A. The "youth alliance" is created and is administratively attached to the children, youth and families department.

B. The alliance shall consist of youth, aged fourteen to twenty-four, from each New Mexico legislative district to be recruited through an open process and selected by a panel of other youth alliance members, legislators, government officials and representatives of community-based organizations using clear criteria developed by the department to ensure ethnic and economic diversity. Members shall serve two-year terms.

C. The alliance shall meet at least four times a year for the purpose of discussing, from a youth perspective, the assets that exist in communities and schools and the gaps that are present in these systems and to recommend opportunities for problem-solving and collaboration to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislature.

D. The alliance shall issue an annual report that summarizes the activities and findings of the alliance. The report shall be submitted to the legislature and the executive no later than November 15 of each year.

E. Subject to sufficient appropriations, the alliance members shall engage a diverse group of local peers and solicit their input and launch local projects.

F. As used in the Youth Alliance Act [9-2A-19 to 9-2A-22 NMSA 1978], "alliance" means the youth alliance.

History: Laws 2003, ch. 324, § 3; 2005, ch. 66, § 3.

The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, provided that the youth alliance is administratively attached to the children, youth and families department; that members of the alliance shall serve for two years, be fourteen to twenty four years of age, and be recruited through an open process selected by a panel of alliance members, public officials and representatives of community-based organizations using criteria developed by the department; that the alliance shall meet to discuss the assets of communities and schools and the gaps in the opportunities and recommend opportunities for problem-solving and collaboration and that alliance members shall engage a diverse group of local peers and solicit their input and launch local projects.