GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1185

Short Title:  Orange Teen Court Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Insko; and Hackney.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 30, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A TEEN COURT PROGRAM IN ORANGE COUNTY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year to develop and implement a Teen Court program in Orange County.
(b)	The Teen Court program in Orange County shall be developed after consideration of, and shall be modeled after, the teen court programs established pursuant to Section 80 of Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws and Section 40 of Chapter 24 of the Session Laws of the 1994 Extra Session.  Specifically, the program shall:
(1)	Establish fair and equitable procedures for hearing cases of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court in the district pursuant to G.S. 7A-523 who are alleged to be (i) undisciplined or (ii) delinquent for an offense that would constitute an infraction or misdemeanor if committed by an adult.  The procedures shall provide for "trial" and "sentencing" of teens by a jury of the juveniles' peers. Courts, district attorneys, law enforcement, school personnel, and Juvenile Intake Services may refer cases to the teen court programs;
(2)	Provide community resources and dispositional alternatives for juveniles adjudicated undisciplined or delinquent, including counseling, substance abuse assessment and treatment, and community service, through collaboration among the courts, local law enforcement, the schools, and community agencies and programs;
(3)	Implement school-based mediation and conflict resolution programs for middle, junior, and high school students in coordination with the local school administrative units; and
(4)	Educate and provide guidance for juveniles by involving them in all aspects of the judicial system and by allowing them to take an active role in the administration of justice in the courts and the mediation of school disputes. 
(c)	The program established pursuant to this section shall report to the Administrative Office of the Courts on the expenditures and operations of the program by March 1, 1998, and thereafter on a quarterly basis.  The Administrative Office of the Courts shall evaluate the effectiveness of the program and report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and to the Chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Justice and Public Safety by April 15, 1998.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.