Community Engagement Response Team appropriation

This bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to create a Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) in Rochester. The funds will be granted to a nonprofit organization to support a team made up of community leaders and volunteers. The CERT must focus on improving public safety by acting as a liaison between law enforcement and the Black community, mediating community issues, curating opportunities, and providing advocacy specifically for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities in Rochester. The bill directly affects the Rochester community by establishing this new local resource.