102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0594

 

Introduced 2/8/2021, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.935 new

    Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act. Provides that the purpose of the Council is to facilitate communication between the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of State government regarding the issues, interests, and needs important to youth in the State of Illinois. Creates an Advisory Board, consisting of 2 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate, to facilitate the functions of the Council. Creates the Transition Oversight Committee for the initial outreach of the Council. Provides for the application and nomination process for prospective members of the Council. Sets forth membership and meeting requirements and the powers of the Council. Provides that members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, but may be re-elected if they continue to be nominated and qualified to serve as members. Provides for the election of a Chair at the first Council meeting of the year. Provides for administrative support of the Council. Requires the Council to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor. Creates the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all moneys in the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including travel, food, and lodging, and printing the annual report. Amends the State Finance Act. Adds the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund. Effective immediately.


LRB102 10655 RJF 15984 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0594LRB102 10655 RJF 15984 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. For purposes of this Act:
7    "Council" means the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
8Council.
 
9    Section 10. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
10Council. For the purpose of facilitating communication between
11the youth of the State of Illinois and the elected branches of
12State government regarding the issues, interests, and needs
13important to youth in the State of Illinois, the Illinois
14Legislative Youth Advisory Council is created. The Council
15shall have the powers and responsibilities enumerated in this
16Act, together with such others as may be conferred upon it by
17law. The Council shall be an entity created under the
18legislative branch, and maintained and staffed under the
19executive branch by the Office of the Governor or an agency
20designated by the Governor that is under the jurisdiction of
21the Governor.
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. Advisory Board; members; nomination; term of
2office; vacancies.
3    (a) An Advisory Board shall be created to facilitate the
4functions of the Council. The Advisory Board shall consist of
52 members of the House of Representatives, one each appointed
6by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
7Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and 2 members
8of the Senate, one each appointed by the President of the
9Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate. The initial term
10for members of the Advisory Council shall begin on January l,
112022, or the effective date of this Act, whichever occurs
12later, and expire on January 9, 2024. Thereafter, the term for
13members of the Advisory Council shall begin on the Thursday
14following the second Wednesday of January, and expire after 2
15years. On or before September 1, 2021, the Advisory Board
16shall create an application that shall be used in nominating
17individuals to be members of the Council. The Advisory Board
18may, from time to time, modify the application with the
19consent of the Council. While the Council is in session, the
20Advisory Board may attend meetings of the Council, and may
21generally advise the Council. Nothing in this Act shall be
22construed to entitle Advisory Board members to vote on matters
23pending before the Council.
24    (b) The Advisory Board shall make nominations for
25prospective Council members. After making the nomination, the
26Advisory Board shall notify the nominated individuals. Upon

 

 

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1appointing the nominated individuals, the Advisory Board shall
2notify the individual of his or her appointment. The Advisory
3Board shall appoint one member from each congressional
4district of the State of Illinois, as well as 2 additional
5members-at-large. The 2 at-large members must not reside in
6the same congressional district.
7    (c) Each Council member's term shall be for 2 years. A
8member shall be allowed to serve more than one term, so long as
9the member continues to meet the requirements for being a
10member and is appointed for each term.
11    (d) Any vacancies in the Council shall be filled in the
12same or substantially the same manner as the original
13appointment within 30 days after the vacancy.
 
14    Section 20. Transition Oversight Committee.
15    (a) The Transition Oversight Committee is hereby created
16for initial outreach and marketing of the Council to the youth
17of Illinois as provided under Section 40.
18    (b) The members of the Transition Oversight Committee
19shall be appointed by the Advisory Board within 30 days after
20the appointment of the Board. The Committee shall be comprised
21of 3 members, and the Board shall designate one member as Chair
22of the Committee. Members of the Committee shall meet the same
23requirements of membership qualifications as members of the
24Council, and are responsible for overseeing the initial
25implementation of the Council. Members of the Committee may

 

 

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1also be appointed to serve on the Council.
2    (c) The members of the Transition Oversight Committee
3shall create the bylaws for the functioning of the Council.
4These initial bylaws shall be subject to approval by the
5Advisory Board and the Council.
6    (d) The Chair of the Transition Oversight Committee shall
7preside at the first meeting of the Council with the
8assistance of the other 2 members, until the Chair of the
9Council is elected.
10    (e) The Transition Oversight Committee shall cease to
11exist after the first meeting of the Council.
 
