S.B. 227

1

YOUTH COURT AMENDMENTS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson
5 House Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions relating to Utah Youth Courts.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . requires a Youth Court that accepts referrals to be certified;
13 . allows the proceedings of Youth Courts to be shared with the referring agency,
14 victim, and juvenile court under certain circumstances;
15 . expands the membership of the Youth Court Board to include the president of the
16 Utah Youth Court Association and the executive director of the Commission on
17 Criminal and Juvenile Justice;
18 . amends provisions regarding the appointing authority of some Board members;
19 . extends terms of office of Board members to four-year, rather than two-year terms;
20 and
21 . makes technical corrections.
22 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23 None
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 None
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 AMENDS:

28 78A-6-1203, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
29 78A-6-1207, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
30 78A-6-1208, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 286
31
32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 78A-6-1203 is amended to read:
34 78A-6-1203. Youth Court -- Authorization -- Referral.
35 (1) Youth Court is a diversion program which provides an alternative disposition for
36 cases involving juvenile offenders in which youth participants, under the supervision of an
37 adult coordinator, may serve in various capacities within the courtroom, acting in the role of
38 jurors, lawyers, bailiffs, clerks, and judges.
39 (a) Youth who appear before Youth Courts have been identified by law enforcement
40 personnel, school officials, a prosecuting attorney, or the juvenile court as having committed
41 acts which indicate a need for intervention to prevent further development toward juvenile
42 delinquency, but which appear to be acts that can be appropriately addressed outside the
43 juvenile court process.
44 (b) Youth Courts may only hear cases as provided for in this part.
45 (c) Youth Court is a diversion program and not a court established under the Utah
46 Constitution, Article VIII.
47 (2) A Youth Court may not accept referrals from law enforcement, schools,
48 prosecuting attorneys, or a juvenile court unless the Youth Court is certified by the Utah Youth
49 Court Board.
50 [(2)] (3) Any person may refer youth to a Youth Court for minor offenses. Once a
51 referral is made, the case shall be screened by an adult coordinator to determine whether it
52 qualifies as a Youth Court case.
53 [(3)] (4) Youth Courts have authority over youth:
54 (a) referred for a minor offense or offenses, or who are granted permission for referral
55 under this part;
56 (b) who, along with a parent, guardian, or legal custodian, voluntarily and in writing,
57 request Youth Court involvement;
58 (c) who admit having committed the referred offense;

59 (d) who, along with a parent, guardian, or legal custodian, waive any privilege against
60 self-incrimination and right to a speedy trial; and
61 (e) who, along with their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, agree to follow the Youth
62 Court disposition of the case.
63 [(4)] (5) Except with permission granted under Subsection [(5)] (6), Youth Courts may
64 not exercise authority over youth who are under the continuing jurisdiction of the juvenile court
65 for law violations, including any youth who may have a matter pending which has not yet been
66 adjudicated. Youth Courts may, however, exercise authority over youth who are under the
67 continuing jurisdiction of the juvenile court as set forth in this Subsection [(4)] (5) if the
68 offense before the Youth Court is not a law violation, and the referring agency has notified the
69 juvenile court of the referral.
70 [(5)] (6) Youth Courts may exercise authority over youth described in Subsection [(4)]
71 (5), and over any other offense with the permission of the juvenile court and the prosecuting
72 attorney in the county or district that would have jurisdiction if the matter were referred to
73 juvenile court.
74 [(6)] (7) Permission of the juvenile court may be granted by a probation officer of the
75 court in the district that would have jurisdiction over the offense being referred to Youth Court.
76 [(7)] (8) Youth Courts may decline to accept a youth for Youth Court disposition for
77 any reason and may terminate a youth from Youth Court participation at any time.
78 [(8)] (9) A youth or the youth's parent, guardian, or legal custodian may withdraw from
79 the Youth Court process at any time. The Youth Court shall immediately notify the referring
80 source of the withdrawal.
81 [(9)] (10) The Youth Court may transfer a case back to the referring source for
82 alternative handling at any time.
83 [(10) Referral of a case of Youth Court may not prohibit the subsequent referral of the
84 case to any court.]
85 (11) Proceedings and dispositions of a Youth Court may only be shared with the
86 referring agency and victim.
87 (12) When a person does not complete the terms ordered by a Youth Court, and the
88 case is referred to a juvenile court, the Youth Court shall provide the case file to the juvenile
89 court.

90 Section 2. Section 78A-6-1207 is amended to read:
91 78A-6-1207. Fees.
92 (1) Youth Courts may require that the youth pay a reasonable fee, not to exceed [$30]
93 $50, to participate in Youth Court. This fee may be reduced or waived by the Youth Court in
94 exigent circumstances. This fee shall be paid to and accounted for by the sponsoring entity.
95 The fees collected shall be used for supplies and any training requirements.
96 (2) [Fees for] Youth Court participants are responsible for the all expenses of any
97 classes, counseling, treatment, or other educational programs that are the disposition of the
98 Youth Court [are the responsibility of the participant].
99 Section 3. Section 78A-6-1208 is amended to read:
100 78A-6-1208. Youth Court Board -- Membership -- Responsibilities.
101 (1) The Utah attorney general's office shall provide staff support and assistance to a
102 Youth Court Board comprised of the following:
103 (a) the Utah attorney general or [his] the attorney general's designee;
104 (b) one [member of] prosecuting attorney appointed by the Utah Prosecution Council;
105 (c) one [member from] juvenile court judge appointed by the Board of Juvenile Court
106 Judges;
107 (d) the juvenile court administrator or [his] the administrator's designee;
108 [(e) one person from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention;]
109 (e) the Executive Director of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice or
110 the director's designee;
111 (f) the state superintendent of education or [his] the state superintendent's designee;
112 (g) two representatives, appointed by the Youth Court Association, from Youth Courts
113 based primarily in schools;
114 (h) two representatives, appointed by the Youth Court Association, from Youth Courts
115 based primarily in communities;
116 (i) one member from the law enforcement community appointed by the Youth Court
117 Board; [and]
118 (j) one member from the community at large[.] appointed by the Youth Court Board;
119 and
120 (k) the president of the Utah Youth Court Association.

121 (2) The members selected to fill the positions in Subsections (1)(a) through (f) shall
122 jointly select the members to fill the positions in Subsections (1)(g) through (j).
123 (3) Members shall serve two-year staggered terms beginning July 1, [1999] 2012,
124 except the initial terms of the members designated by Subsections (1)[(a)](b), (c), [(e), and] (i),
125 and (j) and one of the members from Subsections (1)(g) and (h) shall serve [one-year] two-year
126 terms, but may be reappointed for a full [two-year] four-year term upon the expiration of their
127 initial term.
128 (4) The Youth Court Board shall meet at least quarterly to:
129 (a) set minimum standards for the establishment of Youth Courts, including an
130 application process, membership and training requirements, and the qualifications for the adult
131 coordinator;
132 (b) review certification applications; and
133 (c) provide for a process to recertify each Youth Court every three years.
134 (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
135 Youth Court Board shall make rules to accomplish the requirements of Subsection (3).
136 (6) The Youth Court Board may deny certification [or], recertification, or withdraw the
137 certification of any Youth Court for failure to comply with program requirements.
138 (7) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
139 may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
140 (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
141 (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
142 (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
143 63A-3-107 .
144 (8) The Youth Court Board shall provide a list of certified Youth Courts to the Board
145 of Juvenile Court Judges, all law enforcement agencies in the state, all school districts, and the
146 Utah Prosecution Council by [December 31] October 1 of each year.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-10-12 12:10 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel