Senior Student Legislature participants

For the fourth year, Florida’s First Coast Delegation of students participated in the YMCA Youth in Government program, according to an announcement received by Historic City News.

Thirty-seven high school delegates attended the 58th State Assembly in Tallahassee and practiced their techniques to “debate ideas not people” where “the partisan divide exists only between the engaged and the apathetic”.

Senior high students from St, Johns, Clay and Duval counties (representing Nease, Ponte Vedra, Bartram Trail, Oakleaf, Pedro Menendez, St Joseph’s Academy, Sandalwood, Terry Parker, Stanton College Preparatory and home schooled students) have recently returned from Tallahassee where, they debated in the actual Senate and House chambers in order to learn responsible leadership in the American democratic process and to experience law making first-hand.

They joined over 700 students from across our state who participated in the 58th Annual Florida State Assembly through five program areas:

-Legislative
-Executive
-Judicial
-Lobbyists
-Press Corps

Meeting Representative Jennifer Sullivan, the youngest women ever elected to office in the state of Florida, was a highlight for students. She is 23 years old and still in college. Her main point to each of them was “whether politics or life, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t”.

Saturday’s session took place in Florida State University’s union center. Chloe Smith-Lopez (recent aide for Doc Renuart, Nease St John’s student) opened this session with her speech for the Williams House president.

The yearlong, nonpartisan program allows students to improve their public speaking and debate skills while they express their opinions, ignite change, and represent their generation. Involved students may obtain scholarships and college credit. The bill topics were diverse, and each student’s bill represented their own personal interests in Florida politics.

Passing a bill at State Assembly is a lengthy process. Before a bill can go to the floor for debate it has to pass two committees. Then if the bill makes it to the House floor, the bill authors must be prepared for 5 rounds of debate with the student legislators. After the debates, the bill is brought to a vote. If the bill passes, it must then be presented by a co-sponsor in the Senate, and pass a vote there before going to the executive cabinet.

Elected high school officers from all over Florida, holding positions such as Youth Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Commissioner of Agriculture, interrogate the author and decide whether to sign the bill into law or to veto it.

The new officers for year 2015-2016 for the St Johns Delegation include:

-President, Emma Loya
-Vice President, Sanjana Bhargava
-Secretary, Daniel Kessler

Florida’s First Coast Delegation officers in the last session were President, Emma Loya, St John’s Chapter; Vice President, Jose Nava, Clay Chapter; Secretary, Katherine Scott, St John’s Chapter.

YMCA coordinators are Dani Slader and Danielle Tauvell. Program advisors include: Tim Brooks, Nancy Birchall and Jeani Taliaferro.

For more information, visit the state website. Join the interest list or register online for next year’s program.