PRINTER'S NO. 398
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.426
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, COMITTA, HAYWOOD AND COSTA,
MARCH 17, 2025
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 17, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," in organization of departmental administrative
boards and commissions and of advisory boards and
commissions, establishing the Legislative Youth Advisory
Council and providing for duties of the Legislative Youth
Advisory Council.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
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29 section to read:
Section 475.1. Legislative Youth Advisory Council.--(a) The
Legislative Youth Advisory Council is established to examine
issues of importance to youth, including education, employment,
strategies to increase youth participation in State and
municipal government, safe environments for youth, substance
abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty,
homelessness and youth access to services on a Statewide and
municipal basis.
(b) The council shall consist of fifty members, one from
each senatorial district, at the time of appointment. The
members of the council shall be no younger than fourteen years
of age and no older than eighteen years of age. The council
shall select a chair from among the members of the council.
(c) Members of the council shall serve for a term of two
years and, if eligible, may be reappointed for subsequent two-
year terms.
(d) During the first year of the council's establishment,
each member of the Senate shall appoint an individual to the
council. For each year thereafter, an individual may apply
annually to be considered for nomination to the council by
completing an online application form and submitting the
application to the council and the Lieutenant Governor. The
Lieutenant Governor shall make the application form available on
the Lieutenant Governor's publicly accessible Internet website.
The council may develop selection criteria and an application
review process. Upon the conclusion of the application review
process, the council shall recommend nominees to the council to
the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall make the
final selections to the council and notify each applicant of the
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30 final selections.
(e) Subject to the supervision of the Lieutenant Governor,
the council shall have the following duties:
(1) Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding
leadership, State government and the General Assembly.
(2) Accept and solicit for grants and donations from public
and private sources to support the activities of the council.
(3) Advise the General Assembly on proposed and pending
legislation, including Commonwealth budget expenditures and
policy matters relating to youth, and each standing committee,
study commission, committee or task force of the General
Assembly regarding issues relating to youth.
(4) Provide an annual report to the General Assembly by
December 1, 2026, and each December thereafter on the council's
activities, including proposed and pending legislation that
implements recommendations of the council.
(f) To implement the council's duties under this section,
the council shall meet at least three times per year. The
council may use technology, including remote videoconferencing
technology, to facilitate the members' participation in
meetings. The council may invite members of the General Assembly
to participate in the meetings. The council may poll individuals
who are not members of the council to attain a broad perspective
on various youth policy issues via technology or other means.
(g) Members of the council may be reimbursed for expenses
relating to the official duties of the council.
(h) The Lieutenant Governor shall provide administration,
supervision and facilitation support to the council. The General
Assembly may provide policy and fiscal briefings and assistance
with drafting proposed legislation. The General Assembly shall
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30 develop internal policies relating to staff assistance for the
council, including applicable internal personnel and practices
guidelines, resource use and expense reimbursement guidelines
and applicable ethics mandates. The provision of funds,
resources and staff to the council, including the assignment and
direction of staff, shall be in the sole discretion of the
General Assembly.
(i) The Lieutenant Governor, the General Assembly and a
legislative agency, including an official or employe, shall be
immune from civil liability for any injury that is incurred by
or caused by a member of the council and occurs while the member
of the council is performing duties of the council or is
otherwise engaged in activities or receiving services for which
reimbursement is authorized under subsection (g). The immunity
provided by this subsection shall not apply to an injury
intentionally caused by the act or omission of an employe or
official.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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