12    Section 25. Members; qualifications. Each member of the
13Council shall, during his or her term, be:
14        (1) a resident of this State;
15        (2) older than 16 years of age and younger than 22
16    years of age, except that if a member turns 23 years of age
17    during his or her term, such member shall be allowed to
18    complete the term; and
19        (3) be a student enrolled at a high school, community
20    college, or university in this State, except that if a
21    member graduates from high school or college during his or
22    her term, such member shall be allowed to complete the
23    term.
 
24    Section 30. Quorum; meetings; committees; leadership

 

 

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1responsibilities.
2    (a) A majority of those appointed to the Council shall
3constitute a quorum.
4    (b) The Council shall convene each year and shall meet as
5often as is deemed necessary. For all other meetings and
6committee meetings, the Council may meet by electronic or
7telephonic means. Members of the Council shall be excused from
8school to participate in in-person meetings of the Council. At
9the initial meeting of the Council, the members shall elect
10from among their number a Chair, and may create more
11leadership positions as deemed necessary by the Council.
 
12    Section 35. Powers. The Council may:
13        (1) request the drafting of legislative measures from
14    the Legislative Reference Bureau;
15        (2) provide testimony during any committee meeting of
16    the General Assembly;
17        (3) vote on any matter pending before the General
18    Assembly and inform the General Assembly of the Council's
19    position on the matter;
20        (4) draft reports and advisory opinions to the General
21    Assembly;
22        (5) perform any other activity that may reasonably
23    inform the General Assembly of the Council's position on
24    any issue of relevance; and
25        (6) conduct periodic seminars for members of the

 

 

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1    Council concerning leadership, government, and the General
2    Assembly.
 
3    Section 40. Outreach.
4    (a) On or before September 1 of each year, the Chair of the
5Council shall notify all high schools, colleges, and
6universities in this State that the time for applying to
7become a member of the Council is open, and shall expire on
8October 31. The notice shall include the requirements for
9membership and a copy of the application.
10    (b) Upon receiving notice that the application period is
11open, the high school, college, or university shall make
12reasonable attempts to notify interested students of the
13Council.
14    (c) To raise awareness about the Council, the Council may:
15        (1) conduct a public awareness campaign;
16        (2) maintain a website and establish a social media
17    presence;
18        (3) work with established youth groups to increase
19    awareness; and
20        (4) employ any other means necessary to raise
21    awareness of the Council's existence and purpose.
 
22    Section 45. Administrative support. Administrative support
23for the Council shall be provided by any State agency under the
24jurisdiction of the Governor or as otherwise designated by the

 

 

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1Governor. Members of the Council shall not receive
2compensation for serving as members, but may be reimbursed for
3expenses incurred for traveling to council meetings, food,
4lodging, and the printing of the required annual report. The
5funds for the travel and administrative costs of the Council
6shall come from appropriations to the Governor's office and
7the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund
8established under Section 55, subject to appropriation.
 
9    Section 50. Report to the General Assembly and Governor.
10The Council shall submit an annual report electronically to
11the General Assembly and the Governor detailing its activities
12and recommending any proposed legislation.
 
13    Section 55. Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council
14Fund. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund is
15created as a special fund in the State treasury. All moneys in
16the Fund shall be used to reimburse Council members for actual
17expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings, including
18travel, food, and lodging, and printing the annual report in
19compliance with Section 50 of this Act. The moneys in the
20Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund are subject
21to appropriation by the General Assembly. The Illinois
22Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund may accept donations
23and gifts.
 

 

 

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1    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
2Section 5.935 as follows:
 
3    (30 ILCS 105/5.935 new)
4    Sec. 5.935. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
5Council Fund.
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7becoming law.