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 bill lowers the minimum age of a youth member to 5 years of age.
The bill 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 bill 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 bill 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.
