File #: Int 0448-2026    Version: Name: Structure and responsibilities of the youth board.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Children and Youth
On agenda: 1/29/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to the structure and responsibilities of the youth board
Sponsors: Althea V. Stevens, Amanda C. Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Nantasha M. Williams, Alexa Avilés, Farah N. Louis, Gale A. Brewer, Elsie Encarnación, Chris Banks
Council Member Sponsors: 9
Summary: This bill would implement term limits for board members and would reduce the amount of board members from 28 to 18. Additionally, the board would be tasked with providing policy recommendations to the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). DYCD would then be required to submit a report responding to each recommendation submitted by the board.
Indexes: Council Appointment Required, Other Appointment Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 448-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 448, 3. Int. No. 448, 4. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 5. Committee Report 1/30/26, 6. Proposed Int. No. 448-A - 2/5/26

Proposed Int. No. 448-A

 

By Council Members Stevens, Farías, Brooks-Powers, Williams, Avilés, Louis, Brewer, Encarnación and Banks

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to the structure and responsibilities of the youth board

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Section 734 of the New York city charter, as amended by local law number 32 for the year 2025, is amended to read as follows:

§ 734. Youth board. a. There shall be in the department a youth board, which shall serve as a forum for representatives of disciplines directly concerned with the welfare of youth.

b. The youth board shall be representative of the community, and shall include persons representing the areas of social service, health care, education, business, industry and labor. To the extent practicable, at least 3 members of the youth board shall be between the age of 16 and 24. No member of the board shall be removed or required to step down due to reaching 25 years of age. If a vacancy arises and no remaining member of the board is between the age of 16 and 24, such vacancy must be filled by a person between the age of 16 and 24.

c. The youth board shall consist of up to [28] 20 members, 10 of whom shall be appointed by the mayor, [14  of whom shall be appointed upon recommendation of] and 10 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the [city] council. In making such appointments and recommendations, the mayor and the speaker of the [city] council shall make best efforts to appoint at least one member who resides, works, or has a significant interest in each borough, and shall make best efforts to identify persons who have demonstrated experience with organizations or activities directly concerned with the welfare of youth.

d. The mayor shall designate one of the members of the youth board to be chair and the speaker of the council shall designate one of the members of the youth board to be vice chair.

e. [The members of the youth board] All appointed members shall serve for a term of 4 years with the option to renew for 1 additional term, and shall serve without compensation. The mayor and the speaker of the council shall appoint members to staggered terms, the terms of which shall be set forth in the bylaws of such board. Upon expiration of the term of a member, such member shall hold over in their position until the appointing official appoints a new member to such position.

f. The youth board shall [meet]:

1. Meet at least quarterly[.];

2. Offer recommendations to the department on matters concerning the welfare of youth; and

3. Submit an annual report on its activities and any policy and legislative recommendations concerning the welfare of youth to the mayor, the commissioner, and the speaker of the council on or before December 31 of each year.

g. Annually, no later than 90 days after the board submits the report required pursuant to subdivision f of this section, the commissioner shall submit a report to the speaker of the council regarding the actions the department is taking or intends to take in response to each recommendation.

h. The department shall maintain on its website and regularly update a list of all members appointed to serve on the youth board, including information about the term of each member, the appointing official of such member, and any additional information deemed relevant by the department.

 

 

§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

 

DC/CY/RO

LS #20176

Int. #1491-2025

2/4/2026 9:15pm