Bill > S00643

This bill establishes a "youth justice innovation fund" within the state finance law, which will be managed by the state comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance. This fund will initially receive fifty million dollars, with additional funds potentially coming from grants, gifts, or bequests, and will be used to support community-based organizations that provide services and programs aimed at youth development and preventing youth from being arrested or incarcerated. These services can include violence prevention, alternatives to detention or placement, and reentry programs that offer education and employment training for young people up to the age of twenty-five. The director of the division of criminal justice services will oversee the distribution of these funds and must submit an annual report detailing how the money was spent, including information on disbursements, recipients, and the purposes of the awards. The bill takes effect immediately but applies to expenditures made on or after April 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S643