Linda W Cropp at the request of the Mayor
A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To establish the District of Columbia Youth Advisory Council to provide
an organized youth perspective on various issues to the Mayor, the Council
of the District of Columbia, D.C. Public Schools, public charter schools,
other key decision makers in the District government, and other adult
leaders in the District.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that
this act may be cited as the "District of Columbia Youth Advisory
Council Act of 2001".
Sec. 2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this act, the term:
(1) "Youth" means an individual who is at least 13 years of
age and no older than 22 years of age.
(2) "Council" means the District of Columbia Youth Advisory
Council.
Sec. 3. Establishment and purpose.
(a) There is established, as part of the District of Columbia
government, a Youth Advisory Council.
(b) The Council shall advise the Mayor, the Council of the District of
Columbia, D.C. Public Schools, public charter schools, other key decision
makers in the District government, and other adult leaders in the District
by:
(1) Commenting upon legislation and policies that impact on youth;
(2) Presenting methods to resolve youth-related conflicts between
youth, and between youth and adults;(3) Presenting issues and recommendations to improve the lives of
youth;(4) Monitoring the programs and policies that affect youth to ensure
that they are achieving the intended results; and youth organizations
for each ward of the District;(5) Working with other youth organizations in the District to:
(A) Provide mutual support;
(B) Collaborate on shared issues and interest;
(C) Advise one another on ways to increase their effectiveness;
(D) Assist in the start-up of new youth organizations including
youth organizations for each ward of the District;(E) Prepare youth for leadership positions by providing appropriate
training; and(F) Create more youth and adult partnerships.
(c) The Council shall convene a general assembly of youth organizations
within the District on a regularly scheduled basis.
Sec. 4. Composition of the Council.
(a) The Council shall be composed of 32 youth members from various
geographic sectors of the District, and shall include members who
represent youth with special needs, as follows:
(1) 3 members from each of the 8 wards in the District totaling 24;
(2) 4 members who are presently under an order of commitment to the
District’s juvenile justice system, at least 1 of which presently
resides in a group home; and(3) 4 members who are presently in the District’s foster care system,
at least 1 of which presently resides in a group home.
(b) The membership shall reflect a broad range of diversity
encompassing, but not limited to, relevant differences such as ethnicity,
location of residency within the District, religion, and gender.
(c) Members shall have been a District resident for at least 1 year
(not including time residing in a college dormitory) prior to their
application to serve on the Council. College students are eligible to
apply to participate on the Council, if they have been a District
resident, living outside a college dormitory, for at least 1 prior to
their application to serve on the Council.
(d) Youth applying to participate on the Council shall meet the
following criteria:
(1) Have a sincere interest in, and motivation to work for, the
community;(2) Have a background of community-based activity;
(3) Have a general knowledge of activities and needs in the sector of
the community which they are selected to represent;(4) Have an ability to bring creative perspectives about youth issues
and concerns;(5) Have the ability to work patiently and constructively in a group
setting;(6) Be responsible and able to fulfill commitments; and
(7) Have an interest in the development of leadership skills.
Sec. 5. Organizational structure.
(a) Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act, the
Mayor shall prepare a Mayor’s Order which shall state:
(1) The manner in which members will be selected for the Council;
(2) The manner in which officers will be selected for the Council;
(3) The organizational structure of the Council including, but not
limited to, appropriate membership terms, standing committees or task
forces, rules and bylaws, records management, staff support, the conduct
of meetings, the number and purpose of adult leaders, requirements for a
quorum, requirements for chairing or participating on committees or task
forces, requirements for maintenance of membership, and requirements for
attendance at meetings.
(b) Beginning one year after its first meeting and every year
thereafter, the Council shall publish a report of its activities,
recommendations, and accomplishments. The report shall be distributed to
the Mayor, the Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Public Schools,
public charter schools, and other key District leadership. In addition,
copies of the report shall be placed on the internet, in each public
library, the library of each public and public charter school, and shall
be made available upon request to the general public.
(c) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, except
that 21 members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the authorized
execution of official Council duties. The Mayor and his/her designee shall
provide administrative support to the Council and may accept resources
provided from public or private organizations for the benefit of the
Council.
(d) Subject to Congressional appropriations, one adult person shall be
hired as a full time youth planner, and youth may be hired to work
part-time, as needed.
Sec. 6. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report
as the fiscal impact statement required by § 602 (c) (3) of the District
of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C.
Code §1-233 (c) (3)).
Sec. 7. This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or
in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the
veto) and approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management
Assistance Authority as provided in §203(a) of the District of Columbia
Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved
April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3 (a)), a 30-day period
of Congressional review as provided in §602 (c) (1) of the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C.
Code §1-233 (c)(1), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.