating apprehension of a child 8
and ensuring public safety, from releasing to the public photographs and identifying 9
information of a child who: 10
1. Has escaped from: 11
A. A detention center for juveniles; 12
B. A secure residential facility for juveniles; or 13
C. A correctional unit as defined in § 2 –401 of the 14
Correctional Services Article; 15
2. Is a missing child as defined in § 9–401 of the Family Law 16
Article; or 17
3. The court does not have jurisdiction over pursuant to [§ 18
3–8A–03(d)(1), (4), or (5)] § 3–8A–03(D)(3) of this subtitle and who is subject to: 19
A. Arrest; or 20
B. An arrest warrant issued by a criminal court. 21
Article – Criminal Procedure 22
4–202. 23
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a court exercising criminal 24
jurisdiction in a case involving a child may transfer the case to the juvenile court before 25
trial or before a plea is entered under Maryland Rule 4–242 if: 26
(1) the accused child was at least 14 but not 18 years of age when the 27
alleged crime was committed; 28
(2) the alleged crime is excluded from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court 29
under [§ 3–8A–03(d)(1), (4), or (5)] § 3–8A–03(D)(3) OR (4) of the Courts Article; and 30
6 HOUSE BILL 409
(3) the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that a transfer 1
of its jurisdiction is in the interest of the child or society. 2
(c) The court may not transfer a case to the juvenile court under subsection (b) of 3
this section if: 4
(1) the child was convicted in an unrelated case excluded from the 5
jurisdiction of th e juvenile court under [§ 3–8A–03(d)(1) or (4) ] § 3–8A–03(D)(3) of the 6
Courts Article; or 7
(2) the alleged crime is murder in the first degree and the accused child 8
was 16 or 17 years of age when the alleged crime was committed. 9
(i) (1) The provisions of § 3 –8A–27 of the Courts Article relating to 10
confidentiality of records apply to all police records and court records concerning the child 11
excluded from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under [§ 3 –8A–03(d)(1), (4), or (5) ] 12
§ 3–8A–03(D)(3) OR (4) of the Courts Article from the time of the child’s arrest until: 13
(i) the time for filing of a motion to transfer to juvenile court under 14
the Maryland Rules has expired and no such motion has been filed; or 15
(ii) a motion to transfer to juvenile court has been denied. 16
(2) If a case is transferred to the juvenile court under this section: 17
(i) the provisions of § 3 –8A–27 of the Courts Article relating to 18
confidentiality of records continue to apply to all police and court records co ncerning the 19
child; and 20
(ii) the criminal charge is subject to expungement under § 10–106 of 21
this article. 22
4–202.2. 23
(a) At sentencing, a court exercising criminal jurisdiction in a case involving a 24
child shall determine whether to transfer jurisdiction to the juvenile court if: 25
(1) as a result of trial or a plea entered under Maryland Rule 4 –242, all 26
charges that excluded jurisdiction from the juvenile court under [§ 3–8A–03(d)(1) or (4) ] 27
§ 3–8A–03(D)(3) of the Courts Article do not result in a finding of guilty; and 28
(2) (i) pretrial transfer was prohibited under § 4 –202(c)(2) of this 29
subtitle; or 30
(ii) the court did not transfer jurisdiction after a hearing under § 31
4–202(b) of this subtitle. 32
HOUSE BILL 409 7
10–215. 1
(a) The following events are reportab le events under this subtitle that must be 2
reported to the Central Repository in accordance with § 10–214 of this subtitle: 3
(20) an adjudication of a child as delinquent[: 4
(i) if the child is at least 14 years old, for an act described in § 5
3–8A–03(d)(1) of the Courts Article; or 6
(ii)] if the child is at least 16 years old, for an act described in [§ 7
3–8A–03(d)(4) or (5)] § 3–8A–03(D)(3) OR (4) of the Courts Article; 8
10–216. 9
(d) (1) This subsection only applies to an adjudication of delinquency of a 10
child[: 11
(i) for an act described in § 3–8A–03(d)(1) of the Courts Article if the 12
child is at least 14 years old; or 13
(ii)] for an act described in [§ 3–8A–03(d)(4) or (5)] § 3–8A–03(D)(3) 14
OR (4) of the Courts Article if the child is at least 16 years old. 15
(2) If a child has not been previously fingerprinted as a result of arrest for 16
the delinquent act, the court that held the disposition hearing of the child adjudicated 17
delinquent shall order the child to be fingerprinted by the a ppropriate and available law 18
enforcement unit. 19
(3) If the child cannot be fingerprinted at the time of the disposition 20
hearing held under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the court shall order the child to report 21
to a designated law enforcement unit to be fingerprinted within 3 days after making a 22
disposition on an adjudication of delinquency. 23
Article – Education 24
7–303. 25
(a) (6) “Reportable offense” means an offense that: 26
(i) Occurred off school premises; 27
(ii) Did not occur at an event sponsored by the school; and 28
(iii) Involved any of the following: 29
8 HOUSE BILL 409
1. A crime of violence, as defined in § 14–101 of the Criminal 1
Law Article; 2
2. Any of the offenses enumerated in [§ 3 –8A–03(d)(4)] 3
§ 3–8A–03(D)(3) of the Courts Article; 4
3. A violation of § 4–101, § 4–102, § 4–203, or § 4–204 of the 5
Criminal Law Article; 6
4. A violation of § 5–602, § 5–603, § 5–604, § 5–605, § 5–606, 7
§ 5–607, § 5–608, § 5–608.1, § 5–609, § 5–612, § 5–613, § 5–614, § 5–617, § 5–618, § 5–627, 8
or § 5–628 of the Criminal Law Article; 9
5. A violation of § 4–503, § 9–504, or § 9–505 of the Criminal 10
Law Article; 11
6. A violation of § 6–102, § 6–103, § 6–104, or § 6–105 of the 12
Criminal Law Article; 13
7. A violation of § 9 –802 or § 9 –803 of the Criminal Law 14
Article; 15
8. A violation of § 3–203 of the Criminal Law Article; 16
9. A violation of § 6–301 of the Criminal Law Article; 17
10. A violation of § 9–302, § 9–303, or § 9–305 of the Criminal 18
Law Article; 19
11. A violation of § 7–105 of the Criminal Law Article; 20
12. A violation of § 6–202 of the Criminal Law Article; or 21
13. A violation of § 10–606 of the Criminal Law Article. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 23
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 24
application to any criminal prosecution or delinquency proceeding for any act committed 25
before the effective date of this Act. 26
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2026. 28