There is established the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, referred to in this section as the "council." [2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW); 2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF).]
1.Duties. The council shall perform the following duties:
A. Advise the Legislature, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on proposed and pending
legislation, state budget expenditures and policy matters related to youth; [2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW); 2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF).]
B. Advise the joint standing committees of the Legislature and study commissions, committees and task forces regarding issues
related to youth; [2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW); 2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF).]
C. Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding leadership, government and the Legislature; [2003, c. 20, Pt. F, §2 (AMD).]
D. Except as provided in this paragraph, meet at least 3 times but not more than 6 times per year, including not more than 2 public hearings on issues of importance to
youth. The council may meet up to an additional 3 times in a year if the Executive Director of the Legislative Council determines
that sufficient budgeted resources remain after paying all costs associated with the initial 6 meetings to pay any additional
costs associated with any additional meetings; and [2007, c. 679, §1 (AMD).]
E. Report biennially to the Legislative Council on its activities by the first business day in February of each even-numbered year. The council may submit proposed legislation as part of its report to the Legislative Council to implement its recommendations. [2007, c. 679, §2 (AMD).]
[
2007, c. 679, §§1, 2 (AMD)
.]
2.Jurisdiction. The council shall examine issues of importance to youth, including, but not limited to, education, employment, strategies
to increase youth participation in municipal government and State Government, safe environments for youth, substance abuse,
emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty, homelessness and youth access to services on municipal and statewide
bases.
[
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW);
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF)
.]
3.Membership. The council consists of 20 voting members who are Maine residents and appointed in accordance with this subsection. In
appointing members, the appointing authorities shall consider geographic distribution. All youth and legislative appointments
must be made within 60 days after the convening of each new Legislature. All appointments are for the duration of the legislative
term for which the members are appointed and expire upon the convening of the next Legislature. The appointing authorities
shall select youth members from youths recommended by principals, guidance counselors or administrative heads of secondary
or postsecondary school systems, representatives of equivalent instruction programs or other organizations having an interest
in youth activities. Members may be reappointed to subsequent terms on the council as long as they are eligible at the time
of their reappointment.
A. The President of the Senate shall appoint the following 10 members:
(1) Seven youths who have attained 16 years of age and who are enrolled in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma
or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma, enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under Title 20-A,
chapter 211, subchapter 1-A or enrolled at postsecondary educational institutions located in the State;
(2) One youth who has attained 16 years of age and is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program under Title 20-A, chapter
211, subchapter 1-A; and
(3) Two members of the Senate. [2005, c. 616, Pt. B, §2 (RPR).]
B. The Speaker of the House shall appoint the following 10 members:
(1) Seven youths who have attained 16 years of age and who are enrolled in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma
or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma, enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under Title 20-A,
chapter 211, subchapter 1-A or enrolled at postsecondary educational institutions located in the State;
(2) One youth who has attained 16 years of age and who is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program under Title 20-A,
chapter 211, subchapter 1-A; and
(3) Two members of the House of Representatives. [2005, c. 616, Pt. B, §2 (RPR).]
[
2005, c. 616, Pt. B, §2 (RPR)
.]
4.Chairs. There is a legislative chair and a youth chair of the council. The legislative chair alternates every 2 years between the
first-appointed member of the House of Representatives and the first-appointed member of the Senate, beginning in 2003 with
the first-appointed member of the House of Representatives serving as the legislative chair for the 121st Legislature. The
members shall elect one of their youth members to serve as the youth chair for that biennium.
[
2005, c. 616, Pt. B, §3 (AMD)
.]
5.Integration with learning results. The Department of Education may seek the cooperation of the council on the integration of council experience into the learning
results standards in student service and career preparation.
[
2005, c. 616, Pt. B, §4 (AMD)
.]
6.Priorities. The council shall set priorities and shall determine the function of subcommittees, standards of conduct, process, procedures
and the use of technology to convene meetings. Council members shall review and consider the procedures and rules used by
the Legislature as they may be appropriate for use as models for the council.
[
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW);
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF)
.]
7.Communication. The council may provide testimony on legislation pending before the Legislature.
[
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW);
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF)
.]
8.Compensation. Members of the council who are Legislators are entitled to the legislative per diem and to reimbursement of reasonable expenses
incurred in order to serve on the council as provided in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 54-C. All other members who
are not otherwise reimbursed for their service on the council are entitled to compensation for reasonable expenses incurred
in order to serve on the council as provided in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 54-C.
[
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW);
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF)
.]
9.Freedom of access. Meetings of the council are public meetings and all records of the council are public records as defined by Title 1, section
402, subsection 3.
[
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 (NEW);
2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §4 (AFF)
.]
10.Staff. The Legislative Council shall provide staff assistance to the council from within its existing budgeted resources or from
any grants received by the Legislative Council for that purpose. The staff assigned by the Legislative Council shall draft
all legislation submitted to the Legislature by the council. Legislative Council staffing may be curtailed during periods
when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
[
2005, c. 414, §1 (AMD)
.]
11.Funding. The Legislative Council may seek outside funds to fund costs of the council. Contributions to support the work of the youth
council may not be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of the matters being
studied or who would in any way compromise the work of the council. Any person, other than a state agency, desiring to make
a financial or in-kind contribution must certify to the Legislative Council or its designee in the manner prescribed by the
Legislative Council that the person has no pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of the work of the council.
All contributions are subject to approval by the Legislative Council or its designee. The Executive Director of the Legislative
Council administers any funds received by the youth council. The executive director shall notify the chairs of the youth
council of the status of the funding on or before December 1st annually and what funding is available for the immediately
following calendar year.
[
2005, c. 414, §2 (NEW)
.]
12.Solicitation of funds prohibited without prior written approval. No public or private entity may solicit or receive funds from any source on behalf of or for the benefit of the council
without prior written approval of the Legislative Council or its executive director. All such funds, if approved and when
received by the requesting entity, must be immediately transferred in full to the Legislature and reserved by the Legislature
for use by the council.
[
2005, c. 616, Pt. A, §1 (NEW)
.]
SECTION HISTORY
2001, c. 439, §PPPP1 (NEW).
2001, c. 439, §PPPP4 (AFF).
2003, c. 20, §§F2,3 (AMD).
2003, c. 481, §§1,2 (AMD).
2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV).
2005, c. 414, §§1,2 (AMD).
2005, c. 616, §§A1,B1-4 (AMD).
2007, c. 679, §§1, 2 (AMD).
Data for this page extracted on 10/27/2009 09:55:50.