NEVADAYOUTHLEGISLATURE
APPLICATION2014‐2015
TheNevadaYouthLegislaturewascreatedbytheNevadaStateLegislatureduringthe2007Legislative
Session. Legislators established the Nevada Youth Legislature to enable the state’s most promising
teenagerstolearnaboutgovernmentbyparticipatingingovernment.
TheSelectionProcess
Currently, 21 Youth Legislators are serving two‐year terms. In June, the terms of four Youth
Legislatorswillexpireduetograduationfromhighschool.Therefore,thefourvacatedseatswillbe
availablefor2014appointmenttotheremainingoneyearofatwoyearterm.
TheopenseatsareforDistrict3(appointedbySenatorSegerblom),District5(appointedbySenator
Woodhouse), District 13 (appointed by Senator Smith), and District 20 (appointed by Senator
Roberson). You must attend school in or reside in one of these four districts to be eligible for
appointment.The“Who’sMyLegislator”toolcanbefoundathttp://bit.ly/WhosMyLegNV
Youth Legislators, selected by their Nevada State Senators, represent youth in their districts. They
reviewandevaluatestateissuesthataffectourstate’syoungpeople.DistinctivetotheNevadaYouth
Legislature,theseYouthLegislators,asagroup,havethestatutoryauthoritytoproposeonelegislative
measure during each legislative session. This gives Youth Legislators the ability and opportunity to
authorpolicythatcanbepassedbytheNevadaLegislatureandsignedintolawbytheGovernor.
In 2011 and 2012, the Nevada YouthLegislature held hearings on a variety of topics and ultimately
decidedtopursuelegislationinthe2013SessionthatwouldamendtheNevadaConstitutionto“lock”
the Millennium Scholarship account, prohibiting the use of money deposited into the Millennium
ScholarshipTrustFundfrombeingusedforanyotherpurpose.Duringthe2013LegislativeSession,
YouthLegislatorstestifiedbeforelegislativecommitteesonbehalfofthismeasure,SJR6.
Undernormalcircumstances,applicantsmustbe9thto11thgradestudentsduringthefirstschoolyear
inwhichtheywillserveontheNevadaYouthLegislature(which,forthisapplicationwindow,isthe
2014‐2015 school year). However, given these four seats are considered one‐year vacancies, rising
12thgradestudentsareeligibletoapplytofilltheremainderofthetwo‐yearterm.Applicantsmust
alsoeitherberesidentsofthestatesenatorialdistrictfromwhichtheyareappointedorinwhichthey
attendschool.Iftheapplicantisahomeschooledyouth,theapplicantmustbeeligibletoattendschool
inthesenatorialdistrictoftheSenatorwhowouldmaketheappointment.TheSecretaryoftheSenate,
in his capacity as Executive Director of the Nevada Youth Legislature, will review and refer
applicationstoStateSenators,whowillultimatelymaketheappointments.
ActivitiesandDuties
NevadaYouthLegislaturememberswillberesponsibleforperformingthefollowingduties:
 ServingasaliaisonbetweentheNevadaLegislatureandtheyouthofNevada.
 Participating in Nevada Youth Legislature meetings, hearings, and teleconferences. These
meetingstypicallytakeplaceoncepermonthandbeginat2PMonschooldays.
 Conductingatleastone“townhall”meetingwithyouthsinthecommunityeachschoolyearof
theirterm.
 Evaluating,reviewing,andcommentingonissuesthataffecttheState’syoungpeople.
 Helping the Nevada Youth Legislature conduct youth‐focused awareness and outreach
campaigns.
 Preparingfor,selecting,andultimatelytestifyingonbehalfof,theNevadaYouthLegislature’s
billdraftrequestduringthe2015SessionoftheNevadaLegislature.
Meetings
TheNevada Youth Legislature willmeetseveral timesduring itsterm, and YouthLegislatorswill be
expected – to the extent possible – to attend every meeting or activity. Youth Legislators will be
responsible for arranging their own transportation to the nearest meeting location. Meetings are
generally videoconferenced among three locations: one in Las Vegas, one in Carson City and one in
ruralNevada.
Ordinarily, meetings will involve half‐day activities. Typically, meetings and trainings will be
scheduledduringtheschoolweek,especiallyduringtheLegislativeSession,soYouthLegislatorswill
likelyneedtobeabsentpartofadayfromschoolforthesemeetings.
The Nevada Youth Legislature will hold a one‐day training program that all Youth Legislators are
requiredtoattend.ThistrainingprogramwillbeheldinLasVegas.Theprogramwillcoveralltravels
costs associated with Youth Legislators attending from Northern Nevada. The training program is
plannedforSaturday,September6th.
OtherActivities
In addition to the meetings and trainings, Youth Legislators are encouraged to continue the Nevada
YouthLegislature’swork.Afewofthewaystheycangrowthroughthisexperienceinclude:
–Meeting with their Nevada State Senators and Assembly members, community leaders, and
youthpeers.
–Researchingissuesthatarerelevanttothestate’syouth.
–Preparinganddeliveringpresentationstovariousaudiences.
–Servingasmediaresourcesonyouthissues.
