A 5896: Establishes the New York youth climate corps to support and grow climate-related service opportunities for young adults with the objective of building low-carbon and climate-resilient communities, ecosystems, and economies while providing education, workforce development, and career pathways to service members, with a focus on disadvantaged communities.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5896 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 24, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law and the labor law, in relation to establishing the New York youth climate corps The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. 1. The legislature recognizes that 2 climate change and environmental degradation are two of the greatest 3 challenges facing the state and the world today, and that we must mobi- 4 lize New York's workforce and youth to create a clean energy economy and 5 strengthen our communities and ecosystems in the face of climate 6 impacts. 7 2. The legislature finds that service provides a unique opportunity to 8 mobilize young adults to build clean energy and climate-resilient commu- 9 nities, economies, and ecosystems. Growing equity-centered, climate-re- 10 lated service programs and addressing critical gaps in service opportu- 11 nities will broaden access to service, ensuring that young adults of all 12 backgrounds, especially from overburdened communities and vulnerable 13 populations, can serve. Doing so will also ensure that service programs 14 address the needs of communities across the state, especially those 15 communities disproportionately impacted by environmental and health 16 burdens. 17 3. The legislature further finds that as our state transitions away 18 from a fossil fuel-based economy, we must do so in a way that fosters 19 innovation, investment, and growth in clean energy technology sectors 20 and jobs so our businesses, workforce, and communities can thrive. As 21 state, federal, local, and tribal governments implement policies to 22 mitigate the destructive forces of climate change, there will be conse- 23 quences for New York's businesses, workers, and communities. Accomplish- 24 ing an equitable transition will require identification of future indus- 25 try occupations and skill needs, the existing workforce's transferable EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09525-01-5 
 A. 5896 2 1 skills to meet those needs, and the gaps that need to be addressed 2 through training and education. The state must provide support in the 3 transition for workers and communities experiencing declining jobs and 4 revenues associated with high emissions technologies. The state must 5 also encourage the creation of a pipeline starting in the education 6 system that leads today's youth into the clean energy careers of tomor- 7 row. 8 4. Therefore, to create pathways for young adults to help build a 9 clean energy, climate-resilient future, the legislature intends to 10 create the New York youth climate corps. State involvement in the tran- 11 sition to a climate resilient economy and the youth climate corps' role 12 in the implementation of the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs 13 Environmental Bond Act of 2022 are critical to ensuring a faster, more 14 equitable transition that benefits all. 15 § 2. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new 16 article 59 to read as follows: 17 ARTICLE 59 18 NEW YORK YOUTH CLIMATE CORPS 19 Section 59-0101. Definitions. 20 59-0103. Establishment. 21 59-0105. Duties. 22 59-0107. Advisory board. 23 § 59-0101. Definitions. 24 As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following 25 meanings: 26 1. "New York youth climate corps" shall mean the office established 27 under section 59-0103 of this article. 28 2. "Approved host sites" shall mean not-for-profit corporations, 29 public agencies, local governments, educational institutions, labor 30 organizations, Indian tribes, and any other entities approved by the New 31 York youth climate corps and in compliance with the corps' minimum work- 32 place requirements. 33 3. "Minimum workplace requirements" shall mean the minimum diversity, 34 workplace safety, and wage requirements set for host sites by the New 35 York youth climate corps. 36 § 59-0103. Establishment. 37 The New York youth climate corps is established to support and grow 38 climate-related service opportunities for young adults with the objec- 39 tive of building low-carbon and climate-resilient communities, ecosys- 40 tems, and economies while providing education, workforce development, 41 and career pathways to service members, with a focus on disadvantaged 42 communities as defined in section 75-0111 of this chapter. The New York 43 youth climate corps shall be an office within the New York commission on 44 national and community service, a governmental entity created by execu- 45 tive order one hundred seventy-nine, signed December thirtieth, nineteen 46 hundred ninety-three. 47 § 59-0105. Duties. 48 The New York youth climate corps shall have the following duties: 49 1. Seek funding from article fifty-eight of this chapter to further 50 the purposes of this article. 51 2. Connect, amplify, and grow climate-related service opportunities to 52 mobilize and train young adults to build clean energy and climate-resi- 53 lient communities, economies, and ecosystems, with a focus on disadvan- 54 taged communities as defined in section 75-0111 of this chapter. 
