Whereas, the changes in legislative representation on the Legislative Youth Advisory Council must be made at the earliest opportunity; and

Whereas, the realignment and coordination of the terms of the youth members of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council must happen immediately; and

Whereas, the tasks assigned to agencies of state government in this Act must begin immediately in order to allow those tasks to be completed this year; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §168-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. PPPP, §1 and affected by §4, is amended to read:

3. Membership. The council consists of 21 22 voting members and 5 nonvoting members who are Maine residents in accordance with this subsection. In appointing members, the appointing authorities shall consider geographic distribution and shall appoint at least one member from each of the 3 service regions of the Department of Human Services. Members shall serve for terms of 2 years and, if eligible, may be reappointed for subsequent 2-year terms, except that the appointing authorities shall appoint 1/2 of the members first appointed to the council to terms of one year.

A. The President of the Senate shall appoint 10 11 members as follows:

(1) Six youths who are students in secondary schools or who are enrolled in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma;

(2) One youth who is enrolled in an equivalent instruction program under Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter I-A 1-A;