AN ACT
RELATING TO CHILDREN; CREATING A YOUTH
COUNCIL WITHIN THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT; ENACTING THE YOUTH
COUNCIL ACT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the
"Youth Council Act".
Section 2. PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Youth Council
Act is to encourage young people throughout New Mexico to consider and discuss
the problems they face and to develop possible solutions for presentation to
the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature.
Section 3. YOUTH COUNCIL
CREATED--ORGANIZATION--FUNCTIONS.--
A. The "youth council" is created in
the children, youth and families department.
B. The council shall consist of at least one
youth, aged fourteen to nineteen, from each New Mexico legislative district to
be selected by county child welfare advocates and officials, educational
advisors, faith-based organizations and community-based youth-serving
organizations, in consultation with the legislators from whose district the youth
is being selected.
C. The council shall meet at least four times a
year for the purpose of discussing the problems faced by New Mexico youth and
to recommend possible solutions to these problems to be presented to the
governor, the lieutenant governor and legislature. Meetings shall not be scheduled to interfere
with council participants' school attendance.
D. The council shall issue an annual report that
summarizes the activities and findings of the council. The report shall be submitted to the
legislature and the executive no later than November 15 of each year.
E. As used in the Youth Council Act,
"council" means the youth council.
Section 4. YOUTH COUNCIL COORDINATOR--POSITION
CREATED--DUTIES.--
A. The position of "youth council
coordinator" is created in the office of the secretary of children, youth
and families to organize, administer and coordinate youth council activities.
B. The coordinator shall:
(1) select, in consultation with the appropriate
legislators, county child welfare advocates and officials, educational
advisors, faith-based organizations and community-based youth-serving
organizations, a diverse cross-section of youths for the council from
throughout the state;
(2) organize four council meetings a year, four
of which will include the lieutenant governor and two of which will include the
governor;
(3) ensure that there is adequate adult
supervision for youths participating in council activities;
(4) assist the council in preparing an annual
report on its activities and findings; and
(5) act as a liaison between the council and any
interagency coordinating group consisting of certain cabinet secretaries if
that entity is established by executive order.
HB 199
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