SENATE BILL 617
47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005
INTRODUCED BY
Cynthia Nava
AN ACT
RELATING TO CHILDREN; CHANGING THE YOUTH COUNCIL TO THE YOUTH ALLIANCE; CHANGING MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES; CHANGING DUTIES OF THE YOUTH ALLIANCE COORDINATOR.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 9-2A-19 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 324, Section 1) is amended to read:
"9-2A-19. SHORT TITLE.--[This act] Sections 9-2A-19 through 9-2A-22 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Youth [Council] Alliance Act"."
Section 2. Section 9-2A-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 324, Section 2) is amended to read:
"9-2A-20. PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Youth [Council] Alliance Act is to encourage young people throughout New Mexico to consider and discuss the [problems] opportunities, issues and challenges they face and to [develop] identify community, family and collaborative assets as possible solutions for presentation to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislature."
Section 3. Section 9-2A-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 324, Section 3) is amended to read:
"9-2A-21. YOUTH [COUNCIL] ALLIANCE CREATED--ORGANIZATION--FUNCTIONS--DEFINITION.--
A. The "youth [council] alliance" is created [in] and is administratively attached to the children, youth and families department.
B. The [council] alliance shall consist of [at least one] youth, aged fourteen to [nineteen] twenty-four, from each New Mexico legislative district to be [selected by county child welfare advocates and officials, educational advisors, faith-based organizations and community-based youth-serving organizations, in consultation with the legislators from whose district the youth is being selected] recruited through an open process and selected by a panel of other youth alliance members, legislators, government officials and representatives of community-based organizations using clear criteria developed by the department to ensure ethnic and economic diversity. Members shall serve two-year terms.
C. The [council] alliance shall meet at least four times a year for the purpose of discussing [the problems faced by New Mexico youth], from a youth perspective, the assets that exist in communities and schools and the gaps that are present in these systems and to recommend [possible solutions to these problems to be presented] opportunities for problem-solving and collaboration to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislature. [Meetings shall not be scheduled to interfere with council participants' school attendance.]
D. The [council] alliance shall issue an annual report that summarizes the activities and findings of the [council] alliance. The report shall be submitted to the legislature and the executive no later than November 15 of each year.
E. Subject to sufficient appropriations, the alliance members shall engage a diverse group of local peers and solicit their input and launch local projects.
[E.] F. As used in the Youth [Council] Alliance Act, ["council"] "alliance" means the youth [council] alliance."
Section 4. Section 9-2A-22 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 324, Section 4) is amended to read:
"9-2A-22. YOUTH [COUNCIL] ALLIANCE COORDINATOR--POSITION CREATED--DUTIES.--
A. The position of "youth [council] alliance coordinator" is created in the office of the secretary of children, youth and families to organize, administer and coordinate youth [council] alliance activities.
B. The coordinator shall:
[(1) select, in consultation with the appropriate legislators, county child welfare advocates and officials, educational advisors, faith-based organizations and community-based youth-serving organizations, a diverse cross section of youths for the council from throughout the state;
(2) organize four council meetings a year, four of which will include the lieutenant governor and two of which will include the governor;
(3) ensure that there is adequate adult supervision for youths participating in council activities;
(4)] (1) oversee the recruitment and selection of alliance members;
(2) organize alliance meetings, at least four of which shall include the lieutenant governor and the children's cabinet and at least two of which shall include the governor;
(3) assist the [council] alliance in preparing an annual report on its activities and findings; and
[(5)] (4) act as a liaison between the [council] alliance and [any interagency coordinating group consisting of certain cabinet secretaries if that entity is established by executive order] the children's cabinet, the legislature and other government officials to ensure their involvement in activities related to children and youth."
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