(a) There is established a neighborhood youth center grant program which shall be administered by the Department of Education.

(b) Grants may be made to city and nonprofit agencies serving the cities of Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, New Britain, Norwalk, Stamford and Waterbury for the purpose of supporting neighborhood centers for youths between twelve and seventeen years of age. Agencies serving each eligible city may receive from the funds authorized for the program an amount that is proportionate to the population of the city between twelve and seventeen years of age whose families have incomes below the federal poverty level determined from 1990 data of the United States Bureau of the Census as a percentage of the aggregate population of such ages and family income level in all eligible cities in the state, except that the cities of Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford shall receive grants in equal amounts based on the average of the funds otherwise allocated among the three cities from such formula.

(c) Seventy-five per cent of all grants made (1) pursuant to sections 7-127d to 7-127g, inclusive, and (2) to municipalities which, in the aggregate, receive seventy-five thousand dollars or more, shall be made to cities and nonprofit agencies providing on-site athletic or recreational programs.

(d) Neighborhood youth center programs shall include the following components: (1) A neighborhood center, at a location convenient for youths within the neighborhood to be served, that is open regular hours including, but not limited to, evenings, weekends, school vacations and the summer and where all the other program components could be delivered; (2) athletic and recreational opportunities; (3) enrichment or tutoring activities; (4) skills training in areas such as problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, peer counseling and life skills; (5) parent involvement in planning the grant initially and on an ongoing basis; (6) youth involvement, including, but not limited to, input into the planning and management of the program and youth leadership development activities; and (7) maximum use of existing neighborhood services for youths.

(e) Neighborhood youth center programs may include the following components: (1) Matching youths on a one-to-one basis with positive adult role models; (2) vocational training and job placement; (3) preventive and interventive services for youths and their families; and (4) cultural opportunities.

(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-6, S. 5, 28; P.A. 95-351, S. 23, 30; P.A. 96-226, S. 1, 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 185; P.A. 11-48, S. 206.)

History: May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-6 effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-351 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford to receive grants in equal amounts, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-226 amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate schools from eligibility for grants, inserted new Subsec. (c) re percentage of grants for on-site athletic or recreational activities, relettering former Subsec. (c) as Subsecs. (d) and (e) and amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to require such programs to be at only one location within the neighborhood being served and to make certain activities mandatory and certain activities optional in such programs, effective July 1, 1996; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (a) to suspend operation of program for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2005, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing Office of Policy and Management with Department of Education re administration of program and deleting exception re suspension of operation of program for fiscal years 2004 and 2005, effective July 1, 2011.