NRS: CHAPTER 219A - NEVADA YOUTH LEGISLATURE

[Rev. 6/29/2024 3:19:59 PM--2023]

CHAPTER 219A - NEVADA YOUTH LEGISLATURE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

NRS 219A.010 Definitions.

NRS 219A.020 “Account” defined.

NRS 219A.030 “Board” defined.

NRS 219A.040 “Homeschooled child” defined.

NRS 219A.060 “Private school” defined.

NRS 219A.070 “Public school” defined.

NRS 219A.080 “School year” defined.

NRS 219A.090 “Youth Legislature” defined.

CREATION AND MEMBERSHIP

NRS 219A.130 Creation; appointment of members; terms; reappointment.

NRS 219A.140 Qualifications of members; application for appointment and reappointment; notice of change in residency or school of enrollment.

NRS 219A.150 Vacancies in membership.

NRS 219A.160 Compensation of members.

POWERS, DUTIES AND PROCEDURES

NRS 219A.200 Election and duties of Chair and Vice Chair; duties of Director of Legislative Counsel Bureau; acceptance of gifts, grants and donations.

NRS 219A.210 General powers and duties; meetings, committees and seminars; submission of annual report.

NRS 219A.220 Request for legislative measure; adoption of procedures for meetings; advising Board regarding administration of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations.

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCES

NRS 219A.300 Administration of Youth Legislature by corporation for public benefit; governance of corporation by Board of Directors; appointment and terms of Board members; election of Chair and Vice Chair; powers and duties of Board.

NRS 219A.310 Nevada Youth Legislature Account: Creation in Legislative Fund; use of money in Account; interest and income; submission of annual itemized statement.

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

NRS 219A.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 219A.020 to 219A.090, inclusive, have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 1052)

NRS 219A.020 “Account” defined. “Account” means the Nevada Youth Legislature Account created by NRS 219A.310.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 1052)

NRS 219A.030 “Board” defined. “Board” means the Board of Directors described in NRS 219A.300.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 1053)

NRS 219A.040 “Homeschooled child” defined. “Homeschooled child” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 385.007.

(Supplied in revision)

NRS 219A.060 “Private school” defined. “Private school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 394.103.

(Supplied in revision)

NRS 219A.070 “Public school” defined. “Public school” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 385.007.

(Supplied in revision)

NRS 219A.080 “School year” defined. “School year” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 388.080.

(Supplied in revision)

NRS 219A.090 “Youth Legislature” defined. “Youth Legislature” means the Nevada Youth Legislature created by NRS 219A.130.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 838; A 2009, 252; 2011, 1054)

CREATION AND MEMBERSHIP

NRS 219A.130 Creation; appointment of members; terms; reappointment.

1. The Nevada Youth Legislature is hereby created, consisting of 21 members.

2. Each member of the Senate shall, taking into consideration any recommendations made by a member of the Assembly, appoint a person who submits an application and meets the qualifications set forth in NRS 219A.140. A member of the Assembly may submit recommendations to a member of the Senate concerning the appointment.

3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, appointments to the Youth Legislature must be made by each member of the Senate before April 30 of each odd-numbered year. The term of each member of the Youth Legislature begins June 1 of each odd-numbered year.

4. If a member of the Senate does not make an appointment to the Youth Legislature by April 30 of an odd-numbered year, the members of the Assembly whose assembly districts are at least partially located within the senatorial district of that member of the Senate must collaborate to appoint a person who submits an application and meets the qualifications set forth in NRS 219A.140.

5. Each member of the Youth Legislature serves a term of 2 years and may be reappointed to one successive 2-year term if the member continues to meet the qualifications set forth in NRS 219A.140.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 838; A 2009, 252; 2011, 1054; 2013, 22)

NRS 219A.140 Qualifications of members; application for appointment and reappointment; notice of change in residency or school of enrollment.

1. To be eligible to serve on the Youth Legislature, a person:

(a) Must be:

(1) A resident of the senatorial district of the Senator who appoints him or her;

(2) Enrolled in a public school or private school located in the senatorial district of the Senator who appoints him or her; or

(3) A homeschooled child who is otherwise eligible to be enrolled in a public school in the senatorial district of the Senator who appoints him or her;

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 of NRS 219A.150, must be:

(1) Enrolled in a public school or private school in this State in grade 9, 10 or 11 for the first school year of the term for which he or she is appointed; or

(2) A homeschooled child who is otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school in this State in grade 9, 10 or 11 for the first school year of the term for which he or she is appointed; and

(c) Must not be related by blood, adoption or marriage within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to the Senator who appoints him or her or to any member of the Assembly who collaborated to appoint him or her.

2. If, at any time, a person appointed to the Youth Legislature changes his or her residency or changes his or her school of enrollment in such a manner as to render the person ineligible under his or her original appointment, the person shall inform the Board, in writing, within 30 days after becoming aware of such changed facts.

