Arizona HB 2671: chronic felony offenders; juveniles

Bill Text

Amendment explanation prepared by Israel Kiyogera
Phone Number 6-5846
ik
3/6/2026
HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION
Bill Number: HB2671
Hernandez C
The C. Hernandez floor amendment dated 03/06/2026 at 4:37 PM, does the
following:
1. Removes language allowing prosecutors to charge juveniles 14 or older directly
as adults based on certain felony offenses.
2. Requires a juvenile court hearing before a juvenile can be prosecuted as an
adult, where the court must find probable cause and determine that adult
prosecution is necessary for public safety and the interests of justice.
3. Requires the state to prove by clear and convincing evidence that adult
prosecution is necessary.
4. Replaces the list of qualifying felony offenses with a set of factors the court
must consider, including use of a deadly weapon, the juvenile’s prior
delinquency history, age and mental condition, rehabilitation history, prior
commitment to juvenile corrections, victim views, gang involvement, level of
participation, and likelihood of rehabilitation.
5. Specifies that a juvenile committed to the Department of Juvenile Corrections
who has two prior separate felony adjudications for conduct that would qualify
as historical prior felony convictions if tried as an adult is considered a chronic
felony offender.
Floor Amendment

Fifty-seventh Legislature Hernandez C
Second Regular Session H.B. 2671

HERNANDEZ C SUBSTITUTE FLOOR AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B. 2671

I move the following SUBSTITUTE amendment to the GOVERNMENT Committee Amendment to
HOUSE BILL 2671 (Reference to printed bill)

The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1
<<Section 1. Section 8-201, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to 2
read: 3
8-201. Definitions 4
In this title, unless the context otherwise requires: 5
1. "Abandoned" means the failure of the parent to provide 6
reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, 7
including providing normal supervision. Abandoned includes a judicial 8
finding that a parent has made only minimal efforts to support and 9
communicate with the child. Failure to maintain a normal parental 10
relationship with the child without just cause for a period of six months 11
constitutes prima facie evidence of abandonment. 12
2. "Abuse": 13
(a) Means the infliction or allowing of physical injury, impairment 14
of bodily function or disfigurement or the infliction of or allowing 15
another person to cause serious emotional damage as evidenced by severe 16
anxiety, depression, withdrawal or untoward aggressive behavior and which 17
emotional damage is diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist and is 18
caused by the acts or omissions of an individual who has the care, custody 19
and control of a child, including an employee of a child welfare agency 20
where a child is placed that is licensed by and contracted with the 21
department. 22
(b) Includes: 23
(i) Inflicting or allowing sexual abuse pursuant to section 24
13-1404, sexual conduct with a minor pursuant to section 13-1405, sexual 25
assault pursuant to section 13-1406, molestation of a child pursuant to 26
section 13-1410, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor pursuant to 27
Amendment instruction key:
[GREEN UNDERLINING IN BRACKETS] indicates text added to statute or
previously enacted session law.
[Green underlining in brackets] indicates text added to new session law
or text restoring existing law.
[GREEN STRIKEOUT IN BRACKETS] indicates new text removed from statute
or previously enacted session law.
[Green strikeout in brackets] indicates text removed from existing statute,
previously enacted session law or new session law.
<<Green carets>> indicate a section added to the bill.
<<Green strikeout in carets>> indicates a section removed from the bill.

House Amendments to H.B. 2671

-2-
section 13-3552, sexual exploitation of a minor pursuant to section 1
13-3553, incest pursuant to section 13-3608 or child sex trafficking 2
pursuant to section 13-3212. 3
(ii) Physical injury that results from allowing a child to enter or 4
remain in any structure or vehicle in which volatile, toxic or flammable 5
chemicals are found or equipment is possessed by any person for the 6
purpose of manufacturing a dangerous drug as defined in section 13-3401. 7
(iii) Unreasonable confinement of a child. 8
3. "Adult" means a person who is eighteen years of age or older. 9
4. "Adult court" means the appropriate justice court, municipal 10
court or criminal division of the superior court that has jurisdiction to 11
hear proceedings concerning offenses committed by juveniles as provided in 12
[sections 8-327 and] [SECTION] 13-501. 13
5. "Award" or "commit" means to assign legal custody. 14
6. "Child", "youth" or "juvenile" means an individual who is under 15
eighteen years of age. 16
7. "Complaint" means a written statement of the essential facts 17
constituting a public offense that is any of the following: 18
(a) Made on an oath before a judg