"The first of five bills before me today is Introductory Number 195-A, introduced at the request of the Administration and sponsored by Council Members Gonzalez, Palma, Comrie, Dromm, Nelson, Jackson, Gennaro, Van Bramer, Lappin, Gentile, and Lander.  Introductory Number 195-A merges the Department of Juvenile Justice into the Administration for Children's Services, an important step toward improving the lives of young New Yorkers that I outlined in my State of the City Address in January.

"Over the past several years, the City has implemented a series of juvenile justice reforms to improve its ability to assess risk and provide appropriate interventions for court-involved youth.  This legislation builds on these efforts.  By bringing the Department of Juvenile Justice under the umbrella of ACS, the City is taking bold action to bolster public safety; make smarter, more limited use of detention; expand and enrich alternatives to incarceration; and improve long-term outcomes for all youth under the City's care.

"I would like to thank ACS Commissioner John Mattingly and his Executive Deputy Commissioner for Youth and Family Justice Larry Busching, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo, and all of their staff along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their tireless work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this important piece of legislation."