H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 901.5, subsection 14, Code 2014, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 14. Notwithstanding any provision in section 907.3 or 3 any other provision of law prescribing a mandatory minimum 4 sentence for the offense, if the defendant, other than a child 5 being prosecuted as a youthful offender, is guilty of a public 6 offense other than a class “A” felony, and was under the age of 7 eighteen at the time the offense was committed, the court may 8 suspend the sentence , suspend any mandatory minimum sentence in 9 whole or in part, including any mandatory minimum sentence, or 10 with the consent of the defendant, defer judgment or sentence, 11 and place the defendant on probation upon such conditions as 12 the court may require. 13 EXPLANATION 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 16 This bill relates to the criminal sentencing of juveniles. 17 The bill specifies that the court may suspend the sentence of 18 a juvenile in district court, and suspend any mandatory minimum 19 sentence in whole or in part, if the juvenile did not commit 20 a class “A” felony and is not being prosecuted as a youthful 21 offender. 22 Current law specifies that the court may suspend the 23 sentence of a juvenile in whole or in part, including any 24 mandatory minimum sentence, if the juvenile did not commit a 25 class “A” felony and is not being prosecuted as a youthful 26 offender. 27 The bill amends newly codified language enacted in SF 288 28 during the 2013 legislative session. 29 -1- LSB 5085HC (4) 85 jm/rj 1/ 1