It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 11-25-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-25 entitled "Juvenile Escapees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 11-25-16. Juvenile Escapees. -- ADD} Any person sixteen (16) years or older who shall escape from the Rhode Island training school for youth after having been placed in such institution by the order of a family court judge or any such person who shall escape from the adult correctional institutions after having been placed in such institution by an order of a family court judge shall upon conviction be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years and/or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).

In any such case the family court shall hold a hearing to determine whether or not the family court's jurisdiction over such child shall be waived and may, if it so finds, order such child held for trial under the regular procedure of the district and/or superior courts.

If said family court elects to keep jurisdiction over such child, said court shall follow its regular procedure.

In the adjudication of any case under this section, the fact that such person has been found delinquent for the offense of escaping from the Rhode Island training school for youth on one or more occasions shall be prima facie evidence that such person cannot be rehabilitated under chapter 10 of title 8. {ADD The superintendent of the Rhode Island Training School shall notify the Department of Attorney General, the Rhode Island State Police, and the Cranston Police Department of any escape, or attempted escape from the Rhode Island Training School. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.