Frequently Asked Questions

    Eligibility

  1. Who is eligible to be appointed to the Youth Legislature?
  2. Is there a minimum GPA required to serve on the Youth Legislature?
  3. May students who attend private school or homeschool apply for the Youth Legislature?
  4. May I apply for the Youth Legislature during my senior year in high school?
  5. May I apply for the Youth Legislature while I am in the 8th grade?

    6. Application Process

  6. How many students will be appointed to the Youth Legislature?
  7. What is the deadline for applying for the Youth Legislature?
  8. Where do I send my application materials for the Youth Legislature?
  9. Who is my Nevada State Senator?
  10. If I live in an area that is represented by two Senators, may I send an application to both of my Senators?
  11. May I submit my application electronically online?
  12. May I download an electronic copy of the application?
  13. The application requires a letter of recommendation. May I ask a family member to write the letter of recommendation on my behalf?
  14. When will Youth Legislature members be appointed to serve on the Youth Legislature?



    15. Nevada Youth Legislature Activities

  15. How much of a time commitment is required to serve on the Youth Legislature?
  16. Will I have to miss school for Youth Legislature activities?
  17. Are Youth Legislature members required to pay for their hotel and travel expenses for attending the Youth Legislature's training program or Youth Legislature meetings?
  18. How much contact will I have with my Legislators as a member of the Youth Legislature?



    19. Terms of Appointment

  19. How long are the terms of appointment for Youth Legislature members?
  20. May I serve for more than one term on the Youth Legislature?
  21. If I move to a new State Senatorial District during my term on the Youth Legislature, may I still serve on the Youth Legislature as a representative from my former State Senatorial District?



    22. Other Questions

  22. Whom may I contact if I have a question about the Youth Legislature that is not listed above?

    Eligibility

  1. Who is eligible to be appointed to the Youth Legislature?
    Each student who: (1) resides in the State Senatorial District of the State Senator who appoints the student; (2) is enrolled in public school or private school located in the senatorial district of the Senator who appoints him or is a homeschooled youth who is eligible to be enrolled in a public school located in the senatorial district of the Senator who appoints him; (3) is in the 10th-12th grade during the student's year of service on the Youth Legislature; and (4) must not be related to the Senator who appoints him or any member of the Assembly who collaborated to appoint him.

  2. Is there a minimum GPA required to serve on the Youth Legislature?
    No. The law that established the Youth Legislature (Senate Bill No. 247 of the 2007 Legislative Session) does not require that Youth Legislature members maintain any particular GPA. All eligible students who are interested in learning about and participating in the democratic process are encouraged to apply for the Youth Legislature.

  3. May students who attend private school or homeschool apply for the Youth Legislature?
    Yes. Eligible students who are enrolled in public school, private school or homeschool may apply for the Youth Legislature.


  4. May I apply for the Youth Legislature during my senior year in high school?
    No. You must be in the 10th-12th grade during your year of service on the Youth Legislature. Therefore, a student may serve on the Youth Legislature during his or her senior year in high school. However, a student may not apply for the Youth Legislature during his or her senior year in high school because the student would no longer be in the 10th-12th grade during his or her year of service.


  5. May I apply for the Youth Legislature while I am in the 8th grade?
    No. You must be in the 10th-12th grade during your year of service on the Youth Legislature. Therefore, a student may apply for the Youth Legislature during the student's 9th-11th grade school year to serve on the Youth Legislature during the student's 10th-12th grade school year.


    6. Application Process

  6. How many students will be appointed to the Youth Legislature?
    Twenty-one. Each of the 21 Nevada State Senators will appoint one member to the Youth Legislature.

  7. What is the deadline for applying for the Youth Legislature?
    For those State Senatorial Districts for which a position is still vacant, the application deadline has been extended. Application materials must be received by March 31, 2011.

  8. Where do I send my application materials for the Youth Legislature?
    Please address your application to the Nevada State Senator who represents the State Senatorial District in which you live, in which your public or private school is located, or for a homeschooled youth, the State Senatorial District in which the school he'd be eligible to attend, is located. SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL BUREAU, LEGAL DIVISION, CARE OF NYL COORDINATOR, YOUR SENATOR'S NAME, 401 SOUTH CARSON STREET, CARSON CITY, NV 89701. Do NOT send your application to the Senator's home. You may also fax your application to the Legislative Counsel Bureau, Legal Division, Care of NYL Coordinator, at (775) 684-6761. You may not submit an application to more than one Senator in a calendar year.

