By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

SENATE Vice President Pete P. Reyes has pre-filed legislation that will make youth senators non-voting, honorary members of government boards and commissions.
S.B. 15-85 states that the Youth Congress speaker will name the youth senators who will serve on the boards and commissions.
According to the bill, although current statute permits the governor to appoint youth senators to the boards, this has not been practiced for a long time.
“The Legislature finds that one of the main functions of the Youth Congress as established by law is to serve as a training ground for the commonwealth future leaders,” the bill stated. “It also finds that the various board and commissions provide an invaluable insight into the many activities that affect the lives of every person within the commonwealth and that the youth would greatly benefit greatly from exposure to and participation in the activities of the boards and commissions.”
Reyes, Ind.-Saipan, also pre-filed S.B. 84 to “ensure the efficient conduct of Youth Congress elections.”
The bill aims to address the concerns raised by schools during the conduct of the Youth Congress election last year.
Some private schools didn’t have the required 50 signatures of eligible student voters to place a student candidate on the ballot.
According to Glenna S.P. Reyes, the Legislature Bureau deputy director, the passage of the two bills will help the Youth Congress.
“Because the youth senators are non-voting members and will not receive any compensation from the boards, it’s a learning process for them to serve on these boards because, eventually, some of them will be taking over running our government and it is important that they learn the process now,” she told Variety.
S.B. 15-84, for its part, “will allow the school to have a candidate on the ballot even if they did not get the required 50 signatures to be eligible to run for a seat.”
Each youth senator is entitled to a $25 compensation for attending a Youth Congress session.