HB5314 - Relating to the establishment and duties of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council.

  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.