Bill > A08491

This bill establishes the Youth Justice Innovation Fund, a $50 million state fund administered by the state comptroller and tax commissioner, designed to support community-based organizations providing services aimed at youth development and preventing youth arrest and incarceration. The fund will support programs targeting youth through age 25, including violence prevention services, alternatives to detention, reentry programs, education, and employment training. The Division of Criminal Justice Services will manage the fund's disbursement and is required to submit an annual comprehensive report to key state legislators and the public by March 1st, detailing how the funds were used, including specifics on award amounts, recipients, and purposes. The fund can receive additional grants or gifts, and monies will be paid out based on vouchers approved by the division's director and audited by the state comptroller. The bill will take effect immediately and apply to expenditures starting April 1, 2025, with the goal of providing innovative approaches to supporting youth and reducing involvement in the criminal justice system.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8491