Bill Text: IL SB2405 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-05-09 - Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas [SB2405 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2405-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2405 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Karina Villa SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
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.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Act.
Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "Council"
means the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
Section 10. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
Council. For the purpose of facilitating 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, the Illinois
Legislative Youth Advisory Council is hereby created. The
Council shall have the powers and responsibilities enumerated
in this Act together with such others as may be conferred upon
it by law. The Council shall be maintained and staffed by the
Office of the Governor.
Section 15. Advisory Board; members; nomination; term of
office; vacancies.
(a) An Advisory Board shall be created to facilitate the
functions of the Council. The Advisory Board shall consist of

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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. The initial term
for members of the Advisory Council shall begin on January 1,
2024, or the effective date of this Act, whichever occurs
later, and expire on January 9, 2026. Thereafter, the term for
members of the Advisory Council shall begin on the Thursday
following the second Wednesday of January, and expire after 2
years. On or before September 1, 2023, the Advisory Board
shall create an application that shall be used in nominating
individuals to be members of the Council. The Advisory Board
may, from time to time, modify the application with the
consent of the Council. While the Council is in session, the
Advisory Board may attend meetings of the bill Council, and
may generally advise the Council. Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to entitle Advisory Board members to vote on matters
pending before the Council.
(b) The Advisory Board shall make nominations for
prospective Council members. Nominations for prospective
Council members shall reflect the racial and gender diversity
of this State and shall represent a diverse grouping of age
distribution. Advisory Board shall notify the nominated
individuals. Upon appointing the nominated individuals, the
Advisory Board shall notify individual of his or her

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appointment. The Advisory Board shall appoint one member from
each congressional district of the State of Illinois, as well
as 2 additional members-at-large. The 2 at-large members must
not reside in the same congressional district.
(c) Each Council member's term shall be for 2 years. A
member shall be allowed to serve more than one term, so long as
the member continues to meet the requirements for being a
member and is appointed for each term.
(d) Any vacancies on the Council shall be filled in the
same or substantially the same manner as the original
appointment within 30 days after the vacancy.
Section 20. Transition Oversight Committee.
(a) The Transition Oversight Committee is hereby created
for initials outreach and marketing of the Council to the
youth of the Illinois as provided under Section 40.
(b) The members of the Transition Oversight Committee
shall be appointed by the Advisory Board within 30 days after
the appointment of the Board. The Committee shall be comprised
of 3 members, and the Board shall designate one member as Chair
of the Committee. Members of the Committee shall meet the same
requirements of membership qualification as members of the
Council, and are responsible for overseeing the initial
implementation of the Council. Members of the Committee may
also be appointed to serve on the Council.
(c) The members of the Transition Oversight Committee

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shall create the bylaws for the functioning of the Council.
The initial bylaws shall be subject ton approval by the
Advisory Board and the Council.
(d) The Chair of the Transition Oversight Committee shall
preside at the first meeting of the Council with the
assistance of the other 2 members, until the Chair of the
Council is elected.
(e) The Transition Oversight Committee shall cease to
exist after the first meeting of the Council.
Section 25. Members; qualifications. Each member of the
Council shall, during his or her term, be:
(1) a resident of this State;
(2) at least 16 years of age and younger than 21 years of
age, except than if the members turn 21 years of age during his
or her term, such member shall be allowed to complete the term;
or
(3) a student enrolled at a high school or a graduate from
a high school with a diploma or a GED.
Section 30. Quorum; meetings; committees; leadership
responsibilities.
(a) A majority of those appointed to the Council shall
constitute a quorum.
(b) The Council shall convene each year and shall meet as
often as is deemed necessary. For all other meetings and

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committee meetings, the Council may meet by electronic or
telephonic means. Members of the Council shall be excused from
school to participate in in-person meetings of the Council. At
the initial meeting of the Council, the members shall elect
from among their number a Chair and may create more leadership
positions as deemed necessary by the Council.
Section 35. Powers. The Council may:
(1) request the drafting of the legislative measures from
the Legislative Reference Bureau;
(2) provide testimony during any committee meeting of the
General Assembly;
(3) take a poll on any matter pending before the General
Assembly and inform the General Assembly of the Council's
position on the matter;
(4) draft reports and advisory opinions for the General
Assembly;
(5) perform any other activity that may reasonably inform
the General Assembly of the Council's position on any issue of
relevance;
(6) conduct periodic seminars for members of the Council
concerning leadership, government, and the General Assembly;
(7) collaborate with other established youth advisory
commissions or councils or any other commission or council
within the State of Illinois as necessary; and
(8) attend trainings, educational seminars, and other

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relevant educational events as approved by the Council.
Section 40. Outreach
(a) On or before September 1 of each year, the Chair of the
Council, or a committee formed by the Chair, shall notify all
high schools, colleges, and universities in this State, and
make a reasonable effort to also notify community based-based
youth organizations, civic institutions, and units of
government, that the time for applying to become a member of
the Council is open and shall expire on October 31st. The
notice shall include requirements for membership and a copy of
the application.
(b) Upon receiving notice that the application period its
open, any entity provided notice under subsection (a) shall
make a reasonable attempt to notify interested students of the
Council.
(c) To raise awareness about the Council, the Council may:
(1) conduct a public awareness campaigns;
(2) maintain a website and establish a social media
presence;
(3) work with established youth groups to increase
awareness; and
(4) employ any other means necessary to raise
awareness of the Council's existence and purpose.
Section 45. Administrative Support. Administrative support

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for the Council shall be provided by the State agency under the
jurisdiction of the Governor or as otherwise designated by the
Governor. Members of the Council shall not receive
compensation for serving as members, but they may be
reimbursed for expenses incurred for traveling to Council
meetings, food, lodging, the printing of the required annual
report, Council approved trainings, educational seminars, and
other relevant educational events from appropriations to the
Governor's Office from the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory
Council Fund.
Section 50. Report to the General Assembly and Governor.
The Council shall submit an annual report electronically to
the General Assembly and Governor detailing it activities and
recommending any proposed legislation.
Section 55. Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council
Fund. The Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund is
hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. All
moneys in the fund shall be used to reimburse Council members
for actual expenses incurred in traveling to Council meetings,
including travel, food, lodging, and other travel-related
expenses; for expenses incurred to print the annual report,
participate in Council-approved trainings, participate in or
offer educational seminars, or to conduct any other relevant
educational events; and for any other reimbursements approved

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by the Council in compliance with Section 50 of this Act.
Moneys in the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund
are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. The
Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund may accept
private donations and gifts from any lawful source.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.