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Apprenticeship for Youth Congress
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Posted on Feb 19 2001
Start them young and train them good.
That seems to be the premise of recently passed House Bill 12-194, which seeks to appoint members of the CNMI Youth Congress as non-voting honorary members of government boards and commissions.
The Senate approved the bill on final reading last February 9 and was immediately transmitted by Senate President Paul A. Maglona to Governor Pedro P. Tenorio for promulgation.
Dubbed as the Youth Congress Non-voting Honorary Members Act of 2000, the bill is seen as a vehicle that will provide the fruition of the Northern Marianas Islands Youth Congress Act of 1993 (Public Law No. 8-27).
The eight-year old law states that the Youth Congress shall serve as a training ground for the Commonwealth’s future leaders.
The bill hopes that by allowing members of the Youth Congress to sit as honorary members of Commonwealth’s boards and commissions, they would gain invaluable insight into the many activities that affect the lives of every person in the Commonwealth.
Under HB 12-194, the Governor shall appoint individual members of the Youth Congress to serve as non-voting honorary members of Commonwealth boards and commissions. Membership on a board or commission will be co-terminus to the expiration of the member’s term in the Youth Congress.
However, there are a number of limitations. First, the Governor cannot appoint Youth Congress members to commission or boards whose membership is provided for in the Commonwealth Constitution. Second, their participation would only be limited to meetings wherein the general public has access. And finally, members can only attend meeting on the islands where they reside.
