Neighborhood Youth Organizations

Under current law, a neighborhood youth organization (NYO) serves youth as young as 6 years of age and as old as 18 years of age. The act lowers the minimum age of a youth member to 5 years of age if the youth is in kindergarten.

The act permits an NYO to create an electronic or written process to record the daily arrival and departure times of youth members in order to track attendance, assess the impact of programs and services on youth members, and ensure an NYO operates in the best interest and safety of youth members.

The act requires each NYO to maintain a complete set of records for youth members and personnel. Each neighborhood youth organization is required to maintain the confidentiality of certain records that are not subject to review by the public. Records concerning the licensing of an NYO's facilities and agencies are open to the public and a person who wishes to review a record must submit a written request to the department of human services.

The act requires that an NYO's programs and services must occur primarily in a facility the NYO leases or owns or has been granted use of or access to.

The act requires an NYO to offer programs and services that are evidence- or research-based, age-appropriate, and foster supportive relationships with peers and adults while offering character and leadership development, academic supports, job skills training, behavioral health supports, health and nutrition services, and other critical resources and services that a community identifies as necessary. An NYO serves all children, youth, and families, but with a focus on programs and services that ensure affordable access for low-income populations.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)