| Chapter 198 |
| 2025 -- H 5222 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/26/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT |
Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Caldwell, Dawson, Azzinaro, Casey, and Casimiro |
| Date Introduced: January 29, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 14-1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1 entitled "Proceedings in |
| Family Court" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 14-1-5. Exclusive jurisdiction. |
| (a) The court shall, as set forth in this chapter, have exclusive original jurisdiction in |
| proceedings: |
| (1) Concerning any child residing or being within the state who is: (i) Delinquent; (ii) |
| Wayward; (iii) Dependent; (iv) Neglected; or (v) Mentally disabled; |
| (2) Concerning adoption of children; |
| (3) To determine the paternity of any child alleged to have been born out of wedlock and |
| to provide for the support and disposition of that child in case that child or the child’s mother has |
| residence within the state; and |
| (4) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 39, § 3 and P.L. 2021, ch. 40, § 3.] |
| (5) Referred to the court in accordance with the provisions of § 14-1-28. |
| (b) The jurisdiction of the court is concurrent with that of a federal court sitting in the state |
| over proceedings involving a violation of federal law committed by a child on a military installation |
| of the United States Department of Defense if: |
| (1) The United States Attorney,or the federal court waives exclusive jurisdiction; and |
| (2) The violation of federal law is also a crime under state law. |
| (c) When concurrent jurisdiction has been established pursuant to this section, the court |
| has exclusive original jurisdiction over any case involving a child who is alleged to be delinquent |
| as the result of an act committed within the boundaries of a military installation that is a crime or |
| infraction under state law. |
| (d) In any case involving a child who has previously committed such an act on a military |
| installation, the family court shall have exclusive and automatic jurisdiction. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC000951 |
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