§ 19.06 Advisory council on underage alcohol consumption and youth

substance abuse.

1. Definitions. As used in this section:

(a) "Council" shall mean the advisory council on underage alcohol
consumption and youth substance abuse created by this section.

(b) "Chairperson" shall mean the chairperson of the advisory council
on underage alcohol consumption and youth substance abuse.

2. Advisory council on underage alcohol consumption and youth
substance abuse. There is hereby created an advisory council on underage
alcohol consumption and youth substance abuse. The council shall consist
of twenty-one members, who are broadly representative of the various
groups in society which are stakeholders in the effort to combat
underage alcohol consumption and youth substance abuse. Seven members
shall be appointed by the governor, seven members by the temporary
president of the senate and seven members by the speaker of the
assembly. In making such appointments, due consideration shall be given
to the recommendations made by representative civic, educational, legal
and advocacy groups and associations concerned with, or otherwise
engaged in, the representation of the interests of the youth of New York
state. The commissioner, the chairman of the state liquor authority,
the commissioner of mental health, the attorney general, the temporary
president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall be
ex-officio members of the council.

3. Term of office for council members. (a) The term of office for each
member of the council shall be two years. Vacancies in the council
occurring, other than by expiration of a term, shall be filled for the
remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as original
appointments.

(b) At the beginning of each two year term, the members of the council
shall choose one member of the council to be a chairperson and one
member to be vice-chairperson. The members of the council shall receive
no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all
expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of
their duties under this section within the amount made available by
appropriation therefor.

4. Powers and duties of the council. The council shall have the
following powers and duties:

(a) To receive information with respect to, and to study and analyze,
incidents of underage consumption of alcoholic beverages, youth
substance abuse, and to examine the elements of such incidents to
identify those factors that are consistently associated with such
behavior;

(b) To identify and analyze the responses to underage drinking and
youth substance abuse made by governmental officials, including law
enforcement officials and prosecutors, and to make recommendations as to
whether such responses appear to be achieving decreases in the incidence
of such behavior, and if not, whether it appears that a change is
required in policies and procedures;

(c) To conduct public hearings as may be necessary to carry out its
functions under this section;

(d) To make recommendations with respect to the following:

(i) educational programs to teach children the dangers of underage
drinking and youth substance abuse;

(ii) training programs for law enforcement officials and prosecutors
to sensitize them to the special nature of youth-related crime to
encourage them to develop appropriate responses;

(iii) the appropriateness and effectiveness of existing civil and
criminal laws in redressing underage drinking and youth substance abuse
and any changes that should be made in such laws; and

(iv) such other matters as may be deemed appropriate by the council
after consultation with involved parties;

(e) To promulgate any necessary rules of order or procedures relating
to the administration and performance of the powers and duties of the
council pursuant to this section; and

(f) To perform all other tasks necessary and convenient to carry out
the functions, powers and duties of the council and to effectuate the
purposes of this section.

5. Report. The council shall submit a written report to the governor,
temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly by no
later than October first of the year next succeeding the effective date
of this section and annually thereafter, setting forth the
recommendations and activities of the council on matters within the
scope of its powers and duties as set forth in this section.