§ 150. Youth Advisory Council; establishment
There is established the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, referred to in this section as the “Council.”
§ 151. Duties
The Council shall perform the following duties: (a) Advise the Legislature on proposed and pending legislation, budget expenditures and policy matters related to youth; (b) Consult with study commissions, committees and task forces regarding issues related to youth; (c) Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding leadership, civic, government and the Legislature; (d) Meet at […]
§ 152. Selection Committee
A Selection Committee (hereinafter “Committee”) is hereby established to select the members of the Council. The Committee shall consist of the President of the Legislature or an appropriate designee, the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court or an appropriate designee, the Commissioner of Human Services or an appropriate designee, and two (2) members of community […]
§ 153. Jurisdiction
The Council shall examine issues of importance to youth, including, but not limited to, education, employment, entrepreneurship, strategies to increase youth participation in Government, safe environments for youth, substance abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty, homelessness and youth access to services territory-wide.
§ 154. Membership
(a) The Council consists of 16 voting members who are Virgin Islands 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. (b) All appointments are for the duration […]
§ 155. Integration with learning results
The Department of Education may seek the cooperation of the Council on the integration of Council experience into the learning results standards in student service and career preparation.
§ 156. Priorities
The Council shall set priorities and shall determine the function of subcommittees, standards of conduct, process, procedures and the use of technology to convene meetings. Council members shall review and consider the procedures and rules used by the Legislature as they may be appropriate for use as models for the Council.
§ 157. Communication
The Council may provide testimony on legislation pending before the Legislature.
§ 158. Compensation
All members of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council serve without compensation. However, each of the 16 voting members of the Council is entitled to a per diem allowance of $75 for each day or part of a day spent in the attendance at official meetings of the Council, plus actual travel expenses when the member […]
§ 159. Freedom of access
Meetings of the Council are public meetings and all records of the Council are public records as defined by 3 V.I.C., chapter 33.
§ 160. Staff
The Legislature shall provide staff assistance to the Council from within its existing budgeted resources or from any grants received by the Legislature for that purpose. The staff assigned by the Legislature shall draft all legislation submitted to the Legislature by the Council. Legislative staffing may be curtailed during periods when the Legislature is in […]
§ 161. Funding
The Legislature may seek outside funds to fund costs of the Council. Contributions to support the work of the Council may not be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of the matters being studied or who would in any way compromise the work of the Council. Any […]
§ 162. Budget
The Council shall work with the Executive Director of the Legislature to develop a budget for the Council. The budget must be submitted to the Executive Director of the Legislature within 90 days of the beginning of each Legislature. The Legislature shall pay reasonable expenses of members who are Legislators to attend authorized meetings of […]
§ 163. Solicitation of funds prohibited without prior written approval
No public or private entity may solicit or receive funds from any source on behalf of or for the benefit of the Council without prior written approval of the Legislature or its executive director. All such funds, if approved and when received by the requesting entity, must be immediately transferred in full to the Legislature […]