04/20/1993 04:50 PM Senate RLS

  CHAIRMAN JACKO brought SB 45 (MISC. LAWS RELATING TO MINORS)                 
  before the  committee.   SB 45  was sent back  to the  Rules                 
  Committee  from  the  Senate  floor  on 4/19/93  because  of                 
  confusion between the Finance CS and the Rules CS.  However,                 
  it has been determined  that there wasn't a problem  and the                 
  correct version was before the body on the Senate floor.                     
                                                                               
  SENATOR LITTLE  stated she  had two  proposed amendments  to                 
  offer to SB  45.  She  explained that currently, whenever  a                 
  run-a-way youth is picked up by  police, that youth is given                 
  a choice of where he or she may  want to go.  That youth can                 
  either go home,  go to Family &  Youth Services, or go  to a                 
  safe home.   SB 45 changes that by giving that discretion to                 
  the police  officer.   She said  she believes  it is in  the                 
  child's best interest to  let that minor decide where  he or                 
  she wants to go.   Amendment No 1 would put that  discretion                 
  back in the minor's preference.                                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR  LITTLE  moved  Amendment No.  1.    SENATOR HALFORD                 
  objected.   The roll was  taken with  the following  result:                 
  Senator Little voted "Yea" and  Senators Halford, Rieger and                 
  Jacko voted "Nay."  The Chair stated the motion had failed.                  
                                                                               
  SENATOR LITTLE  said another  provision of  the bill  allows                 
  parents  to  "divorce"  their kids.    She  believes parents                 
  should  be  responsible for  their  children until  they are                 
  adults, and if  the bill should pass  without her amendment,                 
  the  state  will incur  greater  costs in  caring  for these                 
  individuals.   Amendment No. 2 would  take out the provision                 
  that allows parents to divorce their children.                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR  LITTLE  moved  Amendment No.  2.    SENATOR HALFORD                 
  objected.   The roll  was taken  with the  following result:                 
  Senator Little voted "Yea" and  Senators Rieger, Halford and                 
  Jacko voted "Nay."  The Chair stated the motion had failed.                  
                                                                               
  SENATOR HALFORD moved and asked unanimous consent that SB 45                 
  be placed back on the calendar at the Chair's discretion.                    
  Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.