Lawmakers To Weigh In On 'Raise The Age' Measure

North Carolina lawmakers are considering a measure to end a practice that automatically prosecutes 16- and 17-year-olds for crimes as adults.

A House judiciary committee is debating "raise the age" legislation.

North Carolina is set to be the only state in the country that automatically tries teens as adults. New York legislators agreed in April to a two-year phase out of the practice.

The proposal would take effect in 2019, shifting misdemeanor and non-violent felony cases to juvenile court.

The committee meeting is occurring on the same day the Senate was to begin debating a budget plan that also included eliminating automatic adult court for these youth. But the language limits the exemption to misdemeanors only and would implement the shift in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.