103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2405

 

Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Karina Villa

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    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.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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 Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "Council"
7means the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
 
8    Section 10. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
9Council. For the purpose of facilitating communication between
10the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of
11State Government regarding the issues, interests, and needs
12important to youth in the State of Illinois, the Illinois
13Legislative Youth Advisory Council is hereby created. The
14Council shall have the powers and responsibilities enumerated
15in this Act together with such others as may be conferred upon
16it by law. The Council shall be maintained and staffed by the
17Office of the Governor.
 
18    Section 15. Advisory Board; members; nomination; term of
19office; vacancies.
20    (a) An Advisory Board shall be created to facilitate the
21functions of the Council. The Advisory Board shall consist of

 

 

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12 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed
2by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
3Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members
4of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the
5Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate. The initial term
6for members of the Advisory Council shall begin on January 1,
72024, or the effective date of this Act, whichever occurs
8later, and expire on January 9, 2026. Thereafter, the term for
9members of the Advisory Council shall begin on the Thursday
10following the second Wednesday of January, and expire after 2
11years. On or before September 1, 2023, the Advisory Board
12shall create an application that shall be used in nominating
13individuals to be members of the Council. The Advisory Board
14may, from time to time, modify the application with the
15consent of the Council. While the Council is in session, the
16Advisory Board may attend meetings of the bill Council, and
17may generally advise the Council. Nothing in this Act shall be
18construed to entitle Advisory Board members to vote on matters
19pending before the Council.
20    (b) The Advisory Board shall make nominations for
21prospective Council members. Nominations for prospective
22Council members shall reflect the racial and gender diversity
23of this State and shall represent a diverse grouping of age
24distribution. Advisory Board shall notify the nominated
25individuals. Upon appointing the nominated individuals, the
26Advisory Board shall notify individual of his or her

 

 

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

 

 

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1shall create the bylaws for the functioning of the Council.
2The initial bylaws shall be subject ton approval by the
3Advisory Board and the Council.
4    (d) The Chair of the Transition Oversight Committee shall
5preside at the first meeting of the Council with the
6assistance of the other 2 members, until the Chair of the
7Council is elected.
8    (e) The Transition Oversight Committee shall cease to
9exist after the first meeting of the Council.
 
10    Section 25. Members; qualifications. Each member of the
11Council shall, during his or her term, be:
12    (1) a resident of this State;
13    (2) at least 16 years of age and younger than 21 years of
14age, except than if the members turn 21 years of age during his
15or her term, such member shall be allowed to complete the term;
16or
17    (3) a student enrolled at a high school or a graduate from
18a high school with a diploma or a GED.
 
19    Section 30. Quorum; meetings; committees; leadership
20responsibilities.
21    (a) A majority of those appointed to the Council shall
22constitute a quorum.
23    (b) The Council shall convene each year and shall meet as
24often as is deemed necessary. For all other meetings and

 

 

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1committee meetings, the Council may meet by electronic or
2telephonic means. Members of the Council shall be excused from
3school to participate in in-person meetings of the Council. At
4the initial meeting of the Council, the members shall elect
5from among their number a Chair and may create more leadership
6positions as deemed necessary by the Council.
 
7    Section 35. Powers. The Council may:
8    (1) request the drafting of the legislative measures from
9the Legislative Reference Bureau;
10    (2) provide testimony during any committee meeting of the
11General Assembly;
12    (3) take a poll on any matter pending before the General
13Assembly and inform the General Assembly of the Council's
14position on the matter;
15    (4) draft reports and advisory opinions for the General
16Assembly;
17    (5) perform any other activity that may reasonably inform
18the General Assembly of the Council's position on any issue of
19relevance;
20    (6) conduct periodic seminars for members of the Council
21concerning leadership, government, and the General Assembly;
22    (7) collaborate with other established youth advisory
23commissions or councils or any other commission or council
24within the State of Illinois as necessary; and
25    (8) attend trainings, educational seminars, and other

 

 

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1relevant educational events as approved by the Council.
 
2    Section 40. Outreach
3    (a) On or before September 1 of each year, the Chair of the
4Council, or a committee formed by the Chair, shall notify all
5high schools, colleges, and universities in this State, and
6make a reasonable effort to also notify community based-based
7youth organizations, civic institutions, and units of
8government, that the time for applying to become a member of
9the Council is open and shall expire on October 31st. The
10notice shall include requirements for membership and a copy of
11the application.
12    (b) Upon receiving notice that the application period its
13open, any entity provided notice under subsection (a) shall
14make a reasonable attempt to notify interested students of the
15Council.
16    (c) To raise awareness about the Council, the Council may:
17        (1) conduct a public awareness campaigns;
18        (2) maintain a website and establish a social media
19    presence;
20        (3) work with established youth groups to increase
21    awareness; and
22        (4) employ any other means necessary to raise
23    awareness of the Council's existence and purpose.
 
24    Section 45. Administrative Support. Administrative support

 

 

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1for the Council shall be provided by the State agency under the
2jurisdiction of the Governor or as otherwise designated by the
3Governor. Members of the Council shall not receive
4compensation for serving as members, but they may be
5reimbursed for expenses incurred for traveling to Council
6meetings, food, lodging, the printing of the required annual
7report, Council approved trainings, educational seminars, and
8other relevant educational events from appropriations to the
9Governor's Office from the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
10Council Fund.
 
11    Section 50. Report to the General Assembly and Governor.
12The Council shall submit an annual report electronically to
13the General Assembly and Governor detailing it activities and
14recommending any proposed legislation.
 
15    Section 55. Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council
16Fund. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund is
17hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. All
18moneys in the fund shall be used to reimburse Council members
19for actual expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings,
20including travel, food, lodging, and other travel-related
21expenses; for expenses incurred to print the annual report,
22participate in Council-approved trainings, participate in or
23offer educational seminars, or to conduct any other relevant
24educational events; and for any other reimbursements approved

 

 

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1by the Council in compliance with Section 50 of this Act.
2Moneys in the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund
3are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. The
4Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund may accept
5private donations and gifts from any lawful source.
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7becoming law.