House amends Youth Congress Act • Revamp restricts age requirement, extends term of office to two years

The House of Representatives has passed legislation to provide a two-year term for members of Youth Congress as well as to restrict age requirement from 13 to under 18 years old in response to clamor from its current officers.

Offered by House Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta, HB 12-209 or the Youth Congress Revision Act of 2000 is an amendment to the initial law enacted two years ago.

One of the changes sought by the measure is to extend the term of office for its members from one year to two years in order for them to be more familiar with their job as youth senators.

“This will give senators a better chance to learn how to do their jobs,” said a report by the House Committee on Judicial and Government Operations chaired by Rep. Dino M. Jones in endorsing the legislation.

By restricting age requirement from 14-21 to 13-18, the committee stressed that this move will reflect the youth that this body is supposed to represent.

At 18, a person is eligible to run for the CNMI Legislature and to vote for those who run for public office, according to the report. “It does not seem right that someone could sit in both bodies,” it added.

The bill, which now heads to the Senate for action, also will give the Youth Congress Speaker more flexibility in calling sessions and holding them not only on Saipan, but on Rota and Tinian as well.

“These modifications to the existing statute are common sense based, and have been ratified by the Youth Congress,” the report explained. “We fully support what the Youth Congress has been doing and applaud them for suggesting these much needed changes.”

HB 12-209’s passage comes as the Legislative Bureau, which administers the congress, prepares for the election of new members on September 18.

Voter registration is now ongoing until August 28, while candidates’ petitions are due on Sept. 8. Officials estimate population within the age bracket of 14 to 21 at more than 4,000, but there is no figure yet available of eligible voters if the requirement is restricted within 13-18.

This will be third election for the 28 members of the legislative body — who represent election districts of Saipan and the Northern islands, Tinian and Rota as well as private and public schools — since it was set up in 1993.

The Congress is designed to provide a venue for the youths to voice out their concerns and discuss issues which are important to them.

Angel A. Demapan, from Precinct 1 on Saipan, was voted speaker when the Second Youth Congress took office last October; Joaquina B. Salas from Marianas High School, vice speaker; and Ramona B. Concepcion from Marianas Baptist Academy, majority floor leader.