Senate Bill 8-34 states that the Youth Congress will prepare the youth to meet the challenges of the future and can also make recommendations to the national legislature, the Olbiil Era Kelulau, regarding pertinent legislation.
The Youth Congress will also coordinate with international, regional, sub-regional, and national and state government agencies that oversee youth programs to streamline the implementation of Palau’s national youth policy.The Youth Congress will have the power to make its own rules, establish committees, hold hearings, pass resolutions and bills, which will then be transmitted to the OEK for its consideration.The Youth Congress will be composed of three representatives from Koror, two representatives from Airai and one representative from each of the other states.Each public and private school will have one representative, but any school with over 500 students will have two.Palau Community College, for its part, will have three.According to the bill, “no person shall be eligible to sit in the Youth Congress who is not be at least 14 years of age at the beginning of his term or who will reach the age of 22 during the term, except if he or she is a full time student under the age 25 at the end of the term.”Members of the Youth Congress will serve without compensation but will get expenses for their attendance.
