Bill > A00767

This bill establishes the Youth Justice Innovation Fund, a $50 million state fund designed to support community-based organizations working to prevent youth arrest and incarceration. The fund will provide financial resources to programs focusing on youth development, violence prevention, alternatives to detention, reentry services, education, and employment training for individuals up to 25 years old. The Division of Criminal Justice Services will manage the fund and distribute money to community organizations, with the fund being maintained by the state comptroller and commissioner of taxation and finance. The bill requires an annual comprehensive report detailing how the fund's money was used, including specifics on award amounts, recipients, purposes, and a financial summary. The fund can also accept additional grants, gifts, or bequests. Money will be disbursed through vouchers approved by the division's director and audited by the comptroller. The legislation will take effect immediately and apply to expenditures starting April 1, 2025, with the goal of supporting innovative approaches to youth justice and reducing youth involvement in the criminal justice system.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A767