First District teens invited to apply for Legislative Youth Advisory Council

Young adults ages 14–18 are invited to apply for positions with the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC). Applications are due May 14.

Young adults ages 14–18 are invited to apply for positions with the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC). Applications are due May 14.

LYAC is a group of 22 civically minded young adults aged 14–18. They meet up to six times during the interim around the state to discuss issues that Washington youth care about. Based off discussions with their peers, they make recommendations to the Legislature that address youth’s concerns of the day.

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, has been involved with LYAC since the group formed.

“Encouraging youth’s civic involvement is vitally important to our future leaders,” said McAuliffe. “Every year, LYAC brings bills that represent what they see as the greatest need for young adults and I have been happy to sponsor or co-sponsor all the LYAC bills (or companions) that have passed.”

Each year, LYAC meets in Olympia for its “Action Day” weekend. At its meeting earlier this year, the council supported legislation examining a variety of barriers to education including dropout-prevention and gang-violence legislation. LYAC also supported Internet-safety legislation and bills related to healthy youth, including childhood obesity and diabetes.

Application forms and more information about LYAC is available on the lieutenant governor’s Web site.

For more information, view McAuliffe’s blog.