S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
478--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STECK, BRONSON, MEEKS, SIMON, HEVESI, JACOBSON,
WOERNER, TAYLOR, WALKER, McDONALD, PEOPLES-STOKES, SHRESTHA -- Multi-
Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, CRUZ, MORINELLO, REYES, SANTABARBARA
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to enacting the "Velmanette
Montgomery YouthBuild act"; setting program requirements; authorizing
the commissioner of labor to make grants to eligible YouthBuild
programs and to establish application requirements; and to expand the
number of YouthBuild programs across New York state
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "Velmanette Montgomery YouthBuild act".
§ 2. Legislative intent. The legislature seeks to support economically
disadvantaged youth, especially youth who have not finished high school,
to obtain education and work experience through occupational skills
training, personal counseling, leadership development, job placement
assistance, and long-term follow-up services necessary for them to
achieve permanent economic self-sufficiency, while at the same time
providing valuable community service that addresses urgent community
needs including the demand for affordable housing and the need for young
role models and mentors for younger teenagers and children.
The legislature further intends to foster the development of leader-
ship skills and a commitment to community development among youth and to
ensure maximum educational achievement of program participants through
high school diploma or the equivalent attainment and transition to
institutions of higher education, where appropriate.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02210-03-5
A. 478--A 2
The legislature further intends to provide communities the opportunity
to establish or rebuild neighborhood stability in economically depressed
and low-income areas, as well as historic areas requiring restoration or
preservation, while providing economically disadvantaged youth and youth
who have not finished high school an opportunity for a meaningful
participation in society.
The legislature further intends to allow communities to expand the
supply of affordable housing for homeless and other low-income individ-
uals by utilizing the energies and talents of economically disadvantaged
youth and young people who have not graduated from high school.
The legislature also intends to foster the development of leadership
skills and a commitment to community development among youth.
§ 3. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 42-a to read as
follows:
§ 42-A. YOUTHBUILD; PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS SERVICES. 1. THE COMMISSION-
ER IS AUTHORIZED, SUBJECT TO AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE BY APPROPRIATION, TO
MAKE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT
YOUTHBUILD PROGRAMS AS APPROVED UNDER THIS SECTION. ALL PROGRAMS FUNDED
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL USE FUNDS AVAILABLE
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
A. THE TRAINING COSTS FOR THE REHABILITATION OR CONSTRUCTION OF HOUS-
ING AND RELATED FACILITIES TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING
HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, RESIDENTIAL HOUSING FOR HOME-
LESS INDIVIDUALS, AND LOW-INCOME AND VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, OR TRAN-
SITIONAL HOUSING FOR PERSONS WHO ARE HOMELESS, HAVE DISABILITIES, ARE
ILL, ARE DEINSTITUTIONALIZED, OR HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, OR THE REHABILI-
TATION OR CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES OWNED BY NOT-FOR-PROFIT
PUBLIC AGENCIES.
B. THE COST OF PROVIDING TRAINING AND PLACEMENT IN THE GROWING EMPLOY-
MENT SECTORS OF CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURE, HEALTH CARE, INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, HOSPITALITY/CULINARY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS,
AND RETAIL SERVICES.
C. THE COST OF INTEGRATED EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE SKILLS TRAIN-
ING SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE EVENLY DIVIDED WITHIN THE PROGRAM
SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
(1) AN EDUCATION COMPONENT WHICH INCLUDES: BASIC SKILLS INSTRUCTION,
SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO RESULT IN
THE ATTAINMENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ITS EQUIVALENT. THE CURRIC-
ULUM FOR THIS COMPONENT SHALL INCLUDE MATH, LANGUAGE ARTS, VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, SOCIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE CULTURAL
AND COMMUNITY HISTORY OF THE STUDENTS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND OTHER
TOPICS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROGRAMS; AND
(2) A HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCE AND OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING COMPO-
NENT PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILI-
TATION ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION. THE
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION MUST BE COUPLED WITH HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCE
SKILLS TRAINING AND WITH CLOSE ON-SITE SUPERVISION BY EXPERIENCED TRAIN-
ERS. THE CURRICULUM FOR THIS COMPONENT SHALL CONTAIN A SET OF LOCALLY
AGREED UPON SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES THAT ARE SYSTEMATICALLY TAUGHT, WITH
STUDENTS' MASTERY ASSESSED INDIVIDUALLY ON A REGULAR, ONGOING BASIS.
THE HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS TRAINING COMPONENT SHALL BE
COORDINATED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE WITH PRE-APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS, AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-
THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
D. THE COST OF COUNSELING SERVICES DESIGNED TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS TO
POSITIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE ALL OF THE
A. 478--A 3
FOLLOWING IF NECESSARY: OUTREACH, ASSESSMENT, AND ORIENTATION; INDIVID-
UAL AND PEER COUNSELING; LIFE SKILLS TRAINING; DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
EDUCATION AND PREVENTION; AND REFERRAL TO APPROPRIATE DRUG REHABILI-
TATION, MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, HOUSING, AND OTHER SERVICES AND
RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.
