Int. No. 899
By Council Members Dromm, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Eugene, Fidler, Gonzalez, Koslowitz, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Palma, Rose, Williams, Wills, Lappin, Brewer, Ferreras, Rodriguez, Arroyo and Van Bramer
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of youth and community development to review strategies and create a plan of action to protect children who qualify for special immigrant juvenile status.
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 by adding new subdivisions c, d, e, f, and g to read as follows:
c. "Department-administered crisis shelters" shall mean city-administered facilities that provide short-term emergency housing for runaway and homeless youth and are managed by a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.
d. "Department-administered transitional independent living facilities" shall mean city-administered facilities that provide long-term residential services to runaway and homeless youth for up to 18 months and are managed by a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.
e. "Homeless youth" shall have the same meaning as provided in subdivision two of section 532-a of the New York state executive law.
f. "Runaway and homeless youth providers" shall mean department-administered crisis shelters and department-administered transitional independent living facilities
g. "Runaway youth" shall have the same meaning as provided in subdivision one of section 532-a of the New York state executive law.
§2. Chapter four of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-403 to read as follows:
§ 21-403 Special immigrant juvenile status plan. a. The department shall designate an individual or individuals responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive plan to provide services to runaway and homeless youth in contact with runaway and homeless youth providers who may be deemed eligible for special immigrant juvenile status or other immigration benefits. Such plan shall, at a minimum, describe how the department and the runaway and homeless youth providers will achieve the following goals: 1. identify the country of birth, to the extent practicable, of runaway and homeless youth in contact with the runaway and homeless youth providers; 2. identify such runaway and homeless youth, as early as possible, who may qualify for special immigrant juvenile status or other immigration benefits; 3. track such runaway and homeless youth, to the extent practicable and consistent with confidentiality requirements, until the completion of their special immigrant juvenile status or other immigration relief; 4. assist such runaway and homeless youth, as soon as they are identified, in obtaining the immigration services they need, including birth certificates if they do not possess them; and 5. provide mandatory training programs on immigration benefits, including special immigrant juvenile status, for runaway and homeless youth provider staff. Such plan shall also include detailed descriptions of (i) program standards for runaway and homeless youth provider staff regarding special immigrant juvenile status identification and coordination of immigration services; (ii) the department's mechanisms and indicators for monitoring the runaway and homeless youth providers' compliance with and achievements under the plan; and (iii) the department's method(s) for collecting data and evaluating outcomes for immigrant runaway and homeless youth under the plan. On or before April 1, 2013 the department shall submit the plan to the city council.
b. Reporting. No later than one year after completion and submission of the plan required by subdivision a of this section, and annually thereafter, the department shall prepare and submit to the city council a report containing (i) an assessment of its ability to identify, track and coordinate immigration services for runaway and homeless youth in contact with runaway and homeless youth providers; (ii) indicators sufficient to show the department's progress towards achieving the goals of the plan; and (iii) such programs, procedures, memoranda, or training materials as concern the implementation and goals of the plan.
§3. This local law shall take effect 90 days after its enactment into law.
JW
LS# 3597
7/18/12