ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4500

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  February 7, 2019

 

     The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4500.

     This bill directs the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to create, update, and disseminate a guide containing the “best practices” for arts programs for youth at risk of juvenile delinquency. The bill lists several elements that comprise best practices, based upon a report issued by the YouthARTS Development Project entitled “YouthARTS Handbook: Arts Programs for Youth at Risk.”

     The bill further requires the council to provide technical and consultative assistance to any State agency, State college or public institution of higher education, county, municipality, board of education, or county college that requests the assistance of the council in implementing a program following the best practices. The council is also to send a copy of the guide to the Juvenile Justice Commission and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families.