2013 Maryland Code
STATE GOVERNMENT
§ 9-2701 - Maryland Youth Advisory Council

§9-2701.

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Council” means the Maryland Youth Advisory Council.

(3) “High school student” means a youth who is enrolled in high school, who is a home school student, or who is enrolled in a program that leads to a high school diploma or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma.

(4) “Institution of postsecondary education” has the meaning stated in § 10-101 of the Education Article.

(5) “Public senior higher education institution” has the meaning stated in § 10-101 of the Education Article.

(6) “Youth” means an individual who is 14 to 22 years old.

(b) There is a Maryland Youth Advisory Council.

(c) The Council consists of:

(1) the following members appointed by the President of the Senate:

(i) six high school students, including at least three who are students in the State and who are enrolled in public high schools;

(ii) two youths who are students at institutions of postsecondary education located in the State; and

(iii) one member of the Senate;

(2) the following members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates:

(i) six high school students, including at least three who are students in the State and who are enrolled in public high schools;

(ii) two youths who are students at institutions of postsecondary education located in the State; and

(iii) one member of the House of Delegates;

(3) the following members appointed by the Governor:

(i) twelve youths, including at least ten high school students, at least five of whom shall be students in the State who are enrolled in public high schools; and

(ii) four youths who are students at institutions of postsecondary education located in the State;

(4) the following members selected by other youths, including:

(i) fifteen high school students chosen by the Maryland Association of Student Councils; and

(ii) eight youths who are students at institutions of postsecondary education located in the State, including:

1. three members selected by the University System of Maryland Student Council; and

2. five members selected by the Student Advisory Council to the Maryland Higher Education Commission, including:

A. at least one member who is enrolled in a community college;

B. at least one member who is enrolled in a private college or university; and

C. at least one member who is enrolled in a public senior higher education institution who is not otherwise represented on the Council; and

(5) an executive board that consists of:

(i) four members selected by the youth members appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, including:

1. three high school students; and

2. one student at an institution of postsecondary education;

(ii) four members selected by the youth members appointed by the Governor, including:

1. three high school students; and

2. one student at an institution of postsecondary education; and

(iii) four members selected by the youth members chosen by other youth, including:

1. three high school students; and

2. one student at an institution of postsecondary education.

(d) In deciding which members to appoint or select:

(1) the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall, to the extent practicable, consider:

(i) the geographic and demographic diversity of the State;

(ii) diversity in education, including nontraditional settings such as vocational and tech-oriented education; and

(iii) youths with disabilities;

(2) the Governor shall, to the extent practicable, consider:

(i) the geographic and demographic diversity of the State;

(ii) diversity in education, including nontraditional settings such as vocational and tech-oriented education;

(iii) youths with disabilities; and

(iv) transitional youths who are not in high school or an institution of postsecondary education and not likely to attend an institution of postsecondary education; and

(3) the Maryland Association of Student Councils shall consider youths who are enrolled in schools represented by the Association as well as applicants who are enrolled in schools that are not represented by the Association.

(e) (1) The term of a youth member of the Council is 1 year, from September 1 through August 30 of the following year.

(2) A youth member who is appointed or selected after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed or selected and qualifies.

(3) A youth member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

(4) The member from the Senate and the member from the House serve, respectively, at the pleasure of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

(f) (1) At the first meeting of each youth member term period, the youth members shall elect one of the youth members to serve as cochair for a term of 1 year.

(2) A representative of the Governor’s Office for Children appointed by the Governor, the member from the Senate, and the member from the House shall serve as cochairs with the elected youth member cochair.

(3) The Council may appoint any officers that it considers necessary.

(4) The cochair appointed by the Governor shall, on behalf of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, develop an initial application and application process, both of which the Council may change at its discretion.

(g) The Governor’s Office for Children, in addition to the member from the Senate, or the member from the House, or both, shall provide staff support for the Council.

(h) The Council shall:

(1) inform the Governor and the General Assembly of issues concerning youth, including offering testimony on these issues before legislative bodies;

(2) examine issues of importance to youth, including:

(i) education;

(ii) a safe learning environment;

(iii) employment opportunities;

(iv) strategies to increase youth participation in local and State government;

(v) health care access and quality of care;

(vi) substance abuse and underage drinking;

(vii) emotional and physical well-being;

(viii) the environment;

(ix) poverty;

(x) homelessness;

(xi) youth access to State and local services;

(xii) suicide prevention; and

(xiii) educational accessibility issues for students with disabilities, including access to:

1. schools;

2. school-related activities; and

3. classes;

(3) recommend one legislative proposal each legislative session concerning an issue included in item (2) of this subsection for possible introduction; and

(4) conduct a public awareness campaign to raise awareness about the Council among Maryland youth.

(i) (1) The Council shall work with the State Department of Education regarding the granting of school credit for Council service.

(2) The State Department of Education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission shall notify the head administrators of all State high schools and of all institutions of postsecondary education, respectively, of the creation of the Council so that the administrators may inform their students.

(3) The State Department of Education shall allow up to four absences of a youth member from school per school year to be categorized as lawful absences if the absences were due to the business of the Council.

(j) (1) The Council shall set priorities and determine:

(i) the function of subcommittees;

(ii) standards of conduct;

(iii) procedures; and

(iv) the use of technology to convene or conduct meetings or facilitate communications among members.

(2) The Council shall review and consider whether the procedures and rules used by the General Assembly would be appropriate for use as models for the Council.

(k) The Council shall:

(1) meet at least four times each year and conduct one or two public hearings each year on issues of importance to youth;

(2) conduct one educational meeting concerning the legislative process, to which the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Executive Director of the Department of Legislative Services, or their designees, shall be invited to speak; and

(3) open all meetings to the public.

(l) A member of the Council:

(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Council; but

(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

(m) On or before the last day of the youth members’ terms, the Council shall report its activities to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of this article, to the General Assembly.