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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding the establishment and administration |
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of a legislative youth advisory council in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 67, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 67.04 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 67.04. STUDY REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT AND |
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ADMINISTRATION OF LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "School" means The University of Texas Lyndon B. |
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Johnson School of Public Affairs. |
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(2) "Youth council" means a legislative youth advisory |
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council. |
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(b) The University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of |
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Public Affairs shall conduct a study regarding the establishment |
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and administration of a legislative youth advisory council in this |
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state for the purpose of: |
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(1) engaging young Texans in: |
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(A) identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing |
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policy issues affecting youth, including policy issues relating to |
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education, employment, substance abuse and underage drinking, |
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physical and emotional health, poverty, safety, the environment, |
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driver's licenses, and strategies to increase youth participation |
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in local and state government and youth access to local and state |
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governmental services; and |
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(B) developing recommendations for legislation |
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to address policy issues affecting youth; and |
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(2) facilitating communication between young Texans |
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and members of the legislature regarding policy issues and proposed |
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legislation affecting youth. |
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(c) As a part of its study, the school shall: |
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(1) examine the composition, terms of office, |
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membership eligibility requirements, membership application and |
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selection process, activities, and administration of councils or |
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other entities established by other states for similar purposes to |
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determine whether any of those entities is an appropriate model for |
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a youth council in this state; |
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(2) develop an estimate of the expenses that would be |
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associated with establishing and administering a youth council in |
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this state; |
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(3) identify potential funding sources for the |
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expenses described by Subdivision (2); |
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(4) develop recommendations for: |
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(A) the composition, terms of office, membership |
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eligibility requirements, membership application and selection |
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process, activities, and administration of a youth council in this |
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state; and |
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(B) the governmental or other entity or entities |
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that are best positioned to support and administer a youth council |
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in this state; and |
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(5) consider any other issues the school considers |
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appropriate regarding the establishment and administration of a |
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youth council in this state. |
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(d) In developing its recommendations for the composition |
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of a youth council, the school shall consider the feasibility of |
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establishing a youth council that: |
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(1) reflects the diversity of youth across this state; |
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and |
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(2) is composed of: |
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(A) a specific number of youth members from each |
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state senate district; and |
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(B) nonvoting advisory members who are members of |
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the Texas Legislature or those members' designees. |
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(e) The comptroller and the Legislative Budget Board shall |
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assist the school in developing cost estimates for implementing the |
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school's recommendations for the establishment and administration |
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of a youth council in this state. |
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(f) Not later than October 1, 2010, the school shall submit |
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to the legislature a written report detailing the school's findings |
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and recommendations regarding the establishment and administration |
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of a youth council in this state. The report must include the cost |
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estimates for implementing the school's recommendations developed |
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under Subsection (e). |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |