(a) The California Youth Leadership Project shall be overseen by the California Youth Leadership Project Committee.

(b) The California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall be established and oversee the California Youth Leadership Project and distribute funds pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 18736) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and this article.

(c) Members of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee, in making youth scholarship awards, shall take into consideration that awarded youth represent the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, physical, and educational diversity of California. Priority for awarding scholarships under this article shall be given to at-promise or disadvantaged youth between 14 and 18 years of age, as their participation in the California Youth Leadership Project will provide keen insight into many of the issues that youth face in their day-to-day lives.

(d) (1) The California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall be chaired by the Superintendent, or their designee, and shall include no more than six members.

(2) The Superintendent shall appoint the following four members to the California Youth Leadership Project Committee:

(A) A representative from a statewide nonprofit youth organization.

(B) A representative from a community-based nonprofit organization that serves youth or deals with youth-related issues, including, but not limited to, the issues described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 33425.

(C) A representative of a local educational agency or school district.

(D) A youth between 14 and 18 years of age who has participated in a youth leadership program involving lobbying the Legislature on issue areas affecting youth. This person shall serve only in an advisory capacity.

(3) The California Health and Human Services Agency may also, but is not required to, appoint a member to the California Youth Leadership Project Committee.

(4) To the extent possible, a member of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee, appointed under any of subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (2) shall have experience and be trained to work with youth between 14 and 18 years of age on any of the issues described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 33425, and shall have special experience in civic engagement, advocacy, and at least one of the following issue areas affecting youth:

(A) Crisis prevention or intervention.

(B) Drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse prevention or intervention.

(C) Foster care.

(D) Juvenile justice.

(E) Homelessness.

(F) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights and social justice.

(G) Mental health.

(H) Youth with disabilities.

(e) The members of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall serve on a voluntary basis and shall not receive a salary.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 800, Sec. 7. (AB 413) Effective January 1, 2020.)