–Testifyingbeforepublicbodiesandotherentities.
ApplicationDueDate:ApplicationsMustBePostmarkedorReceivedOnorBeforeApril18,2014.
We look forward to receiving your application and appreciate your interest in the Nevada Youth
Legislature.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,pleasecontactDavidA.Byerman,Secretaryofthe
SenateandExecutiveDirectoroftheNevadaYouthLegislatureFoundation,at(775)684‐1400,orvia
[email protected].
NEVADAYOUTHLEGISLATURE
APPLICATION2014‐2015
PersonalInformation:
YourFullName: Address: City: Home#: ( )
E‐mail: Parent/GuardianInformation:
Parent/Guardian’s
Name:
Relationshipto
Applicant:
(IfDifferent)
Address:
City: Home#: ( )
Work#: ( )
SchoolInformation:
SchoolName:
SchoolDistrict: Principal’sName:
Principal’sSignature:
SenateDistrictofResidence: DateofBirth: State:
NV
ZipCode: Cell#: (
)
Parent/Guardian’s
Signature:
SameAddressasApplicant?:
State:
NV
ZipCode: Cell#: (
)
E‐mail:
GradeLevelDuringthe 2014‐2015SchoolYear:
SenateDistrictofSchool:
The“Who’sMyLegislator”toolcanbefoundathttp://bit.ly/WhosMyLegNV
Note: Information that you provide on this application will be used solely for the intended purposes of consideration
for appointment to the Nevada Youth Legislature. Your information will not be shared with any other party.
NEVADAYOUTHLEGISLATURE
APPLICATION2014‐2015
Short‐AnswerQuestions:
Onaseparatesheetofpaper,pleaseanswereachofthefollowingquestions.Youranswerto
eachquestionmaynotexceed500words.
1. Whatdoesthephrase“fullyengagedinthedemocraticprocess”meantoyou,andhow
wouldyoufullyengageinthedemocraticprocesstoaccomplishspecificgoalsinthe
NevadaYouthLegislature?
2. EveryLegislativeSession,theNevadaYouthLegislaturehastheabilitytoproposeone
piece of legislation to the Nevada Legislature. All 21 Youth Legislators submit a bill
proposalaspartoftheselectionprocess.Inyouropinion,whatisthetopissuefacing
Nevada’s youth? How would you address this issue through legislation? And what
argumentswouldyoumaketoyourcolleagueswithintheYouthLegislatureinsupport
ofyourbill?
3. Recently,theNevadaYouthLegislatureadoptedapolicythatencourageseachmember
toestablish“YouthAdvisoryCouncils”intheirdistricts.TheseAdvisoryCouncilswould
expandYouthLegislators’outreachtotheschoolswithintheirdistricts.Ifyouchoseto
establishsuchanAdvisoryCouncil,howwouldyouencouragetheyouthofyourdistrict
toparticipateinit,andhowwouldyoumaximizeitseffectiveness?
Note: Information that you provide on this application will be used solely for the intended purposes of consideration
for appointment to the Nevada Youth Legislature. Your information will not be shared with any other party.
NEVADAYOUTHLEGISLATURE
APPLICATION2014‐2015
LetterofRecommendation:
Inadditiontoyourcompletedapplicationformandshort‐answerquestions,youarerequired
tosubmitoneletterofrecommendationfromanadultmentor,religiousleader,teacher,
employer,orotheradultfamiliarwithyourinterestinparticipatinginthedemocraticprocess
andyourleadershipabilities.Thisadultmaynotberelatedtoyou.Pleasesubmityourletterof
recommendationwithyourapplication.
NameofReference: RelationshiptoApplicant: Home#: ( )
Cell#: (
)
Applicant’sPledge:
I,,doherebyacknowledgethatIunderstandtheresponsibilities
ofservingasamemberoftheNevadaYouthLegislature.Ifselected,Iagreetocarryoutthese
responsibilitiestothebestofmyabilityandpromisethatIwillusemypositionontheNevada
YouthLegislaturetoprotectandservetheyouthofNevada.
Applicant’sSignature:
Date:
ThankyouforyourinterestintheNevadaYouthLegislature.Welookforwardtoreviewing
yourapplication.FormoreinformationconcerningtheNevadaYouthLegislature,youmay
visitbit.ly/NYL‐Info
APPLICATIONSMUSTBEPOSTMARKEDORRECEIVEDONORBEFOREAPRIL18,2014.
SENDYOURAPPLICATIONTO:DAVIDA.BYERMAN,SECRETARYOFTHESENATE,401S.
CARSONSTREET,CARSONCITY,NV89701.INCLUDEONYOURENVELOPEINBOLD
LETTERS“APPLICATIONFORTHENEVADAYOUTHLEGISLATURE.”YOUMAYALSOFAX
YOURAPPLICATIONTO(775)684‐6522.
ALLCANDIDATESWILLBENOTIFIEDWHETHERORNOTTHEYAREAPPOINTED.
NOTIFICATIONSWILLBEMADEBYMAY30,2014.
Note: Information that you provide on this application will be used solely for the intended purposes of consideration
for appointment to the Nevada Youth Legislature. Your information will not be shared with any other party.