§12336 Independent State Body

Summary

A State cannot get a grant from an allotment under sections 12337 or 12338 unless the State’s chief executive names an independent State body. That body must be made up mostly of cabinet-level representatives from every State agency that runs programs for young people, plus members chosen from eight groups, including nonprofit service providers, advocacy and citizens groups, legislative committees, young leaders (including service recipients), business people, employees of service providers, local government, and any staff needed. The staff must help make and run a State plan to send to the Commissioner under section 12337, monitor and administer the plan, help coordinate related State activities, and act as a visible advocate by reviewing State plans, budgets, and policies and offering technical help. The independent State body must also create a plan for how the State will distribute the funds received under sections 12337 and 12338, send that plan to the Commissioner for review and comment, and give priority to supporting local service systems that tailor services to needs, are rooted in their communities (with leaders and young people involved in planning), and show they can build strong collaboration among providers (like joint planning, joint financing, joint service delivery, common intake and assessment). The Commissioner may approve a plan that uses an existing State entity if it already includes the required parties and can do the same interagency planning and coordination.