Assembly Bill A9811

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  9811

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 23, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. CAMARA -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Children and Families

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the
  task  force  on  disconnected  youth, and providing for the powers and
  duties thereof

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
483-g to read as follows:
  S 483-G. TASK FORCE ON DISCONNECTED YOUTH. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION, "DISCONNECTED YOUTH" MEANS YOUTH BETWEEN THE  AGES  OF  SIXTEEN
AND  TWENTY-FOUR  YEARS,  WHO  ARE  NEITHER  CONNECTED TO AN EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION OR TO THE WORKFORCE.
  2. (A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED  THE  TASK  FORCE  ON  DISCONNECTED
YOUTH, WHICH SHALL BE COMPOSED OF FOURTEEN MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
  (I) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, OR
HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, WHO SHALL BE THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE;
  (II)  THE  COMMISSIONER OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, OR HIS
OR HER DESIGNEE;
  (III) THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
  (IV) THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
  (V) THE COMMISSIONER OF CRIMINAL  JUSTICE  SERVICES,  OR  HIS  OR  HER
DESIGNEE;
  (VI)  THE  COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;
  (VII) FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE  COUNCIL
ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AND FOR THE PURPOSE
OF REPRESENTING YOUTH ADVOCACY GROUPS; AND
  (VIII) FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL
ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AND FOR THE PURPOSE
OF  REPRESENTING  ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSION IS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO
YOUTH WHO ARE AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM OR YOUTH  INVOLVED  IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
  (B) THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET AT THE CALL OF THE CHAIR.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD15072-03-4

A. 9811                             2

  (C)  THE  MEMBERS  OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR
THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION.
SUCH  EXPENSES  SHALL  BE  PAYABLE ON THE AUDIT AND WARRANT OF THE COMP-
TROLLER ON VOUCHERS CERTIFIED OR APPROVED BY THE HEAD OF THE STATE AGEN-
CY  FOR  WHOM  SUCH MEMBER IS EMPLOYED, AND IN THE CASE OF THE APPOINTED
MEMBERS, BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND  FAMI-
LIES.
  3. THE TASK FORCE SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND DUTY TO:
  (A)  RECOMMEND  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE LEGISLATURE INITIATIVES TO
BETTER SERVE DISCONNECTED YOUTH WITH REGARD TO THEIR HEALTH,  EDUCATION,
LIVING  ARRANGEMENTS, SKILLS TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION AND OPPOR-
TUNITIES, MENTORING AND GENERAL WELL-BEING;
  (B) EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLA-
TURE WITH REGARD TO EXISTING PROGRAMS, LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS  THAT
COULD  BE  IMPROVED,  CHANGED OR ELIMINATED TO BETTER SERVE DISCONNECTED
YOUTH;
  (C) WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT, REPORT ON HOW THE STATE  CAN
COLLECT,  ON  AN  ONGOING  BASIS,  DATA  REFLECTING  THE EXPERIENCES AND
OUTCOMES OF DISCONNECTED YOUTH  REGARDING  THE  FOLLOWING  FACTORS:  (I)
LIVING  ARRANGEMENTS, FOR INSTANCE WHETHER THEY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, WITH
RELATIVES, FRIENDS OR OTHER, OR WHETHER THEY LIVE IN A HOMELESS SHELTER;
(II) LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL  ATTAINMENT;  (III)  EMPLOYMENT  STATUS;  (IV)
SKILLS OR EMPLOYMENT TRAINING RECEIVED, USE OF ONE-STOPS OR OTHER TRAIN-
ING  PROVIDERS,  OR  CERTIFICATIONS; (V) PARENTAL STATUS AND WHETHER THE
CHILD OR CHILDREN IS LIVING WITH THEM; (VI)  INVOLVEMENT  WITH  CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM; (VII) INVOLVEMENT WITH MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS; AND (VIII)
ANY OTHER FACTORS THE TASK FORCE DEEMS RELEVANT; AND
  (D)  REPORT ANNUALLY, ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIFTEENTH, TO THE GOVERNOR,
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY,  THE
CHAIRS  OF THE APPROPRIATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THE
COMMITTEES ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, EDUCATION, LABOR,  SOCIAL  SERVICES
AND  HEALTH,  AND THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOSTER CARE,
RELATING TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TASK FORCE WITH REGARD TO ITS  POWERS,
FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.