Recently enacted amendments to the New York State Runaway and Homeless Youth Act extends the periods of time youth may remain in runaway and homeless youth shelters if municipalities include those extended time limits in the runaway and homeless youth plan submitted to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. This bill would require that runaway and homeless youth would be permitted to remain in runaway and homeless youth shelters for the extended time limits.
- Filed (End of Session)
History
Int. No. 1699
By Council Members Gibson, Johnson, Dromm, Menchaca, Mendez, Torres, Vacca, Van Bramer, Palma, Rosenthal, Levin, Salamanca, Espinal, Rose, Eugene, Reynoso and Levine
A Local Law to the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to time frames for runaway and homeless youth shelter services
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-401 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
§ 21-401 Definitions. [Whenever used in] For the purposes of this chapter the following [words] terms [shall] 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] Runaway and homeless youth services. The term “runaway and homeless youth services” means department-administered 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 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 or younger.
§ 2. Chapter 4 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to add new section 21-404 to read as follows:
§ 21-404 Time frames for runaway and homeless youth shelter services. a. The department shall require that runaway and homeless youth are provided with shelter services pursuant to the following time frames:
1. Consistent with section 532-b of the executive law, a runaway youth aged 14 or older receiving shelter services in a residential runaway and homeless youth crisis services program shall be provided with shelter services in such program on a voluntary basis for up to 60 days, or up to 120 days if the runaway youth and such youth’s parent, guardian or custodian agree in writing that such youth may remain in such program, or consistent with section 420 of the executive law, beyond such time limits if the office of children and family services is notified in writing within 60 days.
2. Consistent with section 532-d of the executive law, a homeless youth receiving shelter services in a transitional independent living support program shall be provided with shelter services in such program for up to 24 months, or consistent with section 420 of the executive law, beyond 24 months limit if the homeless youth entered the transitional independent living support program under the age of 21 and the office of children and family services is notified in writing within 60 days.
§ 3. This local law takes effect on January 1, 2018.
AV
LS #3534
8/30/17