Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

PRINTER'S NO.   398
                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 426
                                               Session of
                                                 2025
     INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, COMITTA, HAYWOOD AND COSTA,
        MARCH 17, 2025
     REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 17, 2025
                                    AN ACT
 Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
    "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
    executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
    Executive Department thereof and the administrative
    departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
    including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
    Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
    authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
    departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
    duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
    officers, and of the several administrative departments,
    boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
    Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
    and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
    certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
    other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
    and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
    prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
    of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
    certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
    determined," in organization of departmental administrative
    boards and commissions and of advisory boards and
    commissions, establishing the Legislative Youth Advisory
    Council and providing for duties of the Legislative Youth
    Advisory Council.
    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 hereby enacts as follows:
    Section 1.    The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
 as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
 section to read:
    Section 475.1.   Legislative Youth Advisory Council.--(a)     The
 Legislative Youth Advisory Council is established to examine
 issues of importance to youth, including education, employment,
 strategies to increase youth participation in State and
 municipal government, safe environments for youth, substance
 abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty,
 homelessness and youth access to services on a Statewide and
 municipal basis.
    (b)   The council shall consist of fifty members, one from
 each senatorial district, at the time of appointment. The
 members of the council shall be no younger than fourteen years
 of age and no older than eighteen years of age. The council
 shall select a chair from among the members of the council.
    (c)   Members of the council shall serve for a term of two
 years and, if eligible, may be reappointed for subsequent two-
 year terms.
    (d)   During the first year of the council's establishment,
 each member of the Senate shall appoint an individual to the
 council. For each year thereafter, an individual may apply
 annually to be considered for nomination to the council by
 completing an online application form and submitting the
 application to the council and the Lieutenant Governor. The
 Lieutenant Governor shall make the application form available on
 the Lieutenant Governor's publicly accessible Internet website.
 The council may develop selection criteria and an application
 review process. Upon the conclusion of the application review
 process, the council shall recommend nominees to the council to
 the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall make the
 final selections to the council and notify each applicant of the
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 final selections.
    (e)   Subject to the supervision of the Lieutenant Governor,
 the council shall have the following duties:
    (1)   Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding
 leadership, State government and the General Assembly.
    (2)   Accept and solicit for grants and donations from public
 and private sources to support the activities of the council.
    (3)   Advise the General Assembly on proposed and pending
 legislation, including Commonwealth budget expenditures and
 policy matters relating to youth, and each standing committee,
 study commission, committee or task force of the General
 Assembly regarding issues relating to youth.
    (4)   Provide an annual report to the General Assembly by
 December 1, 2026, and each December thereafter on the council's
 activities, including proposed and pending legislation that
 implements recommendations of the council.
    (f)   To implement the council's duties under this section,
 the council shall meet at least three times per year. The
 council may use technology, including remote videoconferencing
 technology, to facilitate the members' participation in
 meetings. The council may invite members of the General Assembly
 to participate in the meetings. The council may poll individuals
 who are not members of the council to attain a broad perspective
 on various youth policy issues via technology or other means.
    (g)   Members of the council may be reimbursed for expenses
 relating to the official duties of the council.
    (h)   The Lieutenant Governor shall provide administration,
 supervision and facilitation support to the council. The General
 Assembly may provide policy and fiscal briefings and assistance
 with drafting proposed legislation. The General Assembly shall
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 develop internal policies relating to staff assistance for the
 council, including applicable internal personnel and practices
 guidelines, resource use and expense reimbursement guidelines
 and applicable ethics mandates. The provision of funds,
 resources and staff to the council, including the assignment and
 direction of staff, shall be in the sole discretion of the
 General Assembly.
    (i)   The Lieutenant Governor, the General Assembly and a
 legislative agency, including an official or employe, shall be
 immune from civil liability for any injury that is incurred by
 or caused by a member of the council and occurs while the member
 of the council is performing duties of the council or is
 otherwise engaged in activities or receiving services for which
 reimbursement is authorized under subsection (g). The immunity
 provided by this subsection shall not apply to an injury
 intentionally caused by the act or omission of an employe or
 official.
    Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected: 
Printer's No. 0398: P.L.177, No.175