Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish Legislative Youth Council and select institution of higher education in this State as host; makes changes to council's structure to provide flexibility in activities and operations.

A2103

ASSEMBLY, No. 2103

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman MICHAEL VENEZIA

District 34 (Essex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish
Legislative Youth Council and select institution of higher education in this
State as host; makes changes to council's structure to provide flexibility in
activities and operations.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning the New Jersey Legislative Youth Council,
amending P.L.2021, c.398, and repealing sections 6 through 9 of P.L.2021, c.398.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 2 of P.L.2021,
c.398 (C.52:13GG-2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:

���� a.���� Engagement and
participation by our youth in civic life are essential to maintaining the
strength of our democracy, but the youth of the United States may not believe
that they have a substantive voice in their government or the opportunities to
share their perspectives and opinions at the highest levels of our government.

���� b.��� The unique perspectives
and valuable insights of the youth of this country are essential to ensuring
that investments made by the government for programs and services for those
youth are effective and efficient.

���� c.���� Many state legislatures

and governors
have created youth councils that have proven to be an
effective means of understanding the perspectives and opinions of the youth of
the state, leading to more effective and efficient policies, programs, and
services for those youth.

���� d.���
This State
historically has sought to involve youth at the highest levels of government,
including through a 1995 Youth Advisory Council to the Governor, established by
Executive Order No. 34 (Whitman).

����
e.
���� The creation of
a
new
youth council in this State that can advise
both
the New
Jersey Legislature
and State policymakers in the Executive Branch will
further develop an underutilized source of leadership in communities throughout
this State and
will be beneficial for the State and its resident youth.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.398, s.2)

���� 2.��� Section 3 of P.L.2021,
c.398 (C.52:13GG-3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.���
[
There is
established
]

a.� The Secretary of Higher Education shall establish
a New Jersey
Legislative Youth Council for the purpose of providing a forum for the youth of
this State to
gain access to and knowledge of policymaking, and to
participate
in the democratic process
[
;
to advise the Legislature and its committees, commissions, and task forces on
the perspectives, opinions, needs, development, and welfare of the youth of the
State; and to advise the Legislature and its committees, commissions and task
forces on the most effective and efficient policies, programs, and services
that the State could provide for the youth of this State.� The council shall
research, analyze, discuss, and make specific recommendations in the areas of
civics education; drugs and substance use disorder; emotional and physical
health; employment and economic opportunities; environmental protection; gun
violence and school safety; homelessness and poverty; mental health; safe
environment for youth; sexual harassment and violence; youth services; and
youth bias and hate crimes.

���� In each two-year term of the
New Jersey Legislature, the council shall submit, in writing, a series of
policy recommendations to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
General Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of
the General Assembly.� The series of policy recommendations shall be made
available online to the public.

���� The council may express its
position publicly on legislation pending before the New Jersey Legislature that
is directly relevant to the youth of this State.
]

����
b.��� The Secretary of
Higher Education shall identify an institution of higher education located in
the State to host, develop, supervise, and provide administrative support to
the council.�

����
The institution of higher
education shall appoint a coordinator who shall oversee the council, in
consultation with the Secretary, when appropriate.� The coordinator shall
receive an annual stipend in an amount to be determined by the Secretary.

����
The coordinator may select
and invite qualified persons who are considered subject matter experts to
impart their knowledge, provide guidance, and assist the council members in
researching and analyzing issues that the members determine to be of
significance for the youth in this State.� The coordinator may also work with
State policymakers to arrange for meetings, observation opportunities, and
presentations that will allow for members to experience first-hand the
policymaking process and to provide input directly to policymakers.� The
coordinator shall report biennially to the Secretary of Higher Education and to
the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on
the activities of the council.

����
c.���� The Legislature shall
appropriate sufficient funds in each fiscal year for the administration of the
council.� Such appropriations may be used for the stipends provided for in this
act.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.177, s.138)

���� 3.��� Section 4 of P.L.2021,
c.398 (C.52:13GG-4) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4.� a.� The council shall be
comprised of
[
44
members.� Forty members shall be members of the public and four members shall
be members of the New Jersey Legislature
]

40 members selected pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2021, c.398 (C.52:13GG-5)
.

���� b.� Each of the 40
[
public
]
members shall
have been a resident of New Jersey for at least
[
15
]

10
years and shall be
between
[
15
]

18
and

[
23
]

25

years of age at the time of appointment.

���� Each
[
public
]
member shall
represent one of the 40 districts of the New Jersey Legislature.

���� The 40
[
public
]
members shall
be inclusive and reflective of the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural,
and economic diversity of their district.

����
[
A public member who is less than
18 years of age shall be required to provide written permission from a parent
or legal guardian to be a member of the council and participate in its
activities.� Any public member who is less than 18 years of age shall be
accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or an adult designated in writing by
the parent or legal guardian, at all times when attending meetings and other
activities of the council.
]

���� No
[
public
]
member shall be a family member,
or an employee, of a person who is holding, or who held in the five years prior
to the public member's appointment, any appointive or elective public office of
this State.

����
[
Public members shall serve for a
term of two years, and if eligible, may be reappointed to serve for one
additional term.

���� c.� The President of the
Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate to serve on the council.� The
Speaker of the General Assembly shall appoint one member of the General
Assembly to serve on the council.� The Minority Leader of the Senate shall
appoint one member of the Senate to serve on the council.� The Minority Leader
of the General Assembly shall appoint one member of the General Assembly to
serve on the council.

