HB 438

Juvenile intake and petition; informal proceedings. Permits a court, sua sponte, or upon motion of an attorney for the Commonwealth or counsel for the juvenile, to continue proceedings on a petition alleging that a juvenile (i) committed a violent juvenile felony or (ii) is delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult and direct that the court service unit conduct informal proceedings even if such juvenile had previously been (a) proceeded against informally by intake or (b) adjudicated delinquent for a prior offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult. Current law does not permit proceeding informally when a juvenile (1) commits a violent juvenile felony or (2) is alleged delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult if such juvenile had previously been (A) proceeded against informally by intake or (B) adjudicated delinquent for a prior offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult.