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An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Legislative Youth Advisory Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 679, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:
 
1. Duties. The council shall perform the following duties:
 
A.  Advise the Legislature, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on proposed and pending legislation, state budget expenditures and policy matters related to youth;
 
B.  Advise the joint standing committees of the Legislature and study commissions, committees and task forces regarding issues related to youth;
 
C.  Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding leadership, government and the Legislature;
 
D.  Except as provided in this paragraph, meet at least 3 times but not more than 6 times per year, including not more than 2 public hearings on issues of importance to youth. The council may meet up to an additional 3 times in a year if the Executive Director of the Legislative Council determines that sufficient budgeted resources remain after paying all costs associated with the initial 6 meetings to pay any additional costs associated with any additional meetings; and
 
E.  Report biennially to the Legislative Council on its activities by the first business day in February of each even-numbered year. The council may submit proposed legislation as part of its report to the Legislative Council to implement its recommendations.;
 
F.  Establish and maintain a communication network with other youth groups in the State that focus on state and local policies that affect youth to create awareness of the existence of the council, including but not limited to appointing a council member as communication director or creating a communication and outreach subcommittee;
 
G.  Facilitate methods to solicit and receive input from youth representing various geographic regions of the State regarding proposals being considered by the council and matters that may become part of the council's legislative considerations; and
 
H.  Develop criteria for membership to be considered when recommending to the appointing authorities future youth appointments to the council.
Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2005, c. 616, Pt. B, §2, is amended to read:
 
3. Membership. The council consists of 20 voting members who are Maine residents and appointed in accordance with this subsection. In appointing members, the appointing authorities shall consider geographic distribution. All youth and legislative appointments must be made within 60 days after the convening of each new Legislature. All appointments are for the duration of the legislative term for which the members are appointed and expire upon the convening of the next Legislature. The appointing authorities shall select youth members from youths recommended by principals, guidance counselors or administrative heads of secondary or postsecondary school systems, representatives of equivalent instruction programs or other organizations having an interest in youth activities.The appointing authorities shall consider youth members from those recommended by the previous membership of the council and may also consider youth recommended by principals, guidance counselors or administrative heads of secondary or postsecondary school systems, representatives of equivalent instruction programs or other organizations having an interest in youth activities. The appointing authorities shall give special consideration to youth who have already served on the council when making appointments. Members may be reappointed to subsequent terms on the council as long as they are eligible at the time of their reappointment. The appointing authorities shall appoint a new member to fill a vacancy on the council as soon as practicable after receiving notice of a vacancy from the chairs of the council.
 
A.  The President of the Senate shall appoint the following 10 members:
 
(1) Seven youths who have attained 16 years of age and who are enrolled in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma, enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter 1-A or enrolled at postsecondary educational institutions located in the State;
 
(2) One youth who has attained 16 years of age and is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program under Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter 1-A; and
 
(3) Two members of the Senate.
 
B.  The Speaker of the House shall appoint the following 10 members:
 
(1) Seven youths who have attained 16 years of age and who are enrolled in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma, enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter 1-A or enrolled at postsecondary educational institutions located in the State;
 
(2) One youth who has attained 16 years of age and who is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program under Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter 1-A; and
 
(3) Two members of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 3.  3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§4-A  is enacted to read:
 
4-A.  Attendance.   The council shall include in its rules of procedure an attendance policy that authorizes the chairs, in consultation with the council, to revoke membership for lack of attendance.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing the Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
1. It expands the duties of the council to include establishing a communication network with other youth groups in the State, facilitating methods of receiving input from youth from geographically diverse areas of the State and developing criteria to be considered when recommending future members for appointment.
2. It directs the appointing authorities to give special consideration to youth who have already served on the council when making appointments and directs the appointing authorities to fill vacancies as soon as practicable.
3. It directs the council to include in its rules of procedure an attendance policy that authorizes revocation of membership for lack of attendance.