HF4868
juvenile proceedings fees and fines eliminated.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: SF4951
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to reform how fines, fees, and costs are handled in juvenile proceedings. It also makes related changes to seat belt enforcement, medical cost responsibilities, and certain court dispositions for youth offenders. The intent stated in the bill text is to eliminate fines and fees in juvenile cases, while the specific provisions modify who pays for various services and how penalties and obligations are enforced.
Main Provisions (What the bill would do)
Seat belt enforcement and penalties
- Requires seat belts for drivers and passengers in several vehicle types (including cars, certain buses, autocycles, and some all-terrain vehicles) and sets a $25 fine for violations by someone age 15 or older.
- The driver may also be fined for violations by a passenger under 15, but the driver’s record may not be affected by such violations. There are exceptions for certain buses; school buses and Head Start buses have different rules.
- The Department of Public Safety cannot record these violations on a person’s driving record.
Medical costs for detained or sentenced youth
- The youth’s county of residence pays medical costs while the youth is detained or in certain facilities, with the possibility of reimbursement from the youth or family if they can pay.
- If the youth has health insurance, the county can subrogate to the insurer for amounts the county paid, but not against Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare programs.
- Disagreements about ability to pay or necessity of services are resolved by the court.
Court orders and dispositions for delinquent youth
- The court can order a wide range of dispositions to support rehabilitation, such as counseling, home supervision with conditions, group foster care, or transfer of custody to approved providers.
- In some cases, the court can cancel or restrict the youth’s driver’s license (e.g., for serious offenses or substance-related violations) and may require the youth to stay in school until 18 or graduation.
- For certain offenses, the court must determine mental health or chemical dependency needs and, if appropriate, require treatment or assessments (including sex offender treatment where applicable).
- If a youth commits offenses that would be felonies as an adult, the court must document treatment needs and supporting facts.
Juvenile major highway or water traffic offenses
- If the youth is found to be a major traffic offender, the court can order driving-related penalties, including license suspension or cancellation until age 18, with possible restoration before then in certain circumstances.
- The court can place the youth under probation with vehicle-use conditions and can require attendance at a driver improvement school if available.
- The court can order restitution for damages and fines, up to specified amounts, and may require consequences related to driving behavior.
Petty offenses (minor juvenile offenses)
- Possible dispositions include fines up to $100, community service, drug awareness programs, chemical dependency evaluation, outpatient treatment if needed, and probation (potentially up to six months, or longer if chemically dependent).
- If the offense involves alcohol or tobacco and a youth’s license/ID, the court may forward findings to the Department of Public Safety for license or permit suspension (typically 90 days).
Care examination or treatment costs (county role and parental contributions)
- When custody is transferred to a local agency or supervision is by the agency, costs for care examinations or treatment are charged to the county’s welfare funds.
- Parents may be required to contribute from income or resources attributable to the child (excluding clothing/personal needs). This includes benefits like Social Security, SSI, veterans benefits, railroad retirement, and child support.
- If the child is over 18 and continues to receive care, the court may require reimbursement; agencies must consider the child’s best interests and the family’s ability to pay.
- The local agency must determine whether reimbursing costs from parents is in the child’s best interests and must consider factors like the family’s financial stability and impact on the child’s rehabilitation.
Health insurance and medical necessity
- Court-ordered examinations or treatment are treated as medically necessary services for purposes of health coverage, subject to policy terms and coverage rules (copays, deductibles, exclusions, and provider restrictions still apply).
Misdemeanor framework for younger offenders
- If a youth under 21 violates certain alcohol provisions, the offense is treated as a misdemeanor with a minimum $100 fine.
Repeal of attorney-fees provision
- The provision that would have required parents to reimburse the state for the child’s appointed counsel is repealed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shifts in who pays for youth medical care and related costs (county funds and potential parental contributions).
- Expanded set of court dispositions for delinquent youth, with emphasis on rehabilitation, supervision, school participation, and possible license actions.
- Introduction of or emphasis on driving-related consequences for youth offenders (license suspensions/cancellations, driver-improvement requirements) in certain cases.
- Requirements for independent assessments in cases involving potential sex offender treatment.
- Repeal of the attorney-fee reimbursement provision, reducing one potential parental cost obligation.
- Data sharing and confidentiality adjustments related to assessments and treatment planning (access to medical, corrections, and health records for court-ordered assessments).
Notable Provisions and Practical Impacts
- The bill creates financial consequences that are intended to be limited or offset by county funding and potential parental contributions, with careful consideration of a family’s ability to pay.
- The bill emphasizes rehabilitation and treatment needs, including mental health, chemical dependency, and sex offender treatment when applicable.
- The bill strengthens driving-related penalties for youth in certain traffic-offense situations, including potential license cancellations and restorable licenses at a later date.
- The bill clarifies that health coverage policies still govern medical necessity and related benefits, even for court-ordered care.
Potential Impacts
- Youth and families: Possible changes in how costs are assigned (county vs. family) and in the use of fines and penalties, with a focus on treatment and rehabilitation.
