101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4211

 

Introduced 1/22/2020, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.930 new

    Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to facilitate communication between the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of State government regarding the issues, interests, and needs important to youth in the State of Illinois. Creates an Advisory Board, consisting of 2 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate, to facilitate the functions of the Council. Creates the Transition Oversight Committee for the initial outreach of the Council. Provides for the application and nomination process for prospective members of the Council. Sets forth membership and meeting requirements and the powers of the Council. Provides that members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, but may be re-elected if they continue to be nominated and qualified to serve as members. Provides for the election of a Chair at the first Council meeting of the year. Provides for administrative support of the Council. Requires the Council to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor. Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all moneys in the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including travel, food, and lodging, and printing the annual report. Amends the State Finance Act. Adds the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund. Effective immediately.


LRB101 16641 RJF 66026 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4211LRB101 16641 RJF 66026 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. For purposes of this Act:
7    "Council" means the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
8Council.
 
9    Section 10. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
10Council. For the purpose of facilitating communication between
11the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of
12State government regarding the issues, interests, and needs
13important to youth in the State of Illinois, the Illinois
14Legislative Youth Advisory Council is created. The Council
15shall have the powers and responsibilities enumerated in this
16Act, together with such others as may be conferred upon it by
17law. The Council shall be an entity created under the
18legislative branch, and maintained and staffed under the
19executive branch by the Office of the Governor or an agency
20designated by the Governor that is under the jurisdiction of
21the Governor.
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. Advisory Board; members; nomination; term of
2office; vacancies.
3    (a) An Advisory Board shall be created to facilitate the
4functions of the Council. The Advisory Board shall consist of 2
5members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed by
6the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority
7Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the
8Senate, one each appointed by the President of the Senate and
9the Minority Leader of the Senate. The initial term for members
10of the Advisory Council shall begin on January l, 2021, or the
11effective date of this Act, whichever occurs later, and expire
12on January 10, 2023. Thereafter, the term for members of the
13Advisory Council shall begin on the Thursday following the
14second Wednesday of January, and expire after 2 years. On or
15before September 1, 2020, the Advisory Board shall create an
16application that shall be used in nominating individuals to be
17members of the Council. The Advisory Board may, from time to
18time, modify the application with the consent of the Council.
19While the Council is in session, the Advisory Board may attend
20meetings of the Council, and may generally advise the Council.
21Nothing in this Act shall be construed to entitle Advisory
22Board members to vote on matters pending before the Council.
23    (b) The Advisory Board shall make nominations for
24prospective Council members. After making the nomination, the
25Advisory Board shall notify the nominated individuals. Upon
26appointing the nominated individuals, the Advisory Board shall

 

 

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1notify the individual of his or her appointment. The Advisory
2Board shall appoint one member from each congressional district
3of the State of Illinois, as well as 2 additional
4members-at-large. The 2 at-large members must not reside in the
5same congressional district.
6    (c) Each Council member's term shall be for 2 years. A
7member shall be allowed to serve more than one term, so long as
8the member continues to meet the requirements for being a
9member and is appointed for each term.
10    (d) Any vacancies in the Council shall be filled in the
11same or substantially the same manner as the original
12appointment within 30 days after the vacancy.
 
13    Section 20. Transition Oversight Committee.
14    (a) The Transition Oversight Committee is hereby created
15for initial outreach and marketing of the Council to the youth
16of Illinois as provided under Section 40.
17    (b) The members of the Transition Oversight Committee shall
18be appointed by the Advisory Board within 30 days after the
19appointment of the Board. The Committee shall be comprised of 3
20members, and the Board shall designate one member as Chair of
21the Committee. Members of the Committee shall meet the same
22requirements of membership qualifications as members of the
23Council, and are responsible for overseeing the initial
24implementation of the Council. Members of the Committee may
25also be appointed to serve on the Council.

