Nevada Gives Youth a Voice

By Jan Goehring

In order to engage young people with legislators and to give them an authentic voice in the democratic process, the Nevada Legislature has created the Youth Legislative Issues Forum. The legislation creates a 21-member group of students in grades 9 - 12. Each senator, with input from assembly members, will appoint one young person to the Forum. The members serve for one year and can be reappointed.

The Forum will hold at least two public hearings each year, simultaneously teleconferencing or videoconferencing them to prominent locations throughout the state. The Forum will comment upon issues of importance to youth including education, jobs, participation in government, safe learning environment, preventing substance abuse, foster care and the well-being of young people. They may also conduct additional activities including forming committees and holding seminars about leadership and government. The Forum may request the drafting of not more than one legislative measure, submitted to the Legislative Counsel, prior to the beginning of the session.

Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Washington have created Legislative Youth Advisory Councils within the past five years.

Comments

[dorkey]

They just want to introduce the issues of importance to youth including education, jobs, participation in government, safe learning environment, preventing substance abuse, foster care and the well-being of young people.They may also conduct additional activities including forming committees and holding seminars about leadership and government.

dorkey
Addiction Recovery Nevada