 A. 5896 3 1 3. Develop and administer a service-learning program that provides 2 training to New York youth climate corps service members during their 3 tenure of service. The service-learning program must provide training 4 and learning opportunities to develop leadership skills, foster environ- 5 mental stewardship and civic engagement, and expose members to an array 6 of climate-related professional and educational opportunities. The New 7 York youth climate corps shall coordinate with the following entities in 8 the design and administration of the service-learning program: service 9 programs; Indian tribes; environmental justice organizations; labor 10 organizations; institutions that provide career and technical education; 11 and any other organizations as appropriate. 12 4. Work with approved host sites to unlock state and federal funding 13 provided approved host sites comply with the funding requirements of 14 those sources and the youth climate corps' minimum workplace require- 15 ments. 16 a. New York youth climate corps administrators shall coordinate, 17 manage, and distribute AmeriCorps grants, funds allocated through arti- 18 cle fifty-eight of this chapter, and any other sources of state or 19 federal funding, to approved host sites. 20 b. New York youth climate corps administrators shall assist approved 21 host sites in applying for the empire state apprenticeship tax credit, 22 including any preliminary requirements, such as registering as appren- 23 ticeship programs and drafting apprenticeship agreements. 24 c. Approved host sites who engage in the construction trade, as 25 defined in paragraph three of subdivision (b) of section twenty-five-c 26 of the labor law, shall not be barred from applying for the empire state 27 apprenticeship tax credit, notwithstanding paragraph one of subdivision 28 (b) of section twenty-five-c of the labor law. 29 5. New York youth climate corps administrators shall assist approved 30 host sites in applying for the New York youth jobs program tax credit, 31 including the preparation of reports required by paragraph one of subdi- 32 vision (e-1) of section twenty-five-a of the labor law. 33 6. New York youth climate corps administrators shall assist approved 34 host sites in applying, where applicable, for funding from the depart- 35 ment and the New York state energy research and development authority 36 including but not limited to the climate smart communities grant 37 program, the climate justice fellowship, and the on-the-job training for 38 energy efficiency program. 39 § 59-0107. Advisory board. 40 There shall be created within the New York youth climate corps an 41 advisory board whose members shall serve without pay, meet not less than 42 twice each year and whose sole purpose shall be to advise as to the 43 management, of such youth climate corps. Such advisory board shall 44 consist of the following representatives: the executive director of the 45 New York commission on national and community service; the director of 46 programs of the New York commission on national and community service; 47 an official partaking in the implementation of the environmental bond 48 act from the department; an official partaking in the implementation of 49 the environmental bond act from the department of parks, recreation, and 50 historic preservation; an official partaking in the implementation of 51 the environmental bond act from the department of housing and community 52 renewal; an official from the department of labor; and a representative 53 from a labor organization, to be appointed by the governor. 54 § 3. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (c) of section 55 25-c of the labor law, as amended by section 1 of subpart B of part N of 
 A. 5896 4 1 chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended and a new subparagraph (C) 2 is added to read as follows: 3 (B) in lieu of the credit specified in subparagraph (A) of this para- 4 graph, for each qualified apprentice who is considered a disadvantaged 5 youth for each tax year: (1) five thousand dollars for each first year 6 apprentice; (2) six thousand dollars for each second year apprentice; 7 and (3) seven thousand dollars for each third, fourth, or fifth year 8 apprentice. The apprentice's status as a first, second, third, fourth or 9 fifth year apprentice will be determined on the last day of the calendar 10 year, or if the apprentice is no longer employed by the participating 11 employer on the last day of the calendar year, on the last day of the 12 apprentice's employment with the participating employer. If a disadvan- 13 taged youth begins an apprenticeship before the age of twenty-five, a 14 certified employer shall be eligible to continue to receive the tax 15 credit for such youth under this subparagraph until that apprentice 16 completes the apprenticeship[.]; or 17 (C) in lieu of the credits specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 18 this paragraph, for youth climate corps employers: (1) five thousand 19 dollars for each first year apprentice; (2) six thousand dollars for 20 each second year apprentice; and (3) seven thousand dollars for each 21 third, fourth, or fifth year apprentice. The apprentice's status as a 22 first, second, third, fourth or fifth year apprentice will be determined 23 on the last day of the calendar year, or if the apprentice is no longer 24 employed by the participating employer on the last day of the calendar 25 year, on the last day of the apprentice's employment with the partic- 26 ipating employer. 27 § 4. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 58-0303 of the environ- 28 mental conservation law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 29 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows: 30 a. The commissioner and the commissioner of the division of housing 31 and community renewal or any other department or state agency that has 32 received funds suballocated pursuant to this section may enter into 33 agreements with municipalities, [and] not-for-profit corporations, 34 public agencies, local governments, educational institutions, labor 35 organizations, and Indian tribes for the purpose of implementing a 36 program pursuant to this section. 37 § 5. Subdivision 3 of section 58-0303 of the environmental conserva- 38 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 39 2021, is amended to read as follows: 40 3. The department, the office of parks, recreation, and historic pres- 41 ervation [and], the department of state and the New York commission on 42 national and community service are authorized to provide state assist- 43 ance payments or grants to municipalities [and], not-for-profit corpo- 44 rations, public agencies, local governments, educational institutions, 45 labor organizations, and Indian tribes, and undertake projects pursuant 46 to paragraph a of subdivision one of this section. 47 § 6. Subdivision 4 of section 58-0303 of the environmental conserva- 48 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 49 2021, is amended to read as follows: 50 4. The department [and], the office of parks, recreation, and historic 51 preservation, and the New York commission on national and community 52 service are authorized to provide state assistance payments or grants to 53 municipalities [and], not-for-profit corporations, public agencies, 54 local governments, educational institutions, labor organizations, and 55 Indian tribes, and undertake projects pursuant to paragraph b of subdi- 56 vision one of this section. Culvert and bridge projects shall be in 
