Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 1545 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to specify that a court must issue a summons to compel the adult responsible for a defendant younger than 17 years of age and considered a minor to be present during all proceedings of the case. The act permits the court to proceed against the defendant without the adult present if the adult's appearance cannot be secured; requires the court to take a minor defendant's plea in open court; and permits the defendant, with leave of the court, to enter a plea before a justice in the county of residence if it is different from the county where the alleged offense occurred.