Existing law requires the governing board of a school district maintaining one or more high schools to include within its membership one or more pupil members if pupils submit a petition for pupil representation to the governing board, as provided. Existing law requires the pupil member to be chosen by the pupils enrolled in the high school or high schools of the school district in accordance with procedures prescribed by the governing board of the school district. Existing law requires the pupil member to have preferential voting rights. Existing law prohibits a pupil member from being included in determining the vote required to carry any measure before the governing board.

This bill would require a city or county, as described, to establish a youth commission in response to petitions from high school pupils enrolled youth 13 to 18 years of age, inclusive, residing in their jurisdiction, as specified. Because the bill would add to the duties of cities and counties to respond to petitions from high school pupils, youth, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

This bill would require the governing board of the city or county to prescribe the policies and procedures for the selection of members of the youth commissions and the rights and responsibilities of the youth commissions, subject to specified requirements. These requirements would include that, among other things, a youth commission member receive all open meeting materials presented to the regular members at the same time the materials are presented to the regular members, except for materials that pertain to closed session items. The bill would require a youth commission existing before January 1, 2025, to comply with the requirements of this act on or before January 1, 2027. The bill would also require the governing body of the city or county to require at least one governing body member to attend at least one youth commission meeting per month.

The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.