Filed by state Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis), the proposed Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Act is being promoted as opening the lines of communication between local elected officials and the state’s youth.
“The purpose of the council is to facilitate communication between the youth of the state of Illinois and the elected branches of state government regarding the issues, interests and needs important to youth in the state of Illinois,” according to a press release.
House Bill 837, which would amend the State Finance Act, also calls for the creation of the Illinois Legislative Youth Advisory Council Fund, where all monies injected into the fund would be used to reimburse council members for all expenses incurred in carrying out the functions of the council.
While the bill, if passed, is slated to go into effect immediately, some wonder where the funding to operate it might come from and question why state lawmakers would be looking to create even more government groups when they insist consolidation is what’s needed most.
Illinois News Network recently reported that the state now has nearly 7,000 units of government, or nearly 30 percent more than Texas, a state that is much larger with many more residents.
The bill has now been referred to the House’s Revenue and Finance Committee with Reps. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora) and Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) signing on as co-sponsors of the legislation.
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