LOCAL LAW NO. "F" FOR 2026
A LOCAL LAW OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AMENDING CHAPTER 125 OF THE ALBANY COUNTY CODE ESTABLISHING PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTS OF DEPENDENT MINORS
Introduced: 6/8/26
By Robinson, Mauriello:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. ARTICLE CREATION.
Chapter 125, Article V, Parental Responsibility for Minors Conduct, is hereby created.
SECTION II. §128-28 Legislative Intent and Purpose
When a minor commits a crime, the responsibility of their actions rests predominantly with the individual offender. However, the Albany County Legislature finds that responsibility rests, too, with the parent or guardian of the offender. The Legislature further finds that any approach to youth crime that does not consider the broader social context of the family as the fundamental unit of society - and the responsibilities of parents and caregivers to youth in forming and raising them - will ultimately fail to address the problem of youth crime. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to enact an approach to youth crime that equips families to succeed by mandating they participate in programs that will better equip parents and caregivers to handle the great responsibility with which they are entrusted, not only for the youth offender but for any siblings possibly within the same family.
Section III. §Definitions
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Parent: shall mean any natural parent, legal guardian, or other adult person over the age of eighteen who is legally responsible for the care, custody, and control of a minor.
Minor: shall mean an individual who is under the age of eighteen years old.
Covered offense: shall mean any violation of the New York State Penal Law by a minor where such minor is considered either: (i) an adolescent offender, as such term is defined by section 1.20(44) of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law, or (ii) a juvenile delinquent, as such term is defined by section 301.2(1) of the New York State Family Court Act, for purposes of adjudication.
Mandatory class: shall mean an in person or online instructional program designed to educate parents as to best practices to ensure that minors do not commit covered offenses, provided however that the Department of Probation shall not be required to create a new class for purposes of implementing this article and the resources and skills of existing providers receiving county funds shall be used.
SECTION IV. §128-29 Duties of Parents
It shall be the duty of all parents to ensure that minors are not convicted of a covered offense.
SECTION V. §128-30 Violations and Penalties
In the event a minor is convicted of a covered offense the parent shall be in violation of this chapter. Such violation may be excused if the parent of such minor, or their designee if they choose to have another individual attend on their behalf, attends and completes a mandatory class. Any parent who fails to attend such mandatory class shall be subject to community service as recommended by the Department of Probation, in conjunction with any other applicable County agencies, for each violation. Parents may be excused from this requirement if they can demonstrate that work obligations make attendance impracticable.
SECTION VI. §128-31 Jurisdiction
Enforcement of the provisions of this chapter shall be under the authority of the Department of Probation, in conjunction with any other applicable county agencies.
SECTION VII. Severability
If any part or provision of this local law, or the application thereof to any individual or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the local law shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in force and effect.
SECTION VIII. SEQRA Compliance
This County Legislature determines that this local law constitutes a "Type II action" pursuant to the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA),and that no further action under SEQRA is required.
SECTION IX. Effective Date.
This Local Law shall take effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State as required by §27 of the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law.