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--DEFINITION.--

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, 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.