89R11203 MLH-D
By: Patterson H.B. No. 5314
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment and duties of the Legislative Youth
Advisory Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 330 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 330. LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Sec. 330.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the Legislative Youth Advisory
Council.
(2) "Legislative member" means a member of the council
described by Section 330.003(a)(1) or (2).
(3) "Youth member" means a member of the council
described by Section 330.003(a)(3).
Sec. 330.002. ESTABLISHMENT. The Legislative Youth
Advisory Council is established as an advisory council of the
legislative branch of government.
Sec. 330.003. MEMBERSHIP. (a) The council consists of:
(1) one member of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2) one member of the senate appointed by the
lieutenant governor; and
(3) 31 youth members appointed in the manner
prescribed by Section 330.005.
(b) The speaker of the house of representatives when making
an appointment under Subsection (a)(1) shall give preference to a
member of the house who has expressed interest in the council.
(c) The lieutenant governor when making an appointment
under Subsection (a)(2) shall give preference to a senator who has
expressed interest in the council.
(d) Service on the council by a legislative member is an
additional duty of the member's legislative office.
Sec. 330.004. QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUTH MEMBER. A person is
eligible to be appointed as a youth member only if the person is:
(1) at least 14 years of age;
(2) not older than 19 years of age;
(3) a high school student who is:
(A) enrolled in a public school, charter school,
or private school;
(B) homeschooled; or
(C) enrolled in a program that leads to a high
school equivalency certificate; and
(4) a permanent resident of the United States who is:
(A) a permanent resident of this state; or
(B) attending a boarding school located in this
state during the school year in which the person will serve on the
council.
Sec. 330.005. APPLICATION; APPOINTMENT OF YOUTH MEMBER.
(a) An applicant seeking a position on the council as a youth
member shall submit an application to the applicant's state
representative not later than August 1 of the year before the year
in which the applicant's term on the council would begin.
(b) The application must include:
(1) the applicant's name, age, and contact
information;
(2) the applicant's current level of education;
(3) the applicant's extracurricular, leadership, and
volunteer activities;
(4) a brief essay on why the applicant seeks to serve
on the council; and
(5) not more than two letters of recommendation.
(c) Each state representative who receives an application
under this section shall recommend for appointment to the council
one or more applicants. The representative must make the
recommendation to the state senator in whose district the applicant
resides not later than September 1 of the year before the year in
which the applicant's term on the council would begin.
(d) Each state senator who receives a recommendation under
this section shall appoint one recommended applicant to the
council. The senator must make the appointment not later than
October 1 of the year before the year in which the applicant's term
on the council would begin.
(e) An application submitted under this section is
confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.
Sec. 330.006. TERMS. (a) A legislative member serves a
term that begins with the convening of a regular session of the
legislature and ends with the convening of the following regular
session of the legislature.
(b) A youth member serves a term that begins with the
convening of the first regular session of the legislature following
the youth member's appointment and ends on July 1 of that same year.
A youth member may not serve more than two terms on the council.
Sec. 330.007. REMOVAL. The legislative members may jointly
remove a youth member for neglect of duty as a member or on another
ground the legislative members determine requires removal of the
youth member.
Sec. 330.008. VACANCY. A vacancy in a position on the
council shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner
provided for the initial appointment of the member vacating the
council.
Sec. 330.009. OFFICERS. (a) The legislative members serve
as co-chairs of the council.
(b) At the first meeting of the council after the convening
of the regular session of the legislature, the council shall elect
youth officers, including a youth chair, a secretary, and a
parliamentarian.
Sec. 330.010. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall meet at the
call of the legislative members to perform the duties of the
council. Council meetings may be held remotely.
(b) The council may not hold a meeting during a time of day
that any youth member is required to be in attendance at school.
(c) A school district shall excuse a youth member from
attending school on a day that the member performs a duty of the
council if:
(1) the legislative members write a letter addressed
to the school district stating that the youth member was performing
the duty on that day, including testifying before a legislative
committee; and
(2) the youth member submits the letter to the school
district.
Sec. 330.011. SUBCOMMITTEES. (a) The council shall create
a subcommittee on education to study and discuss topics relating to
youth education.
(b) The council may create additional subcommittees to
study and discuss issues relevant to the work of the council.
(c) A subcommittee may not consist of more than 20 members
of the council.
(d) The council shall elect a chair to lead each
subcommittee created by the council.
Sec. 330.012. COMPENSATION. A member of the council serves
without compensation.
Sec. 330.013. ASSISTANCE. The legislative staff and
offices of the legislative members may provide administrative
assistance to the council.
Sec. 330.014. RULES, PROCEDURES, AND FORMS. The council
may adopt rules, procedures, and forms as needed to administer this
chapter and perform the council's duties under this chapter.
Sec. 330.015. DUTIES. The council shall:
(1) study and discuss issues of importance to youth,
such as education, employment, civic engagement, substance abuse,
nutrition, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty,
homelessness, and youth access to state and local services;
(2) advise members and committees of the legislature
on issues affecting or of importance to youth, including advice on
the impact of proposed legislation, appropriations, and other
policy determinations;
(3) communicate with state agencies and other entities
on issues of importance to youth; and
(4) submit a report to the legislature as required by
Section 330.017.
Sec. 330.016. STATE CAPITOL DAY. (a) Not later than
January 30 of each odd-numbered year, the legislative members shall
host a State Capitol day for the youth members.
(b) The legislative members shall:
(1) lead youth members of the council on a tour of the
State Capitol; and
(2) provide or have provided instruction to the youth
members on the legislative process and parliamentary procedure.
Sec. 330.017. REPORT. Not later than July 1 of each
odd-numbered year, the council shall submit a written report to the
members of the legislature that:
(1) details the activities of the council since the
last report was made under this section; and
(2) makes recommendations for legislation based on the
council's deliberations.
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, 2025.