(DNAINFO)  Katie Honan | April 8, 2017 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a deal late Friday to pass the $153.1 billion state budget, which includes free college tuition for some students and a bill to end New York ‘s practice of charging nonviolent 16- and 17- year olds as adults.

Legislative leaders agreed on the fiscal year 2018 budget late Friday, a week after it was due and following days of negotiations between elected officials.

Cuomo said the budget shows that “New York is once again showing what responsible government can achieve.”

Included is the “Raise the Age” bill, which increases the age of criminal responsibility to 18. New York had previously been one of only two states that still tried 16- and 17-year-olds as adults.

The bill was first proposed in 2015 and moves misdemeanor and nonviolent felony cases to family court.

Source: Albany Budget Deal Ends Practice of Charging Nonviolent Teens as Adults – Greenwich Village – DNAinfo New York