[Repealed effective February 1, 2026.]

§ 3097. State Youth Council

(a) Creation. There is created within the Department of Health the State Youth Council (Council) to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on issues affecting young persons in Vermont.

(b) Membership. The Council shall be composed of not more than 28 Vermont resident youths between 11 and 18 years of age at the time of appointment. The interagency workgroup Youth Services Advisory Council shall appoint members from an applicant pool with a focus on prioritizing diversity and inclusion, including characteristics such as county of residence, gender identity, racial identity, disabilities, age, and other characteristics identified by the applicants. The Youth Services Advisory Council shall appoint a minimum of one resident youth from each State county.

(1) The Department of Health shall assist the Youth Services Advisory Council in notifying the public regarding the opportunity for youths to serve on the Council, and the Youth Services Advisory Council shall accept applications for service on the Council. The application process should emphasize the need for diverse, qualified candidates. A successful candidate must demonstrate:

(A) a commitment to inclusion and the youths of the State; and

(B) the ability to work with others and listen to others.

(2) The Youth Services Advisory Council shall appoint members to the Council for three-year staggered terms and shall strive to appoint Council members who represent a variety of youths in the State. The Youth Services Advisory Council shall consult with members of youth advocacy groups concerning initial appointments to establish the Council and then shall consult with the Council regarding appointments for all subsequent terms.

(3) The Council shall elect a chair from among its members.

(4) The Council shall establish an Executive Committee, ad hoc committees as needed, and the following standing committees:

(A) the Youth Voice Committee;

(B) the Education Committee;

(C) the Equity and Anti-Racism Committee;

(D) the Climate Change Committee; and

(E) the Youth Mental Health Committee.

(c) Powers and duties.

(1) The Council may:

(A) meet at least one time per month;

(B) hold up to four public hearings annually in order to take testimony on issues affecting Vermont youths;

(C) gather input from Vermont youths through surveys or polls; and

(D) evaluate the State’s progress in reaching the population-level outcomes set forth in section 2311 of this title and recommend to the Joint Committee on Government Accountability any revisions to the population- level indicators for those outcomes the Council finds necessary to better reflect data that impacts Vermont youths.

(2) The Council shall provide advice to the Governor and the General Assembly on policy changes necessary to improve the lives of Vermont youths.

(A) The Governor shall meet annually with the Council to hear and receive the Council’s advice and recommendations on policies that impact the youths of Vermont.

(B) The Council shall annually report its advice and recommendations to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations and to any other standing committees it deems appropriate. The report may be in verbal form.

(C) The Council shall annually report its advice and recommendations to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations and to any other standing committees it deems appropriate on the preservation of Vermont’s traditions and the future of Vermont’s rural character, activities, and professions.

(D) The Council shall annually report its advice and recommendations to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations and to any other standing committees it deems appropriate on the participation of young persons in Vermont’s economy and keeping young Vermonters in the State.

(d) Assistance. The Council shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Department of Health to assist with Council-directed activities, including:

(1) assisting with meeting scheduling and logistical support;

(2) providing information technology support; and

(3) providing any technology or technological devices necessary for the Council to perform its duties.

(e) Support. The Council shall also have support from the Youth Services Advisory Council.

(f) Attending meetings.

(1) Members of the Council may attend Council meetings by electronic or other means without being physically present at a designated meeting location as permitted under 1 V.S.A. § 312(a)(2).

(2) The General Assembly finds that such virtual meeting attendance is particularly expedient for Council members from remote areas of the State to participate in meetings, but also encourages Council members to be physically present at meeting locations when possible due to the importance of in-person interaction.

(g) Compensation and reimbursement. Members of the Council shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than 16 meetings per calendar year. For purposes of this subsection, “meetings” includes public hearings. These payments shall be made from monies appropriated to the Department of Health. (Added 2021, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 11, 2022; repealed on February 1, 2026 by 2021, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; amended 2023, No. 6, § 7, eff. July 1, 2023.)