BILL NUMBER: S184
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
full year youth and young adult employment immersion program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would establish a year-round youth employment program
wherein 16-24 year olds who have not yet completed post-secondary educa-
tion work full time and develop skills on the job.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes a new section 131-Y of the Social Services Law
entitled Youth Employment Immersion Program.
Section 2 directs the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to
stand up a Youth Employment Immersion Program, establishes eligibility
criteria and sets out basic requirements. Subsections establish program
duration, permit retention subsidies payable to employers, establish
minimum outreach criteria and set compensation at 265% of Federal Pover-
ty.
Section 3 provides for an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Building on the success of a statewide Summer Youth Employment Program,
which is limited to summer months, a year-round Youth Employment Immer-
sion Program would employ youth and young adults who may not have
completed high school or college and help them build transferrable work
skills in the public, nonprofit or private sector. Young people who
have not completed college or high school are increasingly less likely
to earn sufficient wages to establish self-sufficiency and are increas-
ingly likely to remain trapped in poverty. A year-round employment
program that pays greater than minimum wage will assist young New York-
ers acquire valuable on-the-job experience with the possibility of
achieving sustained employment.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New legislation.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined, subject to appropriation.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S184: 131-a social services law, 131-a(8) social services law