 

 

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1    (c) The members of the Transition Oversight Committee shall
2create the bylaws for the functioning of the Council. These
3initial bylaws shall be subject to approval by the Advisory
4Board and the Council.
5    (d) The Chair of the Transition Oversight Committee shall
6preside at the first meeting of the Council with the assistance
7of the other 2 members, until the Chair of the Council is
8elected.
9    (e) The Transition Oversight Committee shall cease to exist
10after the first meeting of the Council.
 
11    Section 25. Members; qualifications. Each member of the
12Council shall, during his or her term, be:
13        (1) a resident of this State;
14        (2) older than 16 years of age and younger than 22
15    years of age, except that if a member turns 23 years of age
16    during his or her term, such member shall be allowed to
17    complete the term; and
18        (3) be a student enrolled at a high school, community
19    college, or university in this State, except that if a
20    member graduates from high school or college during his or
21    her term, such member shall be allowed to complete the
22    term.
 
23    Section 30. Quorum; meetings; committees; leadership
24responsibilities.

 

 

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1    (a) A majority of those appointed to the Council shall
2constitute a quorum.
3    (b) The Council shall convene each year and shall meet as
4often as is deemed necessary. For all other meetings and
5committee meetings, the Council may meet by electronic or
6telephonic means. Members of the Council shall be excused from
7school to participate in in-person meetings of the Council. At
8the initial meeting of the Council, the members shall elect
9from among their number a Chair, and may create more leadership
10positions as deemed necessary by the Council.
 
11    Section 35. Powers. The Council may:
12        (1) request the drafting of legislative measures from
13    the Legislative Reference Bureau;
14        (2) provide testimony during any committee meeting of
15    the General Assembly;
16        (3) vote on any matter pending before the General
17    Assembly and inform the General Assembly of the Council's
18    position on the matter;
19        (4) draft reports and advisory opinions to the General
20    Assembly;
21        (5) perform any other activity that may reasonably
22    inform the General Assembly of the Council's position on
23    any issue of relevance; and
24        (6) conduct periodic seminars for members of the
25    Council concerning leadership, government, and the General

 

 

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1    Assembly.
 
2    Section 40. Outreach.
3    (a) On or before September 1 of each year, the Chair of the
4Council shall notify all high schools, colleges, and
5universities in this State that the time for applying to become
6a member of the Council is open, and shall expire on October
731. The notice shall include the requirements for membership
8and a copy of the application.
9    (b) Upon receiving notice that the application period is
10open, the high school, college, or university shall make
11reasonable attempts to notify interested students of the
12Council.
13    (c) To raise awareness about the Council, the Council may:
14        (1) conduct a public awareness campaign;
15        (2) maintain a website and establish a social media
16    presence;
17        (3) work with established youth groups to increase
18    awareness; and
19        (4) employ any other means necessary to raise awareness
20    of the Council's existence and purpose.
 
21    Section 45. Administrative support. Administrative support
22for the Council shall be provided by the Office of the
23Secretary of State. Members of the Council shall not receive
24compensation for serving as members, but may be reimbursed for

 

 

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1expenses incurred for traveling to council meetings, food,
2lodging, and the printing of the required annual report. The
3funds for the travel and administrative costs of the Council
4shall come from appropriations to the Governor's office and the
5Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund established
6under Section 55, subject to appropriation.
 
7    Section 50. Report to the General Assembly and Governor.
8The Council shall submit an annual report electronically to the
9General Assembly and the Governor detailing its activities and
10recommending any proposed legislation.
 
11    Section 55. Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council
12Fund. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund is
13created as a special fund in the State treasury. All moneys in
14the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual
15expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including
16travel, food, and lodging, and printing the annual report in
17compliance with Section 50 of this Act. The moneys in the
18Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund are subject to
19appropriation by the General Assembly. The Illinois
20Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund may accept donations
21and gifts.
 
22    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
23Section 5.930 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (30 ILCS 105/5.930 new)
2    Sec. 5.930. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
3Council Fund.
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.