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2000 SESSION


CHAPTER 277
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 66-28, 66-29, 66-30, 66-34, and 66-35 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Delinquency Prevention and Youth Development Act.
[S 297]
Approved April 3, 2000

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 66-28, 66-29, 66-30, 66-34, and 66-35 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 66-28. Policies.

The Board shall prescribe policies governing applications for grants pursuant to this chapter and standards for the operation of programs developed and implemented under the grants. The Department shall cooperate with and seek the assistance of representatives of county and city governing bodies, private nonprofit youth service agencies and private citizens having expertise in the development and any subsequent revisions of the standards required by this section.

§ 66-29. Ordinances to be enacted by participating localities; applications by localities for grants.

Prior to applying to the Director for a grant pursuant to this chapter, each governing body of a county or city which is to participate in the grant shall enact an appropriate ordinance or resolution which provides for the creation of a youth services citizen board pursuant to § 66-34 hereof, annual preparation of a comprehensive plan based on an objective assessment of the community's needs and resources for developing, coordinating and evaluating youth services and funding of the local share of the grant.

Any county or city or combination thereof may apply to the Director for a grant pursuant to this chapter. The Director shall provide consultation and technical assistance, if requested, to localities in the development of applications for such grants. The Director shall approve or disapprove applicants for grants.

§ 66-30. Renewal of grants; suspension for failure to comply with standards; notice and hearing.

Grants approved by the Director pursuant to § 66-29 shall be renewed subject to approval by the Director of the comprehensive an annual plan update for youth services submitted by the participating counties or cities.

If the Director shall determine determines that a program operating under an approved grant is not in compliance with minimum standards promulgated by the Board, he may suspend all or any portion of the grant until the required standards of operation are met after thirty days' notice to each participating county and city and after a hearing is held on the matter.

§ 66-34. Youth services citizen boards; appointment and qualifications of members.

Each county and city participating in a program funded by an approved grant shall be represented on a youth services citizen board. The board shall be appointed by the county or city governing body or combination thereof and may include in its membership representative elected officials, representatives of public and private agencies serving youths, citizens not employed by government or service agencies and at least one member who is below the age of eighteen years. A majority of the board shall be citizens who are not employed by government or service agencies and who are not elected governmental officials. The board shall actively participate with community representatives in the formulation of a comprehensive plan for the development, coordination and evaluation of the youth services program and shall make formal recommendations to the governing authority or authorities at least annually concerning the comprehensive plan and its implementation during the ensuing year.

§ 66-35. Responsibilities of local programs.

It shall be the responsibility of the youth services citizen board local programs to:

1. Prepare and annually update a comprehensive plan based on an objective assessment of the community's youth development and delinquency prevention needs and resources;

1. 2. Assist community agencies and organizations, including the community policy and management team established pursuant to § 2.1-750, the locality in establishing and modifying programs and services to youth pursuant to § 16.1-309.3 on the basis of an objective assessment of the community's needs and resources;

2. Evaluate and monitor community programs and services to determine their impact on youth;

3. Provide a mechanism whereby all youths and their families with needs for services will be linked to appropriate services; and

4. Attempt to resolve agency policies and procedures that make it difficult for youths and their families to receive services.

The board shall actively participate with community representatives in the formulation of a comprehensive plan for the development, coordination and evaluation of the youth services program and shall make formal recommendations to the governing authority or authorities at least annually concerning the comprehensive plan and its implementation during the ensuing year.

3. Collaborate with public and private entities to maintain and disseminate an annual inventory of youth and parenting related services and programs available in the locality;

4. Collaborate with public and private entities to identify gaps in program services and identify potential funding sources to assist in developing programs to respond to identified gaps; and

5. Provide assistance to other community agencies and organizations, including the community policy and management team established pursuant to § 2.1-750, in establishing and modifying programs and services to youth.