About COY
General
Assembly Overview Youth & Family
Programs Reports
Collection of Evidence-based Treatment
Modalities Purpose Mailing List Privacy Policy Home
About the
Commission on Youth
Established in statute, §30-174 and §30-175 by the 1989 General Assembly, the Virginia Commission on Youth was a legislative response to a two-year study examining the issues related to services to chronic status offenders.
Virginia code mandates the Commission "to study and provide recommendations addressing the needs of and services to the Commonwealth's youth and families." Enacted in 1989, the Commission began operations in 1991.
Purpose of the Commission on Youth
-
Provides a bipartisan forum for complex issues related to youth and their families;
-
Monitors developments in federal, state and local policies and laws which impact youth and their families;
-
Contributes to the General Assembly's ability to make sound policy decision based on well-studied and reasoned recommendations;
-
Assists members in developing bills on study issues which reflect consensus among key agencies, organizations and special interests;
-
Conducts legislative studies on issues related to youth and their families;
-
Serves as a resource for constituent concerns and the general public;
-
Performs research on youth related topics at the request of members;
-
Analyzes youth-related legislation (proposed or existing) for members;
-
Publishes a yearly newsletter outlining the major legislative and budgetary initiatives impacting children and youth each year following the General Assembly Session;
-
Addresses professional associations, civic and community groups on the legislative process, state and national policy issues impacting youth, and specific topical areas;
-
Educates interested groups on Commission studies; and
-
Serves on varied private and governmental task forces convened on children's issues.