81R9703 KSD-D
By: Rodriguez H.B. No. 1584
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding the establishment and administration
of a legislative youth advisory council in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 67, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 67.04 to read as follows:
Sec. 67.04. STUDY REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION OF LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) In this
section:
(1) "School" means The University of Texas Lyndon B.
Johnson School of Public Affairs.
(2) "Youth council" means a legislative youth advisory
council.
(b) The University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of
Public Affairs shall conduct a study regarding the establishment
and administration of a legislative youth advisory council in this
state for the purpose of:
(1) engaging young Texans in:
(A) identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing
policy issues affecting youth, including policy issues relating to
education, employment, substance abuse and underage drinking,
physical and emotional health, poverty, safety, the environment,
driver's licenses, and strategies to increase youth participation
in local and state government and youth access to local and state
governmental services; and
(B) developing recommendations for legislation
to address policy issues affecting youth; and
(2) facilitating communication between young Texans
and members of the legislature regarding policy issues and proposed
legislation affecting youth.
(c) As a part of its study, the school shall:
(1) examine the composition, terms of office,
membership eligibility requirements, membership application and
selection process, activities, and administration of councils or
other entities established by other states for similar purposes to
determine whether any of those entities is an appropriate model for
a youth council in this state;
(2) develop an estimate of the expenses that would be
associated with establishing and administering a youth council in
this state;
(3) identify potential funding sources for the
expenses described by Subdivision (2);
(4) develop recommendations for:
(A) the composition, terms of office, membership
eligibility requirements, membership application and selection
process, activities, and administration of a youth council in this
state; and
(B) the governmental or other entity or entities
that are best positioned to support and administer a youth council
in this state; and
(5) consider any other issues the school considers
appropriate regarding the establishment and administration of a
youth council in this state.
(d) In developing its recommendations for the composition
of a youth council, the school shall consider the feasibility of
establishing a youth council that:
(1) reflects the diversity of youth across this state;
and
(2) is composed of:
(A) a specific number of youth members from each
state senate district; and
(B) nonvoting advisory members who are members of
the Texas Legislature or those members' designees.
(e) The comptroller and the Legislative Budget Board shall
assist the school in developing cost estimates for implementing the
school's recommendations for the establishment and administration
of a youth council in this state.
(f) Not later than October 1, 2010, the school shall submit
to the legislature a written report detailing the school's findings
and recommendations regarding the establishment and administration
of a youth council in this state. The report must include the cost
estimates for implementing the school's recommendations developed
under Subsection (e).
(g) This section expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.