§12336 Independent State Body

Summary

A State cannot get a grant under sections 12337 or 12338 unless the chief executive (for example, the governor) names an independent State body. That body must be mostly cabinet-level officials from each agency that runs programs for young people, plus appointees from eight groups: nonprofit service providers, advocacy and citizen groups, relevant legislative committees, young leaders (including service recipients), business people, employee representatives of service providers, local government officials, and enough staff to do the work. The body must write a State plan for approval under section 12337, run and monitor that plan, help coordinate all State activities tied to the chapter, and act as a visible advocate by reviewing plans, budgets, and policies and offering technical help. The independent body must also create a system for distributing the grant funds received under sections 12337 and 12338, send a description of that system to the Commissioner for review and comment, and give priority to local service systems that tailor services to needs, are rooted in the community (with local leaders and young people involved in planning), and show they can make providers work together through shared planning, funding, service delivery, and intake/assessment. The Commissioner may approve a plan that names an existing State entity if it already includes these parties and can do the same interagency planning and coordination.