This bill amends the residency requirement for military children seeking membership in the New Jersey Legislative Youth Council. Currently, all public members must have been residents of New Jersey for at least 15 years. The proposed legislation reduces this requirement specifically for military children, allowing them to qualify with a minimum residency of just six consecutive months. The bill defines a "military child" as a child of a full-time service member on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, regardless of the relationship by blood, marriage, or adoption.

In addition to the residency change, the bill maintains the overall structure of the council, which consists of 44 members, including 40 public members and 4 legislative members. The public members are required to represent the diversity of their districts and must be between the ages of 15 and 23 at the time of appointment. The bill aims to make the council more accessible to military families, recognizing the unique challenges they face due to frequent relocations. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:13GG-4