S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5937
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 23, 2021
                                ___________
 
 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-I
 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 19-I
                          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 CITY 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.
                                                            LBD10300-01-1
              

 S. 5937                             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, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF STEUBEN, SCHUYLER, TOMP-
 KINS, 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 YOUTHS OF
 NEW YORK;
   (B) TO EXAMINE EXISTING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND RECREATION-
 AL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTHS 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.