Summary — B 25-0742: Youth Mentorship Through Community Engagement Act 2024
Status: Final Reading
Introduced: March 4, 2024
Sponsor: Councilmember R. White
Classification: Bill
Note: The full bill text was not provided. This summary is based on the bill title and available legislative history and explains likely purposes and typical provisions such legislation would contain. Where the actual text is not available, items are described as expected or possible components.
Purpose and intent
Based on its title, the Youth Mentorship Through Community Engagement Act 2024 is intended to create or expand a structured youth mentorship initiative that leverages community organizations, residents, and public agencies to provide mentoring, life-skills development, and supportive services to District youth. The overall goal is to strengthen youth outcomes (e.g., educational attainment, employment readiness, civic engagement) through sustained, community-based mentoring relationships.
Key (anticipated) provisions
While the full text is not provided, bills of this type commonly include some or all of the following elements:
- Establishment of a formal Youth Mentorship Program (or authorization for one) administered by an existing District agency or a newly designated office.
- Eligibility criteria defining which youth may participate (for example, by age range, residency, income level, or connection to public housing or at-risk status).
- Authorization to partner with community-based organizations, schools, faith-based groups, and housing authorities to recruit mentors and deliver programming.
- Standards for mentor recruitment, selection, background checks, training, and supervision to ensure youth safety and program quality.
- Program services such as academic support, career readiness, mental health referrals, civic-engagement activities, and structured one-on-one or group mentoring.
- Funding mechanisms: creation of a dedicated fund, authorization of appropriations, or direction for the agency to seek grants/private partnerships (actual funding details not provided).
- Data collection, outcomes measurement, and regular reporting requirements to the Council on program performance and fiscal status.
- Timeline for implementation and possible pilot phases or geographic targeting (e.g., public housing communities), given referral to the Committee on Housing.
Who would be affected
- Youth residents of the District (direct beneficiaries), particularly those meeting any program eligibility criteria (potentially including youth in public or subsidized housing).
- Community-based organizations, schools, and faith groups partnering to deliver mentorship services.
- District agencies involved in program administration, oversight, and funding.
- Mentors (volunteer and paid) who would be recruited and trained under program requirements.
Legislative process and timeline
- Introduced: March 4, 2024 (Councilmember R. White).
- Referred to Committee on Housing with comments from the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor (March 5, 2024).
- Notice of intent and public hearing notices published March–September 2024.
- Public hearing held: October 3, 2024.
- Committee mark-up: November 21, 2024; Committee report filed: November 25, 2024.
- First Reading at Council: December 3, 2024.
- Amendment Filed by R. White and Final Reading: December 17, 2024.
“Final Reading” indicates the bill was considered by the full Council at its final legislative stage. The available record does not include the final vote result or whether the bill was transmitted to the Mayor or enacted. For status beyond Final Reading (e.g., enactment, veto, or become law), check the Council’s legislative records or the Office of the Secretary.
Next steps / where to find the full text
To determine precise program details (eligibility, funding, reporting requirements, and implementation dates), review the bill’s full text and the Committee report filed November 25, 2024. Those documents are available from the D.C. Council legislative information system or the Office of the Secretary.