3. A person who wishes to be appointed or reappointed to the Youth Legislature must submit an application on the form prescribed pursuant to subsection 4 to the Senator of the senatorial district in which the person resides, is enrolled in a public school or private school or, if the person is a homeschooled child, the senatorial district in which he or she is otherwise eligible to be enrolled in a public school. A person may not submit an application to more than one Senator in a calendar year.

4. The Board shall prescribe a form for applications submitted pursuant to this section, which must require the signature of the principal of the school in which the applicant is enrolled or, if the applicant is a homeschooled child, the signature of a member of the community in which the applicant resides other than a relative of the applicant.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 839; A 2009, 252; 2011, 1054; 2013, 22; 2015, 1832; 2019, 3277)

NRS 219A.150 Vacancies in membership.

1. A position on the Youth Legislature becomes vacant upon:

(a) The death or resignation of a member.

(b) The determination of the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board, as applicable, that a member has accrued, for any reason, any combination of:

(1) Absences from meetings or event days of the Youth Legislature; or

(2) Incompletions of any other activities that are assigned to him or her by the Board as a member of the Youth Legislature,

Ê if the combination of absences or incompletions amounts to three or more missed or unsuccessful activity credits during his or her term, unless the absences or incompletions are excused, in whole or in part, by the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board, as applicable.

(c) A change of residency or a change of the school of enrollment of a member which renders that member ineligible under his or her original appointment.

2. In addition to the provisions of subsection 1, a position on the Youth Legislature becomes vacant if:

(a) A member of the Youth Legislature graduates from high school or otherwise ceases to attend public school or private school for any reason other than to become a homeschooled child; or

(b) A member of the Youth Legislature who is a homeschooled child completes an educational plan of instruction for grade 12 or otherwise ceases to be a homeschooled child for any reason other than to enroll in a public school or private school.

3. A vacancy on the Youth Legislature must be filled:

(a) For the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment, except that, if the remainder of the unexpired term is less than 1 year, the member of the Senate who made the original appointment may appoint a person who:

(1) Is enrolled in a public school or private school in this State in grade 12 or who is a homeschooled child who is otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school in this State in grade 12; and

(2) Satisfies the qualifications set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection 1 of NRS 219A.140.

(b) Insofar as is practicable, within 30 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.

4. As used in this section:

(a) “Activity credit” means a credit, or any fractional portion thereof, that the Board has determined a member is eligible to earn for:

(1) Attending meetings or event days of the Youth Legislature; or

(2) Completing, in the manner required by the Board, any other activities that are assigned to him or her by the Board as a member of the Youth Legislature.

(b) “Event day” means any single calendar day on which an official, scheduled event of the Youth Legislature is held, including, without limitation, a course of instruction, a course of orientation, a meeting, a seminar or any other official, scheduled activity.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 839; A 2009, 253; 2011, 1055; 2013, 23; 2015, 1832; 2019, 1123, 3278)

NRS 219A.160 Compensation of members. The members of the Youth Legislature serve without compensation. To the extent that money is available in the Account, the members of the Youth Legislature may receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally for attending a meeting of the Youth Legislature or a seminar conducted by the Youth Legislature.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 841; A 2009, 255; 2011, 1057)

POWERS, DUTIES AND PROCEDURES

NRS 219A.200 Election and duties of Chair and Vice Chair; duties of Director of Legislative Counsel Bureau; acceptance of gifts, grants and donations.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Youth Legislature shall elect from among its members, to serve a term of 1 year beginning on June 1 of each year:

(a) A Chair, who shall conduct the meetings and, in cooperation with the Board, oversee the formation of committees as necessary to accomplish the business of the Youth Legislature; and

(b) A Vice Chair, who shall assist the Chair and conduct the meetings of the Youth Legislature if the Chair is absent or otherwise unable to perform his or her duties.

2. A vacancy in the office of Chair or Vice Chair must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original election.

3. A member who is elected to serve as Chair or Vice Chair pursuant to this section for any part of the first year of his or her term may not be elected to serve in either office for any part of the second year of his or her term.

4. The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau upon request of the Board:

(a) Shall provide meeting rooms and teleconference and videoconference facilities for the Youth Legislature.

(b) Shall, in the event of a vacancy on the Youth Legislature, notify the appropriate appointing authority of such vacancy.

(c) May accept gifts, grants and donations from any source for the support of the Youth Legislature in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Any such gifts, grants and donations must be deposited in the Account.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 839; A 2009, 253; 2011, 1056; 2019, 1124)

NRS 219A.210 General powers and duties; meetings, committees and seminars; submission of annual report.

1. The Youth Legislature shall:

(a) Hold at least two public meetings in this State each school year in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection 4. The Youth Legislature may simultaneously teleconference or videoconference each public meeting to two or more prominent locations throughout this State.