 A. 5896 5 1 compliance with the department's stream crossing guidelines and best 2 management practices, and engineered for structural integrity and appro- 3 priate hydraulic capacity including, where available, projects flows 4 based on flood modeling that incorporates climate change projections and 5 shall not include routine construction or maintenance undertaken by the 6 state or municipalities. 7 § 7. Subdivision 5 of section 58-0303 of the environmental conserva- 8 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 9 2021, is amended to read as follows: 10 5. The department [and], the office of parks, recreation, and historic 11 preservation, and the New York commission on national and community 12 service are authorized to provide state assistance payments or grants to 13 municipalities [and], not-for-profit corporations, public agencies, 14 local governments, educational institutions, labor organizations, and 15 Indian tribes, and undertake projects pursuant to paragraph c of subdi- 16 vision one of this section. 17 § 8. Subdivision 2 of section 58-0503 of the environmental conserva- 18 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 19 2021, is amended to read as follows: 20 2. The department or the office of parks, recreation and historic 21 preservation are authorized to undertake open space land conservation 22 projects, in cooperation with willing sellers pursuant to subdivision 23 one of this section and may enter into an agreement for purchase of real 24 property or conservation easements on real property by a municipality 25 [or], a not-for-profit corporation, public agency, local government, 26 educational institution, labor organizations, or Indian tribe. Any such 27 agreement shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary to ensure 28 that the purchase is consistent with, and in furtherance of, this title 29 and shall be subject to the approval of the comptroller and, as to form, 30 the attorney general. In undertaking such projects, such commissioners 31 shall consider the state land acquisition plan prepared pursuant to 32 section 49-0207 of this chapter. Further, the department or the office 33 of parks, recreation and historic preservation are authorized to provide 34 state assistance payments to municipalities and the New York commission 35 on national and community service for eligible projects consistent with 36 paragraphs a and c of subdivision one of this section. 37 § 9. Subdivision 4 of section 58-0503 of the environmental conserva- 38 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 39 2021, is amended to read as follows: 40 4. The department and the department of agriculture and markets are 41 authorized to provide, pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision one of 42 this section, farmland preservation implementation grants to county 43 agricultural and farmland protection boards pursuant to article [twen- 44 ty-five-aaa] twenty-five-AAA of the agriculture and markets law, or to 45 municipalities, soil and water conservation districts [or], not-for-pro- 46 fit corporations or the New York commission on national and community 47 service for implementation of projects. 48 § 10. Subdivision 7 of section 58-0503 of the environmental conserva- 49 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 50 2021, is amended to read as follows: 51 7. The commissioner and a not-for-profit corporation or the New York 52 commission on national and community service may enter into a contract 53 for the undertaking by the not-for-profit corporation of an open space 54 land acquisition project. 
 A. 5896 6 1 § 11. Subdivision 2 of section 58-0703 of the environmental conserva- 2 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 3 2021, is amended to read as follows: 4 2. The department, the department of agriculture and markets, the 5 office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, the New York 6 state energy research and development authority [and], the office of 7 general services, and the New York commission on national and community 8 service are authorized to provide state assistance payments or grants to 9 municipalities [and], not-for-profit corporations, public agencies, 10 local governments, educational institutions, labor organizations, and 11 Indian tribes, or undertake projects pursuant to this section. 12 § 12. Subdivision 2 of section 58-0903 of the environmental conserva- 13 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 14 2021, is amended to read as follows: 15 2. The department [and], the New York state environmental facilities 16 corporation, and the New York commission on national and community 17 service are authorized to provide state assistance payments or grants to 18 municipalities, not-for-profit corporations, public agencies, local 19 governments, educational institutions, labor organizations, and Indian 20 tribes for projects authorized pursuant to paragraphs a, b, and d of 21 subdivision one of this section. 22 § 13. Subdivision 4 of section 58-0903 of the environmental conserva- 23 tion law, as added by section 1 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 24 2021, is amended to read as follows: 25 4. The department [is] and the New York commission on national and 26 community service are authorized to make grants available to not-for- 27 profits [and], academic institutions, public agencies, local govern- 28 ments, educational institutions, labor organizations, and Indian tribes 29 for paragraphs b, c, and f of subdivision one of this section, and make 30 state assistance payments to municipalities, not-for-profit corpo- 31 rations, public agencies, local governments, educational institutions, 32 labor organizations, and Indian tribes and undertake projects pursuant 33 to this section. 34 § 14. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 35 have become a law.