SUMMARY

Part A repeals a requirement that the Department of Education transfer $30,000 to the Legislature to fund certain activities of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. In lieu of that transfer, this bill instead requires that the Department of Education use existing Other Special Revenue funds to pay for 2 statewide public forums of the council between July 1, 2006 and November 30, 2006. Completion of the 2 public forums required in this bill and payment by the department of all associated costs constitute fulfillment of the duties of the department and the council pertaining to public forums required under Resolve 2003, chapter 143, Part A, sections 2 and 3. A summary of these forums, along with any recommendations from those forums, will be included in the council's report to the Legislature in January 2007. Part A also adds a provision prohibiting any public or private entity from seeking any outside funds to support activities of the council without first obtaining the prior written approval from the Legislative Council or its executive director.

Part B simplifies the appointment process, changes the council's reporting requirements from an annual report to the full Legislature to a biennial report to the Legislative Council, changes the number of youth members on the council from 18 to 16, requires youth members to be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment and requires that all youths and legislative members be appointed or reappointed at the start of each new Legislature. Transition provisions are included that allow current youth members to serve the full 2-year term for which they were appointed under the previous law.