2. A TRAINING SUBSIDY, LIVING ALLOWANCE, OR STIPEND THAT SHALL BE NO
LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE MUST BE PROVIDED TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOR THE
TIME SPENT AT THE WORKSITE IN CONSTRUCTION TRAINING, HEALTH CARE OR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HOSPITALITY/CULINARY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND
LOGISTICS, AND RETAIL SERVICES. STIPENDS AND WAGES MAY BE DISTRIBUTED IN
A MANNER THAT OFFERS INCENTIVES FOR GOOD PERFORMANCE.
A. FULL-TIME PARTICIPATION IN A YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM SHALL BE OFFERED
FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND NOT MORE THAN TWENTY-FOUR
MONTHS.
B. A CONCENTRATED EFFORT, FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO
IMMEDIATELY ENROLL IN AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SHALL BE MADE
TO FIND CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION-RELATED, AND NONCONSTRUCTION JOBS IN
THE FIELDS OF HEALTH CARE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HOSPITALITY/CULINARY,
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS, AND RETAIL SERVICES FOR ALL GRADU-
ATES OF THE PROGRAM WHO HAVE PERFORMED WELL. THE HANDS-ON WORK EXPERI-
ENCE SKILLS TRAINING CURRICULUM SHALL PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH BASIC
PREPARATION FOR SEEKING AND MAINTAINING A JOB. FOLLOW-UP COUNSELING AND
ASSISTANCE IN JOB-SEEKING SHALL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS FOR THE
TWELVE MONTHS FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAM.
C. ALL PROGRAMS SERVING TWENTY-EIGHT TRAINEES OR MORE ARE REQUIRED TO
HAVE A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COORDINATION OF ALL
ASPECTS OF THE YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM.
3. A. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS ARE YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIXTEEN AND
TWENTY-FOUR WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AS DEFINED IN 29 UNITED
STATES CODE 1503, AND WHO ARE PART OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:
(1) PERSONS WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING ANY SCHOOL AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A
SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ITS EQUIVALENT; OR
(2) PERSONS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A TRADITIONAL OR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL
SETTING OR A HSE/TASC (HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY/TEST ASSESSING SECONDARY
COMPLETION) PROGRAM AND WHO ARE IN DANGER OF DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL; OR
(3) VERY LOW-INCOME PERSONS WHOSE INCOMES ARE AT OR LESS THAN FIFTY
PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AREA, ADJUSTED FOR FAMILY SIZE, AS
ESTIMATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
B. AN EXCEPTION MAY BE MADE FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT MEETING INCOME OR
EDUCATIONAL NEED REQUIREMENTS. NOT MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE
PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROGRAM MAY BE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBDIVISION, BUT WHO HAVE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS DESPITE
THE ATTAINMENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
4. PRIORITY IN THE AWARDING OF FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE GIVEN
TO APPLICANTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING YOUTHBUILD PROGRAMS AND
IMPLEMENTING THE YOUTHBUILD MODEL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TRAINING, EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LIFE
SKILLS TRAINING, AND COUNSELING SERVICES. PRIORITY SHALL ALSO BE GIVEN
TO THOSE WHO MEET THE PROGRAM STANDARDS AS DEFINED BY THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS THE PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS FOR AGENCIES AWARDED THESE FUNDS.
5. ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT PRIVATE AGENCIES, OR PUBLIC AGENCIES WITH EXPE-
RIENCE OPERATING A YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM OR WITH A PLAN TO INCUBATE A
YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM UNTIL IT CAN BE ESTABLISHED AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT
PRIVATE AGENCY ARE ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. ONLY NOT-FOR-PROFIT PRIVATE AGEN-
CIES OR PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT ARE LICENSED AFFILIATES OF YOUTHBUILD USA,
A. 478--A 4
INC. OR CURRENTLY RECEIVE A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR YOUTHBUILD
AWARD, ARE ELIGIBLE TO USE THE TERM YOUTHBUILD OR ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR
THESE FUNDS.
6. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR YOUTHBUILD FUNDS TO
INCLUDE VARIOUS INFORMATION ON THE APPLICANT'S PROGRAMS AND SHALL
PROMULGATE REGULATIONS OUTLINING INFORMATION REQUIRED ON SUCH APPLICANT.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AT A MINIMUM SUCH APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE:
A. A REQUEST FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION GRANT, SPECIFYING THE AMOUNT OF THE
GRANT REQUESTED AND ITS PROPOSED USES;
B. A DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICANT AND A STATEMENT OF ITS QUALIFICA-
TIONS, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICANT'S PAST EXPERIENCE
RUNNING A YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM, AND ITS EXPERIENCE WITH HOUSING REHABILI-
TATION OR CONSTRUCTION AND WITH YOUTH AND YOUTH EDUCATION, YOUTH LEADER-
SHIP DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND
ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL UNIONS AND YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS,
AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS; AND
C. A DESCRIPTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL AND WORK EXPERIENCE SKILLS TRAIN-
ING ACTIVITIES, WORK OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT SHALL BE
PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS.
§ 4. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law.