A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to runaway youth and homeless youth who have not accessed shelter services funded by the department of youth and community development

Int. No. 1619-A

By Council Members Johnson, Levin, Constantinides, Gentile, Menchaca, Salamanca, Espinal, Dromm, Rose, Mendez, Eugene, Reynoso, Van Bramer, Levine, Lander, Chin, Greenfield, Cumbo and Kallos

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to runaway youth and homeless youth who have not accessed shelter services funded by the department of youth and community development

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1.  Section 21-401 of the administrative code of the city of New York, subdivision a as added by local law number 81 for the year 1996 and subdivisions c, d and e as added by local law number 23 for the year 2013, is amended to read as follows:

§ 21-401  Definitions. [Whenever  used  in] For the purposes of this chapter the following [words shall] terms have the following meanings:

[a. “Commissioner” shall mean] Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner  of  the  department  of youth and community development.

[b. “Department” shall mean] Department. The term “department” means the department of youth and community development.

Homeless young adult. The term “homeless young adult” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

Homeless youth. The term “homeless youth” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law. For the purposes of this chapter, the term homeless youth shall also include homeless young adults.

Runaway and homeless youth crisis services program. The term “runaway and homeless youth crisis services program” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

[c. “Runaway and homeless youth services” shall mean department-administered] Runaway and homeless youth services. The term “runaway and homeless youth services” means department-funded street outreach and referral services, drop-in centers, runaway and homeless youth crisis [shelters] services programs, and transitional independent living [centers] support programs.

Runaway youth. The term “runaway youth” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

[d. “Sexually exploited child” shall have] Sexually exploited child. The term “sexually exploited child” has the same meaning as provided in subdivision one of section 447-a of the [New York State] social services law.

Shelter services. The term “shelter services” means residential programs within runaway and homeless youth crisis services programs and transitional independent living support programs.

Transitional independent living support program. The term “transitional independent living support program” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

[e. “Youth: shall mean] Youth. The term “youth” means any person under [twenty-four] 24 years of age.

§ 2. Chapter 4 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-404 to read as follows:

§ 21-404 Homeless and runaway youth shelter access report.

a. Beginning July 31, 2018, and by each January 31 and July 31 thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker and post on its website a report relating to the number of runaway and homeless youth who contacted or presented themselves to a runaway and homeless youth services program to request shelter and were not able to access shelter services during the  six month periods ending on June 30 and December 31, respectively. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the total number of youth eligible for a department-funded program on the date such program’s services were sought who could not access shelter services, disaggregated by: 

1. The type of shelter services the youth was attempting to obtain, including, but not limited to, a runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or a transitional independent living support program;

2. The name of the runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or transitional independent living support program at which the youth did not access shelter services;  

3. The bed capacity at such runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or transitional independent living support program;

4. The number of beds available at such runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or transitional independent living support program at the time the youth did not access shelter services;

5. The ages of youth who did not access shelter services;

6. Whether the youth who did not access shelter services identified as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex community, if such information was volunteered by the youth; and

7. The reason why the youth did not access shelter services including, but not limited to, bed capacity, bed availability, insufficient beds in a specific type of program, or whether such youth chose not to accept a bed that was offered. Such information shall be further disaggregated by the reason such youth did not accept the bed, if such information is available.  

b. Beginning January 1, 2019, all providers under contract or similar agreement with the department to provide runaway and homeless youth crisis services or transitional independent living support programs shall submit the information required pursuant to this section to the department through an electronic database designated by the department and shall include the following information in the reports required pursuant to subdivision a of this section:

1. Whether the provider referred the youth to another department-funded runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or transitional independent living support program;

2. The name of the runaway and homeless youth services program or transitional independent living support program to which the provider referred the youth, if applicable; and

3. Whether that runaway and homeless youth services program or transitional independent living support program admitted the youth to receive shelter services.

§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.

KG/AV

LS # 5747, 10526

12/11/17, 6.19pm