���� The legislative members shall
serve a term coterminous with their term of office, and at the pleasure of the
President of the Senate or the Speaker of the General Assembly.

���� The legislative members shall
be non-voting, advisory members appointed solely for the purpose of assisting
the public members of the council in conducting the council's meetings and
activities, and in fulfilling the council's purpose.

���� The legislative members shall
advise the council on the legislative process, provide policy and fiscal
briefings, assist with the drafting of proposed legislation, and provide such
guidance and information as the council deems appropriate.

���� d.� The public members of the
council shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and,
for this purpose, a public member may serve after reaching the age of 23
years.� The term of the successor of any incumbent public member shall be calculated
from the expiration of the term of that incumbent public member.� A vacancy
occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.

���� e.
]
��
c.
� For the purpose of
the New Jersey Legislative Youth Council:

���� "Appointive or elective
public office" means an appointment by the Governor that requires the
advice and consent of the Senate, or an appointment by the Governor to serve at
the pleasure of the Governor only during his or her term of office, an
appointment by an elected public official or elected governing body of a
political subdivision of the State, that requires the specific consent or
approval of the elected governing body of the political subdivision, or any
office filled at an election by the voters at a general election.

���� "Family member"
means a child, sibling, niece, nephew, first cousin, or grandchild, whether the
individual is related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

����
[
"Youth" means a person
at least 15 years of age but under the age of 23 years.
]

(cf: P.L.2021, c.398, s.4)

���� 4.��� Section 5 of P.L.2021,
c.398 (C.52:13GG-5) is amended to read as follows:

���� 5.���
[
The
legislative members shall be appointed within 60 days after the creation of the
council by law.
]
�

a.
� The
[
legislative
members initially
]

appointed
coordinator
shall develop an application form and application
process for the selection of the
[
public
]

council

members.�
[
The
application form and application process may be revised by a majority vote of
the public members appointed to the council.
]

����
b.
� The member of the
Senate and the two members of the General Assembly who represent each district
of the New Jersey Legislature shall appoint one person, based on the
application submitted by that person, to serve as a
[
public
]
member of the council from among
the persons residing in that legislative district who submit applications.� The

[
public
]
members shall
be appointed within 60 days of the
[
completion
of the application form and application process.

���� If no applications for public
membership are received from persons in a legislative district or there are no
qualified applicants, an additional 30 days to appoint a public member from
that legislative district shall be provided for the receipt of applications
from persons who reside in that legislative district
]

commencement of each new
two-year legislative term and shall serve only for that legislative term.

����
c.� Each council member
shall receive a stipend in an amount to be determined by the coordinator, in
consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.398, s.5)

���� 5.��� (New Section)� An
individual appointed to the council prior to the effective date of P.L.��� , c. ���
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), who is eligible for appointment
to the council pursuant to the terms of this act, P.L.��� , c.��� (pending
before the Legislature as this bill), shall be deemed appointed to the council
for the two-year legislative term of the State Legislature commencing on
January 9, 2024.

���� 6.��� Sections 6 through 9 of
P.L.2021, c.398 (C.52:13GG-6 through C.52:13GG-9) are repealed.

���� 7.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill makes changes to the
Legislative Youth Council to create flexibility and provide long-term support.

���� The bill:

���� Directs the Office of the
Secretary of Higher Education to establish a Legislative Youth Council in
collaboration with a college or university located in this State, for the
engagement of youth in this State in the democratic process.

���� Directs the college or
university selected by the Secretary to provide support to council members so
they can more effectively undertake their responsibilities and provide input to
policymakers.

���� Directs the college or
university to designate a coordinator for the council to manage the day to day
functions, including arranging for guest speakers and for opportunities to
observe policymakers.

���� Establishes a stipend, in an
amount to be determined by the Secretary, for the coordinator.

���� Removes the requirement that
the members study particular subject areas, allowing the council to adapt over
time and research issues of greatest concern to them as representatives of the
youth in this State.

���� Removes the requirement that
the council provide regular reports to the Legislature on particular subjects
but instead only requires that the coordinator report to the Legislature and
the Secretary of Higher Education on the activities of the council once every
two years.

���� Aligns the term of the members
with the two-year legislative term for overlap with the schedule of legislative
activity in this State.

���� Removes legislators from
formal positions with the council, allowing for them and other policymakers to
engage in a more advisory capacity.

���� Requires the coordinator to
develop the application for appointment to the council and removes the ability
of the council to revise that application.

���� Raises the minimum age for
eligible applicants from 15 to 18 and the maximum age from 23 to 25 to create a
cohort of council members who are closer in experience and college level of
education to inform their activities.

���� Lowers the number of years
that a member has to have been a resident of this State to broaden the eligible
pool of applicants.

���� Requires the members of the
Senate and General Assembly to appoint the members within 60 days after the
start of a two-year legislative term.

���� Removes the ability of the
members of the Legislature to appoint members after that initial 60 days to
ensure that there is no delay in participation for some of the members who are
appointed later.

���� Establishes a stipend for
council members in an amount to be determined by the coordinator.

���� Provides that all members who
have been appointed prior to the enactment of the bill will constitute the
inaugural council members, as long as they would also be eligible under the
terms of this bill, and will begin their service with the new legislative term
commencing on January 9, 2024.

���� This bill also repeals several
provisions of law that require the council to maintain an executive board, that
require a certain schedule of meetings for the council, and that limit the
payments received by members to reimbursements for expenses already incurred.