SLS 16RS-262 ENGROSSED 2016 Regular Session SENATE BILL NO. 68 BY SENATOR WALSWORTH LEGISLATIVE AGENCIES. Provides relative to the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. (gov sig) 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact the introductory paragraph of R.S. 24:973.1(B)(1) and R.S. 3 24:973.1(B)(1)(a) and (b) and (3), (E)(5), and (F)(1) and (2), relative to the 4 Legislative Youth Advisory Council; to provide for council membership and for 5 advisors to the council; and to provide for related matters. 6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 7 Section 1. The introductory paragraph of R.S. 24:973.1(B)(1) and R.S. 8 24:973.1(B)(1)(a) and (b) and (3), (E)(5), and (F)(1) and (2) are hereby amended and 9 reenacted to read as follows: 10 ยง973.1. Legislative Youth Advisory Council; purpose, membership, duties, 11 administration, report, and student privacy 12 * * * 13 B. Membership. (1) The council shall consist of twenty-one youth thirty-one 14 members appointed by the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education as follows: 15 (a) Two youth Three members shall be appointed from each congressional 16 district and the remaining members from the state at large in a manner which reflects 17 the diversity of the state to the greatest extent practicable. Page 1 of 4 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 68 SLS 16RS-262 ENGROSSED 1 (b) Youth members Members shall be selected pursuant to an application 2 process as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and shall possess the 3 qualifications as provided in Subsection C of this Section. 4 * * * 5 (3) The following persons shall serve as advisory, nonvoting members of 6 advisors to the council: 7 (a) A member of the Senate, appointed by the president. 8 (b) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker. 9 (c) The chairman of the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. 10 (d) The state superintendent of education, or his designee. 11 (e) Up to seven persons, as may be designated by the commission, who have 12 completed high school and are nineteen years of age or younger. 13 (f) A representative of the Council of Student Body Presidents. 14 * * * 15 E. Duties. The council shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 16 * * * 17 (5) To submit an annual report by May June thirtieth of each year of its 18 activities, including any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the governor, 19 the Senate and House committees on education, and the commission. 20 F. Council administration. (1)(a) There shall be a legislative chair and a youth 21 chair of the council; however, the The chairman of the Louisiana Commission on 22 Civic Education shall call the first meeting of the council and shall serve as co-chair 23 during the first year. Thereafter, the responsibility for presiding as a co-chair of the 24 council shall rotate annually between the two advisory members from the Senate and 25 the House of Representatives after selection of members each year. 26 (b) Youth officers Officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the council 27 each calendar year, including a president who shall serve as co-chair, and a vice 28 president, secretary, communications officer, and historian. All officers shall be 29 elected by the voting members of the council and shall serve for a term of one year. Page 2 of 4 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 68 SLS 16RS-262 ENGROSSED 1 Any vacancy in an office shall be filled with an election by the voting members of 2 the council for the remainder of the unexpired term. 3 (2) Members of the council shall serve without compensation, except 4 legislative advisory members each appointed legislator advisor shall receive 5 mileage and per diem from his respective house at the rate established by the 6 legislature when attending meetings of the council. 7 * * * 8 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not 9 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature 10 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If 11 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become 12 effective on the day following such approval. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot. DIGEST SB 68 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Walsworth Present law establishes and provides for the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Provides that the council is to examine and facilitate communication between youth and the legislature regarding issues of importance to youth, including but not limited to education, employment, strategies to increase youth participation in local and state government, safe environments for youth, substance abuse, underage drinking, emotional and physical health, poverty, litter and environmental control, driver's licenses, and youth access to state and local services. Present law provides that the council consists of 21 youth members appointed by the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education such that two youth members are appointed from each congressional district and the remaining members from the state at large in a manner which reflects the diversity of the state to the greatest extent practicable. Proposed law changes this membership from 21 to 31 members with three members from each congressional district and the remaining members from the state at large. Otherwise retains present law. Provides that members be selected pursuant to an application process as provided in present law and possess the qualifications as provided in present law. Proposed law retains present law. Present law provides that the following persons shall serve as advisory, nonvoting members of the council: (1) A member of the Senate, appointed by the president. (2) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker. Page 3 of 4 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 68 SLS 16RS-262 ENGROSSED (3) The chairman of the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. (4) The state superintendent of education, or his designee. (5) Up to seven persons, as may be designated by the commission, who have completed high school and are nineteen years of age or younger. (6) A representative of the Council of Student Body Presidents. Proposed law provides for the following persons to serve as advisors to the council: (1) A member of the Senate, appointed by the president. (2) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker. (3) The chairman of the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. (4) The state superintendent of education, or his designee. Present law requires that an annual of the year's activities be submitted to the governor, the Senate and House committees on education, and the La. Commission on Civic Education by May 30. Proposed law changes reporting dates from May 30 to June 30. Otherwise retains present law. Present law provides for a legislative chair and youth chair of the council. Provides that the legislative chair rotates annually between the advisory members from the Senate and the House of Representatives. Proposed law deletes the legislative chair and retains the youth chair. Present law provides that council members serve without compensation; however, legislative advisory members receive mileage and per diem at the rate established by the legislature when attending meetings of the council. Proposed law provides that the legislators appointed as advisors shall receive such mileage and per diem when attending a council meeting. Otherwise retains present law. Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action. (Amends R.S. 24:973.1(B)(1)(intro para), (1)(a) and (b), and (3), (E)(5), and (F)(1) and (2)) Page 4 of 4 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions.