By law, the Department of Children and Families commissioner must establish a youth service bureau (YSB) grant program that, within available appropriations, awards $14,000 grants to eligible bureaus that applied for grants during specific fiscal years. Towns must contribute an amount equal to the state grant amount.

The act allows YSBs that applied for a grant during FY 22 to be eligible for one through the program. Prior law limited eligibility to applicants who applied for the grant during specified periods, most recently FY 21.

By law, YSBs coordinate community-based services that provide prevention and intervention programs for delinquent, pre-delinquent, pregnant, parenting, and troubled youths referred to them by schools, police, and juvenile courts, among others (CGS § 10-19m).