    You may obtain the name of your Nevada State Senator by visiting www.leg.state.nv.us/Senate/NVYouthLegislature/, clicking on "Find Your Legislative District," and entering your or your school's street address and zip code in the appropriate boxes. You may also obtain the name of your Nevada State Senator by clicking on http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm and entering your or your school's street address and zip code in the appropriate boxes.

  9. Who is my Nevada State Senator?
    You may obtain the name of your Nevada State Senator by visiting www.leg.state.nv.us/Senate/NVYouthLegislature/, clicking on "Find Your Legislative District," and entering your or your school's street address and zip code in the appropriate boxes. You may also obtain the name of your Nevada State Senator by clicking on http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm and entering your or your school's street address and zip code in the appropriate boxes.

  10. If I live in an area that is represented by two Senators, may I send an application to both of my Senators? No.

  11. May I submit my application electronically online?
    No. All applications must be mailed or faxed.

  12. May I download an electronic copy of the application?
    Yes. An electronic copy of the application is available on the Youth Legislature's Website (www.leg.state.nv.us/Senate/NVYouthLegislature/).


  13. The application requires a letter of recommendation. May I ask a family member to write the letter of recommendation on my behalf?
    No. The letter of recommendation may not be written by one of your relatives. Please choose an adult mentor, teacher, employer, or other adult familiar with your interest in participating in the democratic process and your leadership skills.

  14. When will Youth Legislature members be appointed to serve on the Youth Legislature?
    Youth Legislature members will be chosen as soon as possible after the appointing Senator has reviewed the applications submitted for that Senator.

    15. Nevada Youth Legislature Activities

  15. How much of a time commitment is required to serve on the Youth Legislature?
    Youth Legislature members are required to attend a training program and each Youth Legislature meeting held during their year of service. There will be at least two Youth Legislature meetings held during each school year. In addition to the required meetings, each Youth Legislator is required to conduct at least one town hall meeting. Youth Legislature members are encouraged to continue the Youth Legislature's work in their communities. For example, Youth Legislature members are encouraged to conduct additional town hall meetings, research issues important to Nevada's youth, give presentations to community groups, and meet with Legislators and other community leaders. Further, Youth Legislature members will have the opportunity to work with the Youth Legislature's legal counsel in drafting proposed legislation.

  16. Will I have to miss school for Youth Legislature activities?
    Yes. Occasionally meetings will be scheduled during the school week, especially during the Legislative Session.

  17. Are Youth Legislature members required to pay for their hotel and travel expenses for attending the Youth Legislature's training program or Youth Legislature meetings?
    No. Youth Legislature members will not be responsible for paying their hotel or travel expenses for attending the Youth Legislature's training program or Youth Legislature meetings. Those expenses will be paid from the Youth Legislature's fund up to the amount such expenses are paid for state officers and employees.

  18. How much contact will I have with my Legislators as a member of the Youth Legislature?
    Youth Legislature members are strongly encouraged to work with their Legislators.

    19. Terms of Appointment

  19. How long are the terms of appointment for Youth Legislature members?
    Currently, the law provides that Youth Legislature members serve for approximately one year. The term begins on June 1 of the year in which the members are appointed and ends on May 31 of the following year. However, Senator Wiener has proposed legislation for this Legislative Session which would change this term to a 2-year term. If that legislation is enacted, the Youth Legislators who are appointed in 2011 will be appointed to serve a 2-year term which begins on June 1, 2011.

  20. May I serve for more than one term on the Youth Legislature?
    Members may be reappointed if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

  21. If I move to, begin attending school in or am eligible to attend school in a new State Senatorial District during my term on the Youth Legislature, may I still serve on the Youth Legislature as a representative from my former State Senatorial District?
    Each member of the Youth Legislature must reside, attend school in or be eligible to attend school in the State Senatorial District of the State Senator who appointed the member. If a Youth Legislature member no longer meets one of these qualifications, that position on the Youth Legislature becomes vacant and the appropriate State Senator will appoint a new member to fill that position.


    22. Other Questions

  22. Whom may I contact if I have a question about the Youth Legislature that is not listed above?
    If you have a question about the Youth Legislature that is not listed above, please contact the Coordinator of the Nevada Youth Legislature at (775) 684-6830 or nylcoordinator@lcb.state.nv.us.