Office for youth affairs sought

Members of the House of Representatives have drafted legislation that would give birth to an established body tasked to coordinate and organize affairs solely for the youth.

Legislators are proposing the establishment of an Office of Special Assistant for Youth Affairs within the Office of the Governor, an entity that will be charged with the responsibility of steering youth-oriented activities in the promotion of youth development.

Representatives William S. Torres, Stanley T. Torres and David Apatang, proponents of the proposed measure, have underscored on the need to establish a formal mechanism for the coordination of youth activities in the Commonwealth.

Stressing that the youths are the single most important resource of the future, legislators believe the government must take immediate actions to provide CNMI’s future leaders and citizens with a background that will ensure their further success and prosperity.

According to the legislators, there currently exists no government program that formulates plans and policies, nor a comprehensive approach to youth development in the Commonwealth.

Lawmakers added that providing today’s youth with programs and services that offer meaningful opportunities to develop their skills, talents, leadership abilities, sportsmanship, is an important ingredient to producing excellent citizens.

The act, dubbed as the Youth Affairs Act of 2001, calls for the creation of a Commonwealth Council on Youth Affairs which shall consist of eleven members appointed by the governor, with advice and consent of the Senate.

The council members will be drawn from various sectors of the community including the judiciary branch, police department, public health, division of labor, Northern Marianas College, Public School System, the Youth Congress, and private citizens from Saipan, Rota, Tinian, and the Northern Islands.

The 11-member council shall act as an advisory panel tasked to formulate the organization’s policies, programs, and review and make recommendations on annual budget requests from the Special Assistant.

The youth act further proposes that the governor shall identify new sources of funding or reprogram existing funds for the initial budget of the office. Thereafter, the Special Assistant shall include in his/her annual budget request the funds necessary for the agency’s operation. (MM)