SB 426 — An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, 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.

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
 1   Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
 2      "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
 3      executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
 4      Executive Department thereof and the administrative
 5      departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
 6      including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
 7      Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
 8      authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
 9      departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10      duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11      officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12      boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13      Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14      and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15      certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16      other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17      and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
18      prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
19      of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
20      certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
21      determined," in organization of departmental administrative
22      boards and commissions and of advisory boards and
23      commissions, establishing the Legislative Youth Advisory
24      Council and providing for duties of the Legislative Youth
25      Advisory Council.
26      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
27   hereby enacts as follows:
28      Section 1.    The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
29   as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
 1   section to read:
 2      Section 475.1.   Legislative Youth Advisory Council.--(a)     The
 3   Legislative Youth Advisory Council is established to examine
 4   issues of importance to youth, including education, employment,
 5   strategies to increase youth participation in State and
 6   municipal government, safe environments for youth, substance
 7   abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty,
 8   homelessness and youth access to services on a Statewide and
 9   municipal basis.
10      (b)   The council shall consist of fifty members, one from
11   each senatorial district, at the time of appointment. The
12   members of the council shall be no younger than fourteen years
13   of age and no older than eighteen years of age. The council
14   shall select a chair from among the members of the council.
15      (c)   Members of the council shall serve for a term of two
16   years and, if eligible, may be reappointed for subsequent two-
17   year terms.
18      (d)   During the first year of the council's establishment,
19   each member of the Senate shall appoint an individual to the
20   council. For each year thereafter, an individual may apply
21   annually to be considered for nomination to the council by
22   completing an online application form and submitting the
23   application to the council and the Lieutenant Governor. The
24   Lieutenant Governor shall make the application form available on
25   the Lieutenant Governor's publicly accessible Internet website.
26   The council may develop selection criteria and an application
27   review process. Upon the conclusion of the application review
28   process, the council shall recommend nominees to the council to
29   the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall make the
30   final selections to the council and notify each applicant of the

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 1   final selections.
 2      (e)   Subject to the supervision of the Lieutenant Governor,
 3   the council shall have the following duties:
 4      (1)   Conduct periodic seminars for its members regarding
 5   leadership, State government and the General Assembly.
 6      (2)   Accept and solicit for grants and donations from public
 7   and private sources to support the activities of the council.
 8      (3)   Advise the General Assembly on proposed and pending
 9   legislation, including Commonwealth budget expenditures and
10   policy matters relating to youth, and each standing committee,
11   study commission, committee or task force of the General
12   Assembly regarding issues relating to youth.
13      (4)   Provide an annual report to the General Assembly by
14   December 1, 2026, and each December thereafter on the council's
15   activities, including proposed and pending legislation that
16   implements recommendations of the council.
17      (f)   To implement the council's duties under this section,
18   the council shall meet at least three times per year. The
19   council may use technology, including remote videoconferencing
20   technology, to facilitate the members' participation in
21   meetings. The council may invite members of the General Assembly
22   to participate in the meetings. The council may poll individuals
23   who are not members of the council to attain a broad perspective
24   on various youth policy issues via technology or other means.
25      (g)   Members of the council may be reimbursed for expenses
26   relating to the official duties of the council.
27      (h)   The Lieutenant Governor shall provide administration,
28   supervision and facilitation support to the council. The General
29   Assembly may provide policy and fiscal briefings and assistance
30   with drafting proposed legislation. The General Assembly shall

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 1   develop internal policies relating to staff assistance for the
 2   council, including applicable internal personnel and practices
 3   guidelines, resource use and expense reimbursement guidelines
 4   and applicable ethics mandates. The provision of funds,
 5   resources and staff to the council, including the assignment and
 6   direction of staff, shall be in the sole discretion of the
 7   General Assembly.
 8      (i)   The Lieutenant Governor, the General Assembly and a
 9   legislative agency, including an official or employe, shall be
10   immune from civil liability for any injury that is incurred by
11   or caused by a member of the council and occurs while the member
12   of the council is performing duties of the council or is
13   otherwise engaged in activities or receiving services for which
14   reimbursement is authorized under subsection (g). The immunity
15   provided by this subsection shall not apply to an injury
16   intentionally caused by the act or omission of an employe or
17   official.
18      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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