CHAPTER 6. Northern Mariana Islands Youth Congress. § 1601. Establishment. There is hereby established a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Youth Congress under the administrative supervision of the Legislative Bureau of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature. Source: PL 8-27, § 5; amended by PL 11-18, § 1(a); repealed and re-enacted by PL 17-22 § 3(1601) (October 15, 2010). Commission Comment: PL 8-27, the “Northern Mariana Islands Youth Congress Act of 1993,” took effect September 13, 1993. According to PL 8-27, §§ 2 and 3: Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to establish a youth congress under the administrative supervision of the Legislative Bureau of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature and to provide a system which allows the youth to prepare to meet the challenges of the future and to make recommendations to the policy makers on youth programs. Section 3. Findings. The Legislature finds that: (a) Policies on youth and youth programs and activities are lacking in the Commonwealth. (b) Juvenile offenses in the Commonwealth have increased by over 56 percent from 1982 to 1992. (c) The percentage of high school attrition has increased by 680 percent from 1982 to 1992. (d) There is a need for the development of youth programs and activities. This chapter replaces a former chapter concerning the Law Revision Commission (PL 2-11, as amended), which was repealed by PL 8-22, § 3. Current provisions concerning the Law Revision Commission are codified at 1 CMC § 3801 et seq. Public Law 17-22 (effective October 15, 2010) contained severability and savings clause provisions and the following: Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be referred to the "CNMI Youth Congress Reform Act of 2010." Section 2. Findings. The Commonwealth Legislature finds that Public Law 8-27, as amended, established the CNMI Youth Congress under the administrative supervision of the Legislative Bureau of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature to provide a system which allows the youth to prepare to meet the challenges of the future and to make recommendations to the policy makers on youth programs. Currently, members of the Youth Congress, consist of youth representing private
and public high schools, Northern Marianas College, and precinct election districts throughout the Commonwealth. Voter turnout, however, has been on the decline for precinct election districts for the last three elections years. The voter turnout of registered voters for precinct election districts during the 2006; 2007; 2008; and 2009 Youth Congress elections are 25%; 13%; 13%; and 84%, respectively. With respect to the Northern Marianas College, only two of three seats given to the Northern Marianas College were filled in the 2007 Youth Congress elections. Although there was a slight increase in voter turnout during the 2008 Youth Congress election, interest in the program is poor as evident in the decline of registered voters within the last three years. Additionally, the increase in precinct voter turnout for election year 2009 was due to a vast majority of school students who chose to register as precinct voters to support their fellow student seeking office as a precinct senator. The number of registered voters for the Northern Marianas College varied from 100 registered voters in 2006 to 30 in 2007,46 in 2008 and 105 in 2009. Moreover, members elected to represent the Northern Marianas College were elected by only 7; 3; 25; and 67 votes in 2006; 2007; 2008; and 2009, respectively. As a result, the Commonwealth Legislature finds it necessary to amend the existing statutes to reapportion Youth Congress membership throughout the private and public high schools of the CNMI and to remove the positions allotted to election precinct districts and the Northern Marianas College.