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.