Senate Bill S6180

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6180
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing  a  state
   youth  commission  to advise the governor on youth issues in the state
   of New York

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The executive law is amended by adding a new article 19-J
 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 19-J
                          STATE YOUTH COMMISSION
 SECTION 535. STATE YOUTH COMMISSION
   § 535. STATE YOUTH COMMISSION. 1. THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN
 THE  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT  THE  STATE  YOUTH COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION
 SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR AND THE  LEGISLATURE  ON
 YOUTH-RELATED ISSUES IN NEW YORK.  THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF INDI-
 VIDUALS  WHO  HAVE  AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE
 STATE, OR EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAMS OR YOUTH ORGANIZA-
 TIONS, OR INVOLVEMENT WITH SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.  THE  MEMBERS
 OF  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  REPRESENT  THE DIVERSITY OF ETHNICITY, RACE,
 GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW  YORK  AND  SHALL  BE
 RESIDENTS OF THE STATE.
   2.  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  CONSIST OF SEVENTEEN MEMBERS, EACH OF WHOM
 SHALL BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF TWELVE AND TWENTY-THREE YEARS AT  THE  TIME
 OF  APPOINTMENT.  ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE MAYORS OF
 THE CITIES OF NEW YORK, BUFFALO, ROCHESTER,  YONKERS,  SYRACUSE,  ALBANY
 AND  MOUNT  VERNON;  TEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FROM
 EACH OF THE FOLLOWING REGIONS OF THE STATE:
   (A) THE WESTERN REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF NIAGARA, ERIE, CHAUTAU-
 QUA, CATTARAUGUS, AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10606-01-5
 S. 6180                             2
              

 
   (B) THE FINGER LAKES REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF ORLEANS,  GENESEE,
 WYOMING, MONROE, LIVINGSTON, WAYNE, ONTARIO, YATES, AND SENECA COUNTIES;
   (C)  THE SOUTHERN TIER REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF STEUBEN, SCHUYL-
 ER, TOMPKINS, CHEMUNG, TIOGA, CHENANGO, BROOME, AND DELAWARE COUNTIES;
   (D) THE CENTRAL REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF OSWEGO, CAYUGA, ONONDA-
 GA, MADISON, AND CORTLAND COUNTIES;
   (E) THE NORTHERN REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF ST.  LAWRENCE,  LEWIS,
 JEFFERSON, HAMILTON, ESSEX, CLINTON, AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES;
   (F) THE MOHAWK VALLEY REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF ONEIDA, HERKIMER,
 FULTON, MONTGOMERY, OTSEGO, AND SCHOHARIE COUNTIES;
   (G) THE CAPITAL DISTRICT REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF ALBANY, COLUM-
 BIA,  GREENE,  WARREN, WASHINGTON, SARATOGA, SCHENECTADY, AND RENSSELAER
 COUNTIES;
   (H) THE HUDSON VALLEY REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF SULLIVAN, ULSTER,
 DUTCHESS, ORANGE, PUTNAM, ROCKLAND, AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES;
   (I) THE NEW YORK CITY REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF MANHATTAN, BRONX,
 QUEENS, BROOKLYN, AND RICHMOND COUNTIES; AND
   (J) THE LONG ISLAND REGION, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF NASSAU AND  SUFFOLK
 COUNTIES.
   3.  MEMBERS  SHALL  SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THEIR APPOINTING AUTHORI-
 TIES. THE GOVERNOR SHALL DESIGNATE ONE  OF  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  YOUTH
 COMMISSION TO SERVE AS CHAIR.
   4. MEMBERS SHALL SERVE A TERM OF TWO YEARS. VACANCIES IN MEMBERSHIP OF
 THE  COMMISSION OCCURRING FROM ANY CAUSE SHALL BE FILLED BY THE APPOINT-
 ING AUTHORITY AUTHORIZED TO MAKE THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT OF THE  MEMBER
 WHOSE OFFICE BECOMES VACANT.
   5.  MEMBERS  OF  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  NOT  BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR
 SERVICES NOR SHALL THEY BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR EXPENSES.
   6. THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET AT LEAST  QUARTERLY.  THE  DELIBERATIONS,
 MEETING  AND  OTHER  PROCEEDINGS  OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
 ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW. ANY ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE
 COMMISSION MAY PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING BY MEANS OF A  CONFERENCE  TELE-
 PHONE, CONFERENCE VIDEO OR SIMILAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT ALLOWING ALL
 PERSONS  PARTICIPATING  IN  THE  MEETING  TO HEAR EACH OTHER AT THE SAME
 TIME.  PARTICIPATION BY SUCH MEANS SHALL CONSTITUTE PRESENCE  IN  PERSON
 AT A MEETING.
   7.  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  HAVE  THE  AUTHORITY TO CREATE, AMEND, AND
 REPEAL ITS OWN CODE OF BYLAWS.
   8. THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:
   (A) TO IDENTIFY THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN  AND  YOUTH  OF
 NEW YORK;
   (B) TO EXAMINE EXISTING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND RECREATION-
 AL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF NEW YORK;
   (C)  TO  DEVELOP  AND  PROPOSE  PLANS  THAT  SUPPORT  OR  IMPROVE SUCH
 PROGRAMS; AND
   (D) TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THEREON TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE.
   9. THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR  AND  LEGISLA-
 TURE  OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER FIRST OF EACH CALENDAR
 YEAR.   SUCH REPORT SHALL  INCLUDE  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON  JUVENILE  CRIME
 PREVENTION,  JOB  OPPORTUNITIES  FOR  YOUTH, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR
 TEENAGERS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION  BY  YOUTH  IN  THE
 GOVERNMENTAL  PROCESS,  AND  CHANGES IN CITY AND COUNTY REGULATIONS THAT
 ARE NECESSARY TO IMPROVE THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL,  AND  RECRE-
 ATIONAL ADVANTAGES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.