HB0594 EngrossedLRB102 10655 RJF 15984 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
52 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed
6by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
7Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members
8of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the
9Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate. The initial term
10for members of the Advisory Council shall begin on January l,
112022, or the effective date of this Act, whichever occurs
12later, and expire on January 9, 2024. Thereafter, the term for
13members of the Advisory Council shall begin on the Thursday
14following the second Wednesday of January, and expire after 2
15years. On or before September 1, 2021, the Advisory Board
16shall create an application that shall be used in nominating
17individuals to be members of the Council. The Advisory Board
18may, from time to time, modify the application with the
19consent of the Council. While the Council is in session, the
20Advisory Board may attend meetings of the Council, and may
21generally advise the Council. Nothing in this Act shall be
22construed to entitle Advisory Board members to vote on matters
23pending before the Council.
24    (b) The Advisory Board shall make nominations for
25prospective Council members. Nominations for prospective
26Council members shall reflect the racial and gender diversity

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1    Council concerning leadership, government, and the General
2    Assembly;
3        (7) collaborate with other established youth advisory
4    commissions or councils, or any other commission or
5    council as necessary within the State of Illinois; and
6        (8) attend trainings, educational seminars, and other
7    relevant educational events as approved by the Council.
 
8    Section 40. Outreach.
9    (a) On or before September 1 of each year, the Chair of the
10Council, or a committee formed by the Chair, shall notify all
11high schools, colleges, and universities in this State, and
12make a reasonable effort to also notify community-based youth
13organizations, civic institutions, and units of government,
14that the time for applying to become a member of the Council is
15open, and shall expire on October 31st. The notice shall
16include the requirements for membership and a copy of the
17application.
18    (b) Upon receiving notice that the application period is
19open, any entity provided notice under subsection (a) shall
20make reasonable attempts to notify interested students of the
21Council.
22    (c) To raise awareness about the Council, the Council may:
23        (1) conduct a public awareness campaign;
24        (2) maintain a website and establish a social media
25    presence;

 

 

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1        (3) work with established youth groups to increase
2    awareness; and
3        (4) employ any other means necessary to raise
4    awareness of the Council's existence and purpose.
 
5    Section 45. Administrative support. Administrative support
6for the Council shall be provided by any State agency under the
7jurisdiction of the Governor or as otherwise designated by the
8Governor. Members of the Council shall not receive
9compensation for serving as members, but may be reimbursed for
10expenses incurred for traveling to council meetings, food,
11lodging, the printing of the required annual report, Council
12approved trainings, educational seminars, and other relevant
13educational events, and any other reimbursements approved by
14the Council. The funds for the travel and administrative costs
15of the Council may come from appropriations to the Governor's
16office and the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council
17Fund established under Section 55, subject to appropriation.
 
18    Section 50. Report to the General Assembly and Governor.
19The Council shall submit an annual report electronically to
20the General Assembly and the Governor detailing its activities
21and recommending any proposed legislation.
 
22    Section 55. Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council
23Fund. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund is

 

 

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1created as a special fund in the State treasury. All moneys in
2the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual
3expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including
4travel, food, and lodging, and other expenses such as printing
5the annual report, Council approved trainings, educational
6seminars, and other relevant educational events, and any other
7reimbursements approved by the Council in compliance with
8Section 50 of this Act. The moneys in the Illinois Legislative
9Youth Advisory Council Fund are subject to appropriation by
10the General Assembly. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
11Council Fund may accept private donations and gifts.
 
12    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
13Section 5.935 as follows:
 
14    (30 ILCS 105/5.935 new)
15    Sec. 5.935. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
16Council Fund.
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18becoming law.