HB0837eng 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0837 Engrossed LRB101 07168 RJF 52206 b

AN ACT concerning government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act.

Section 5. Definition. For purposes of this Act:

"Council" means the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council.

Section 10. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council. For the purpose of facilitating 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, the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council is created. The Council shall have the powers and responsibilities enumerated in this Act, together with such others as may be conferred upon it by law. The Council shall be an entity created under the legislative branch, and maintained and staffed under the executive branch by the Office of the Governor or an agency designated by the Governor that is under the jurisdiction of the Governor.

Section 15. Advisory Board; members; nomination; term of office; vacancies.

(a) An Advisory Board shall be created to facilitate the functions of the Council. The Advisory Board shall consist 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. The initial term for members of the Advisory Council shall begin on January l, 2020, or the effective date of this Act, whichever occurs later, and expire on January 11, 2022. Thereafter, the term for members of the Advisory Council shall begin on the Thursday following the second Wednesday of January, and expire after 2 years. On or before September 1, 2019, the Advisory Board shall create an application that shall be used in nominating individuals to be members of the Council. The Advisory Board may, from time to time, modify the application with the consent of the Council. While the Council is in session, the Advisory Board may attend meetings of the Council, and may generally advise the Council. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to entitle Advisory Board members to vote on matters pending before the Council.

(b) Each member of the House of Representatives shall nominate one qualified individual that resides in the Representative's legislative district to serve as a member of the Council after receiving and reviewing the individual's application and considering any recommendation made by a member of the Senate. The Representative shall make the nomination on or before October 31 of each calendar year. After making the nomination, the Representative shall, by first class mail, notify the nominated individual by November 15 of the same year. If the Representative is a member of the majority party, the Representative shall notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives of his or her nomination by November 15 of the same year. If the Representative is a member of the minority party, the Representative shall notify the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives of his or her nomination by November 15 of the same year.

(c) Upon receiving a nomination, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, whichever the case may be, shall accept the nomination, except for good cause shown, and appoint the individual to be a member of the Council. Upon appointing the nominated individual, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, whichever the case may be, shall notify the individual of his or her appointment by first class mail. A nomination shall not be rejected except for good cause shown. If a nomination is rejected, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, whichever the case may be, shall state in writing the reason or reasons that the nomination was rejected, and transmit the written rejection to the nominated individual and the Senator that nominated the individual. In such a case, the Senator shall nominate another qualified individual within 5 days.

(d) Each Council member's term shall be for one year. A member shall be allowed to serve more than one term, so long as the member continues to meet the requirements for being a member and is appointed for each term.

(e) Any vacancies in the Council shall be filled in the same or substantially the same manner as the original appointment within 30 days after the vacancy.

Section 20. Members; qualifications. Each member of the Council shall, during his or her term, be:

(1) a resident of this State;

(2) older than 16 years of age and younger than 22 years of age, except that if a member turns 23 years of age during his or her term, such member shall be allowed to complete the term; and

(3) be a student enrolled at a high school, community college, or university in this State, except that if a member graduates from high school or college during his or her term, such member shall be allowed to complete the term.

Section 25. Quorum; meetings; committees; leadership responsibilities.

(a) A majority of those appointed to the Council shall constitute a quorum.

(b) The Council shall convene each year on the Saturday following the second Wednesday of January in the State Capitol, unless the General Assembly is in session. An alternative meeting place shall be selected if one or both chambers cannot accommodate the meeting. At the initial meeting, the Council shall:

(1) elect a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Clerk;

(2) adopt rules of procedure;

(3) form committees to assist in furthering the goals of the Council, and appoint committee chairs and vice-chairs; and

(4) announce the date and location of the next meeting of the Council.

(c) The Council shall meet as often as is deemed necessary. For all other meetings and committee meetings, the Council may meet by electronic or telephonic means. Members of the Council shall be excused from school to participate in in-person meetings of the Council.

(d) The President of the Council shall:

(1) convene, direct, and adjourn meetings of the Council;

(2) call for a vote on any matter pending before the Council;

(3) transmit Council reports to the General Assembly; and

(4) be the official liaison between the Council and General Assembly.

(e) The Secretary of the Council shall:

(1) serve as Acting President in the President's absence;

(2) prepare and distribute agendas of Council meetings to Council members; and

(3) keep and maintain the minutes of Council meetings.

(f) The Treasurer of the Council shall:

(1) report on the funds available in the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund; and

(2) serve as the official liaison between the Council and the State Treasurer and the State Comptroller.

(g) The Clerk of the Council shall:

(1) record the final votes on any measure called for a vote by the President; and

(2) transmit the final vote on all measures called for a vote by the President to the Secretary for inclusion in the minutes.

(h) The President in transition shall be appointed by the President of the Senate within 14 days after the effective date of this Act. The President in transition shall meet the qualifications set forth in Section 20 of this Act, and shall serve until the second Wednesday of the January following the effective date of this Act. The President in transition shall be responsible for initial outreach and marketing of the Council to the youth of Illinois. The President in transition may use the provisions of Section 35 of this Act to facilitate these duties.

(i) The Council may create more leadership positions by rule.

Section 30. Powers. The Council may:

(1) request the drafting of legislative measures from the Legislative Reference Bureau;

(2) provide testimony during any committee meeting of the General Assembly;

(3) vote on any matter pending before the General Assembly and inform the General Assembly of the Council's position on the matter;

(4) draft reports and advisory opinions to the General Assembly;

(5) perform any other activity that may reasonably inform the General Assembly of the Council's position on any issue of relevance; and

(6) conduct periodic seminars for members of the Council concerning leadership, government, and the General Assembly.

Section 35. Outreach.

(a) On or before September 1 of each year, the President of the Council shall notify all high schools, colleges, and universities in this State that the time for applying to become a member of the Council is open, and shall expire on October 31. The notice shall include the requirements for membership, a copy of the application, and the name, district address, and district phone number of the Senators near the high school, college, or university.

(b) Upon receiving notice that the application period is open, the high school, college, or university shall make reasonable attempts to notify interested students of the Council.

(c) To raise awareness about the Council, the Council may:

(1) conduct a public awareness campaign;

(2) maintain a website; and

(3) work with established youth groups to increase awareness.

Section 40. Staff support. Staff and administrative support for the Council shall be provided by the Office of the Governor or an agency designated by the Governor that is under the jurisdiction of the Governor. Staff members shall be uncompensated and shall assist the Council in administrative duties.

Section 45. Report to the General Assembly and Governor. The Council shall submit an annual report electronically to the General Assembly and the Governor detailing its activities and recommending any proposed legislation.

Section 50. Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. 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 in compliance with Section 45 of this Act. The moneys in the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund may accept donations and gifts.

Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.891 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.891 new)

Sec. 5.891. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.