(b) Evaluate, review and comment upon issues of importance to the youth in this State, including, without limitation:

(1) Education;

(2) Employment opportunities;

(3) Participation of youth in state and local government;

(4) A safe learning environment;

(5) The prevention of substance use disorder;

(6) Emotional and physical well-being;

(7) Foster care;

(8) Access to state and local services; and

(9) Any environmental, legal, political or social issues.

(c) Conduct a public awareness campaign to raise awareness about the Youth Legislature and to enhance outreach to the youth in this State.

2. During his or her term, each member of the Youth Legislature shall complete, in the manner required by the Board, any activities that are assigned to him or her by the Board as a member of the Youth Legislature.

3. The Youth Legislature may, within the limits of available money and if approved by the Board:

(a) During the period in which the Legislature is in a regular session, meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of the Youth Legislature and to advise the Legislature on proposed legislation relating to the youth in this State.

(b) Form committees, which may meet as often as necessary to assist with the business of the Youth Legislature.

4. The public meetings of the Youth Legislature and its committees:

(a) Must comply, to the extent practicable, with the policies followed by the Legislature and its committees for holding public meetings.

(b) Do not include, without limitation, any meetings or other activities that are:

(1) Conducted solely for purposes of orientation, instruction or training for the members of the Youth Legislature; or

(2) Related to the internal organization, affairs or management of the Youth Legislature.

5. The public meetings and any other meetings or activities of the Youth Legislature and its committees and members are not subject to the provisions of chapter 241 of NRS.

6. On or before May 30 of each year, the Youth Legislature shall submit a written report to the Board and to the Governor describing the activities of the Youth Legislature during the immediately preceding school year and any recommendations for legislation. The Board shall transmit the written report to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education and to the next regular session of the Legislature.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 840; A 2009, 254; 2011, 1056; 2019, 1124)

NRS 219A.220 Request for legislative measure; adoption of procedures for meetings; advising Board regarding administration of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. The Youth Legislature may:

1. Request the drafting of not more than one legislative measure which relates to matters within the scope of the Youth Legislature. A request must be submitted to the Legislative Counsel on or before December 1 preceding the commencement of a regular session of the Legislature unless the Legislative Commission authorizes submitting a request after that date.

2. Adopt procedures to conduct meetings of the Youth Legislature and any committees thereof. Those procedures may be changed upon approval of a majority vote of all members of the Youth Legislature who are present and voting.

3. Advise the Board regarding the administration of any appropriations, gifts, grants or donations received for the support of the Youth Legislature.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 840; A 2009, 255; 2011, 1057)

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCES

1. The Youth Legislature must be administered by a corporation for public benefit, as that term is defined in NRS 82.021, which must include providing educational programs and opportunities as its primary organizational goal.

2. The corporation for public benefit must be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven members appointed by the Legislative Commission consisting of at least:

(a) One member of the Senate;

(b) One member of the Assembly;

(d) If practicable, one person who previously served as a member of the Youth Legislature.

3. A member of the Board serves a term of 2 years and until his or her successor is appointed. A member of the Board may be reappointed.

4. The members of the Board shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from among their number. The term of office of the Chair and the Vice Chair is 1 year.

5. The Board:

(a) Shall administer the provisions of this chapter.

(b) May provide to the Youth Legislature such administrative, financial and other support and guidance as the Board may determine to be necessary or appropriate.

(c) May employ one or more persons to provide administrative support for the Youth Legislature or pay the costs incurred by one or more volunteers to provide any required administrative support.

(d) Shall oversee the activities of the Youth Legislature.

(e) May solicit and accept gifts, grants and donations from any source to provide educational programs and opportunities and for the support of the Youth Legislature in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Any such gifts, grants and donations must be deposited in the Account.

(f) May perform such other functions in whatever manner the Board determines will best serve the interests of this State and the Youth Legislature.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 1053; A 2019, 1126)

NRS 219A.310 Nevada Youth Legislature Account: Creation in Legislative Fund; use of money in Account; interest and income; submission of annual itemized statement.

1. There is hereby created the Nevada Youth Legislature Account in the Legislative Fund.

2. Money for the Account may be provided:

(a) By appropriation; or

(b) Through the acceptance of gifts, grants and donations as authorized pursuant to NRS 219A.200 and 219A.300.

3. The money in the Account must be held in trust for the Youth Legislature and may be used only:

(a) For the educational programs and operations of the Youth Legislature;

(b) To provide administrative support for the Youth Legislature;

(d) For such other purposes directly related to the Youth Legislature as the Board may approve.

4. The interest and income earned on the money in the Account, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Account. All claims against the Account must be paid as other claims against the State are paid.

5. Any money remaining in the Account at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to the State General Fund, and the balance in the Account must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.

6. Each year, the Board shall submit an itemized statement of the income and expenditures for the Account to the Legislative Commission.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 1053)