An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Legislative Youth Advisory Council I : , ', i , UBFij<h AUi~~,JSTAl i:itIAiNE No.I02l 17,2009
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1022
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: PERRY
Amends: 3 MRSA §168-A

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAINE LEGISLATU 
-Legislative Document 
S.P.386 
In Senate, 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Legislative Youth 
Advisory Council 
I : 
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i , UBFij<h 
AUi~~,JSTAl i:itIAiNE 
No.I02l 
17,2009 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
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Presented by Senator PERRY of Penobscot. 
Printed on recycled pilper 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be ,it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2007, c. 679, §§ 1 and 2, is 
further amended to read: 
1. Duties. The council shall perform the following duties: 
A. 
Advise the Legislature, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives on proposed and pending legislation, state budget expenditures. 
and policy matters related to youth; 
B. 
Advise the joint standing committees of the Legislature and study commissions, 
committees and task forces regarding issues related to youth; 
C. 
Conduct period,ic seminars for its members regarding leadership, government 
and the Legislature; 
D. 
Except as provided in this paragraph, meet at least 3 times but not more than 6 
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times per year, including not mory than 2 public hearings on issues of importance to 
youth. The council may meet up to an additional 3 times in a year if the Execlltive 
Director of the Legislative Council determines that sufficient budgeted resources 
remain after paying all costs associated with the initial 6 meetings to pay any 
additional costs 'associated with any additional meetings; arnJ. 
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E. 
RepOli biennially to the Legislative Council on its activities by the first business 
day in February of each even-numbered year. The council may submit proposed 
.Iegislation as pali of its report to the Legislative Council to implement its 
recommendaJions7';' 
F. Establish and maintain a communication network with other youth groups in the 
State that focus on state and local policies that affect youth to create awareness of the 
existence of the council, including but not limited to appointing a council member as 
communication director or creating a communication and outreach subcommittee; 
G. Facilitate methods to solicit and receive input from youth representing various 
geographic regions of the State regarding proposals being considered by, the council 
and matters that may become part of the council's legislative considerations; and 
H. Develop criteria for membership to be considered when recommending to the 
appointing authorities future youth appointments to the council. 
Sec. 2 .. 3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2005, c. 616, 
Pt. B, §2, is amended to read: 
3. 
Membership. 
The council consists of 20 voting members who are Maine 
residents and appointed in accordance with this subsection. In appointing members, the 
appointing authorities shall consider geographic distribution. All youth and legislative 
appointments must be made within 60 days after the convening of each new Legislature. 
All appointments are for the duration of the legislative term for which the members are 
appointed and expire upon the convening of the next Legislature. 
The appointing 
authorities shall select youth members from youths recommended by principals, guidance 
counselors or administrative heads of secondary or postsecondary school systems. 
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representatives of equivalent instruction programs or other organizations having an 
interest in youth activities. The appointing authorities shall consider youth members 
from those recommended by the previous membership of the council and may also 
consider youth recommended by principals, guidance counselors or administrative he&ds 
of secondary or postsecondary school systems, representatives of equivalent instruction 
programs or other organizations having an interest in youth activities. The appointing 
authorities shall give special consideration to youth who have already served on the 
council when making appointments. Members may be r~appointed to subsequent terms 
on the council as long as they are eligible at the time of their reappointment. 
The 
appo inting authorities shall appoint a new member to fill a vacancy on the council as 
soon as practicable after receiving notice of a vacancy from the chairs of the council. 
A. 
The President of the Semite shall appoint the following 10 members: 
(1) Seven youths who have attained 16 years of age and who are enrolled in 
programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or certificate of attendance or a· 
general equivalency diploma, enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under 
Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter I-A or enrolled at postsecondary educational 
institutions located in the State; 
(2) One youth who has attained 16 years of age and is enrolled in an equivalent 
instruction program under Title 20-A, chapter 211; subchapter I-A; and 
(3) Two members of the Senate. 
B. 
The Speaker of the House shall appoint the following 10 members: 
(1) Seven youths who have attained 16 years of age and who are enrolled in 
programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or celiificate of attendance or a 
general equivalency diploma, enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under 
Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter I-A or enrolled at postsecondary educational 
institutions located in the State; 
(2) One youth who has attained 16 years of age and who is ·enrolled in an 
equivalent instruction program under Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter I-A; 
and 
(3) Two members of the House of Representatives. 
Sec. 3. 3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§4-A is enacted to read: 
4-A. Attendance. The council shall include in its rules of procedure an attendance 
policy that authorizes the chairs, in consultation with the council, to revoke membership 
for lack of attendance. 
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SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws governing the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. 
1. 
It expands the duties of the council to include establishing a communication 
network with other youth groups in the State, facilitating methods of receiving input from 
youth from geographically diverse areas of the State and developing criteria to be 
considered when recommending future members for appointment. 
2. It directs the appointing authorities to give special consideration to youth who 
have already served on the council when making appointments and directs the appointing 
authorities to fill vacancies as soon as practicable. 
3. It directs the council to include in its rules of procedure an attendahce policy that 
authorizes revocation of membership for lack of attendance. 
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