- Counties and local agencies: Increased role in funding and recovering costs for care and treatment.
- Public safety and schools: Greater integration of driving-related penalties with juvenile dispositions and school attendance requirements.
- Health coverage and providers: Medical necessity rules apply to court-ordered services, with insurers involved in subrogation where applicable.
Implementation Considerations
- How cost shifting to counties and parents will be managed in practice, including determining ability to pay and ensuring services are not interrupted for rehabilitation.
- How the assessments (including sex offender treatment assessments) will be conducted and who will have access to necessary data.
- How license actions (suspension/cancellation) will be implemented for youth offenders and how and when restoration may occur.
Summary of Focus Areas
- Reforms to fines/fees and cost structures in juvenile cases.
- Medical cost responsibilities and subrogation rights.
- Broad range of court dispositions emphasizing rehabilitation and supervision.
- Driving-related consequences for juvenile offenders in specific cases.
- Support for care examinations and treatment costs, with parental and county involvement.
- Data access for assessments and treatment planning; alignment with health coverage rules.
- Repeal of attorney-fee reimbursement provisions.
Relevant Terms
- juvenile court, local social services agency, county welfare funds, care examination, care treatment, medical costs, subrogation, health insurance, MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance (MA), execution of dispositions, probation, driver’s license cancellation, license suspension, driver improvement school, sex offender treatment, independent assessment, mental health, chemical dependency, restitution, fines, fees, parental contribution, ability to pay, undue hardship, cost-shifting, data access, confidentiality, school attendance, Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, 260B, 340A, DPS (Department of Public Safety).
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 09, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Judiciary Finance and Civil Law |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends medical assistance provisions relating to costs for detained or sentenced juveniles, outlining county responsibility for medical costs and procedures for reimbursement and subrogation.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.188",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Modifies court-ordered dispositions and remedies in delinquency cases, including guidance for treatment, supervision, and custody arrangements.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.198",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Provides dispositions for juvenile major highway or water traffic offenders, including driver education and potential license actions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.225",
"subdivision": "subdivision 9"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Sets dispositional options for petty offenders, including fines, restitution, and outpatient treatment requirements.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.235",
"subdivision": "subdivision 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Care examination or treatment costs charged to county welfare funds; reimbursement mechanisms from parents or child; data handling and cost recovery.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.331",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines misdemeanors and establishes a minimum fine for violations involving alcohol-related offenses, establishing penalties for under-21 violators.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "340A.703",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Seat belt requirement for drivers and passengers of various vehicle types; imposes a fine for violations; sets enforcement and record-keeping parameters.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "169.686",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repealer related to costs of care; removes Subd. 5 provisions from 260B.331.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.331",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Allows access to private or confidential data for juvenile assessments, including medical, corrections, health, and welfare records, with restrictions on disclosure.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "241.021",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1i"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to surcharge limits in relation to court-ordered penalties; the bill limits surcharges under this section.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "357.021",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References custody and detention provisions for juveniles; framework for local facilities.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.175",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Care examination or treatment costs and reimbursements provisions governing counties and families.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.171",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to local welfare agency records and the administration of care and treatment under chapter 260E.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260E",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Data access provisions for assessments, including health and corrections data.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "13.384",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Data access provisions related to corrections and detention records for juvenile assessments.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "13.85",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Data access for health records pertinent to juvenile assessments and care.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "144.291 to 144.298",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Level of care determinations for placement and treatment decisions in juvenile matters; related rules apply.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "254A.03",
"subdivision": "subdivision 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Chemical dependency assessment processes and related court-ordered care requirements.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "169A.70",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "State reimburse counties for chemical dependency assessment costs as provided by statute.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "169A.284",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Reinforces offense structure under 340A.503; aligns with minimum penalties in related sections.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "340A.503",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related offenses; outlines court procedures and related treatment orders for sex offenses.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.342",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related offenses; outlines court procedures and related treatment orders for sex offenses.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.343",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related offenses; outlines court procedures and related treatment orders for sex offenses.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.344",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related offenses; outlines court procedures and related treatment orders for sex offenses.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.345",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related offenses; outlines court procedures and related treatment orders for sex offenses.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.3451",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Requires independent professional assessments for sex offender treatment when relevant to juvenile delinquency cases.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.746",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related penalties; related provisions for sentencing and treatment.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.79",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Delinquency-related offenses; related treatment and assessment provisions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "617.23",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Controlled substance offenses; court to determine possession or sale status and related license actions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "152.021 to 152.027",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "License revocation consequences related to controlled substances offenses.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "152.0271",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Clothing and personal needs allowances referenced in cost-recovery provisions for care examinations or treatments.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "256B.35",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Pupil Fair Dismissal Act referenced in context of juvenile school enrollment requirements.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "127",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "ATV and related vehicle seat belt requirements tied to the Head Start and other vehicle classifications.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.92",
"subdivision": "subdivision 10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Seat belt-related provisions referenced within the bill; alignment with belt-wearing requirements.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "169.685",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee