SB739 • 2026

Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program; created and established.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 9.1 a chapter numbered 16, consisting of a section numbered 9.1-1600, relating to the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program; established.</p>

Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Jones
Last action: 2026-02-11
Official status: Continued
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on tracking outcomes such as crime reduction or job placement rates beyond mentioning data-driven reporting requirements.

Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund

This bill establishes a grant fund to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services for awarding grants to community-based organizations to place mentors with high-risk youth in an effort to transition them into careers in certified high-wage trades.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund, which will give money to community groups.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services will run this program and pick who gets grants based on rules they make.
Grants are given to help high-risk young people find mentors who can guide them into jobs in skilled trades.

Who It Names or Affects

High-risk young people who might need guidance to get better jobs.
Community groups that help high-risk youth find mentors.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services which runs the program.

Terms To Know

Department: Refers to the Department of Criminal Justice Services in Virginia.
Fund: A special fund created by the state to give money for youth mentoring programs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be in the fund or where it comes from.
It is unclear exactly which high-risk youth and community groups will qualify for grants.

Bill History

2026-02-11 Finance and Appropriations
Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-04 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-01-27 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB739)
2026-01-19 Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26105219D
2026-01-19 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-19 Senate
Unanimous consent to introduce

Official Summary Text

Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program; established.
Establishes the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program, to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, for the purpose of awarding grants to community-based organizations for the purpose of placing mentors with high-risk youth in an effort to transition such youth into careers in certified high-wage trades.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 9.1 a chapter numbered 16, consisting of a section numbered
9.1-1600
, relating to the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program; established.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 9.1 a chapter numbered 16, consisting of a section numbered
9.1-1600
as follows:

CHAPTER 16.

VIRGINIA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND MENTORING GRANT FUND AND PROGRAM.

§
9.1-1
6
0
0
.
Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring

Grant
Fund
and Program
.

A.
A
s used in
this chapter
, unless the context requires a different meaning
:

"Department" means the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

"Fund" means the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring
Grant
Fund
.

"Program" means the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring
Grant Program.

B.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the
Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring

Grant
Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of
(i) awarding grants on a competitive basis through the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Pr
ogram established pursuant to subsection C
and
(ii) implementing and administering the Program
. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by
the Director of the Department
.

C. The Virginia Youth Empowerment
and Mentoring Grant Program is hereby established for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis from such funds as may be available from the Fund to community-based organizations for the
purpose
of

placing mentors with high-risk
youth
in an effort to transition such
youth into
c
areers in
certified high-wage
trades
. The program shall be administered by the Department. In administering the program, the Department shall establish and publish guidelines and
criteria

governing
agreements between the De
partment and grant
recipients
relating to
youth empowerment and mentoring
. The Department shall oversee each grant awarded through the program and ensure thorough reporting on such grant.
The Department shall maintain data-driven reporting that tracks measurable outcomes
, including
(i)
reductions in homicides and shootings in targeted communities and
(ii)
successful youth placement in the workforce
, which includes (a) apprenticeship enrollment and (b) job retention rates.