SB 18 VA
Children; adjudication of delinquency, orders of disposition.
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Summary
Children; adjudication of delinquency. Specifies that "delinquent child" means a child 11 years of age or older who has committed a delinquent act. Currently, there is no minimum age for a child to be adjudicated delinquent. The bill provides that if a child younger than 11 years of age is found to have committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older, the child shall not be proceeded upon as delinquent and the court shall (i) dismiss any petition alleging such child has committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older and (ii) order that the court records pertaining to such petition be expunged pursuant to relevant law. The bill allows the attorney for the Commonwealth to file a petition alleging that such child is in need of services and if such child is found to be in need of services, the court may make any orders of disposition authorized under relevant law. The bill also provides that any funding that is available to provide services to a child 11 years of age or older who is proceeded upon as delinquent shall also be made available to a child younger than 11 years of age who is found to have committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older in order to provide such child with the same services. The bill includes in the definition of "child in need of services" a child younger than 11 years of age who has committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older.The bill adds that a child may be taken into immediate custody when such child is alleged to be in need of services or supervision and there is a clear and substantial danger to the safety of the child's family or the safety of the public. Currently, a child may be taken into immediate custody when such child is alleged to be in need of services or supervision and there is a clear and substantial danger to the child's life or health. Finally, the bill includes in the offense of causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc., any person 18 years of age or older, including the parent of any child, who willfully contributes to, encourages, or causes any act, omission, or condition that (a) causes a child younger than 11 years of age to commit an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older or (b) causes any child to participate in or become a member of a criminal street gang in violation of existing law. Under the bill, any person who commits such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Sponsor (1)
- Mamie E. Locke Democratic · primary
1 coauthor / cosponsor
- Patrick A. Hope Democratic · cosponsor
Action history (32)
- Nov 17, 2025 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100547D · upper
- Nov 17, 2025 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · upper
- Jan 8, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB18) · upper
- Jan 19, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (14-Y 1-N) · upper
- Jan 20, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
- Jan 20, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
- Jan 20, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
- Jan 21, 2026 Read second time · upper
- Jan 21, 2026 Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to · upper
- Jan 21, 2026 Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) · upper
- Jan 22, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (29-Y 11-N 0-A) · upper
- Jan 23, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB18) · upper
- Feb 3, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
- Feb 3, 2026 Read first time · lower
- Feb 3, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · lower
- Feb 17, 2026 Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal · lower
- Feb 18, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 2-N) · lower
- Mar 2, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N) · lower
- Mar 3, 2026 Read second time · lower
- Mar 4, 2026 Read third time · lower
- Mar 4, 2026 committee amendments agreed to · lower
- Mar 4, 2026 Engrossed by House as amended · lower
- Mar 4, 2026 Passed House with amendments (65-Y 34-N 0-A) · lower
- Mar 6, 2026 House Amendments agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A) · upper
- Mar 12, 2026 Enrolled · upper
- Mar 12, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB18ER) · upper
- Mar 12, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
- Mar 12, 2026 Signed by President · upper
- Mar 13, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB18) · upper
- Mar 14, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 · upper
- Mar 14, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
- Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 873 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
Text versions (10)
The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.
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