By Barrett Newkirk
August 27, 2008 08:18 pm
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PENDLETON — A local teen is among the first group of young people to play a new role on how Indiana laws affect their generation.
Danielle Nicole Lutton, a junior at Pendleton Heights High School, is one of 18 Hoosier youths named so far to the first Indiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council, a group state lawmakers created earlier this year to advise them on issues affecting young people such as employment, substance abuse and safety.
“It was just really cool to see Pendleton represented on such a legislative scale and then know that I was chosen to represent it,” Lutton said.
Lutton, 17, lives “a cornfield south of Anderson” and is the daughter of Shellie and Tim Hamilton, Anderson, and Troy and Marisa Lutton, Crawfordsville.
Schools recommended students for the council, and officials in the Statehouse appointed members.
Kathy McCord, Lutton’s guidance counselor, said when she learned about the new council she immediately thought of nominating Lutton.
“She’s an extremely bright young girl who has excellent communication skills,” McCord said. “Her worldly interests go way beyond Pendleton Heights High School.”
McCord submitted Lutton’s name to Rep. Scott Reske, D-District 37, who then passed the nomination along to the office of Speaker of the House Patrick Bauer.
It was Bauer who eventually approved Lutton for the council along with four other students. Leaders in the Senate and Gov. Mitch Daniels also made appointments.
Members of the council must meet between three and six times every year and submit a report to legislators each November with recommendations on how lawmakers could help young Hoosiers. Staff members from the Indiana Department of Education will advise the council.
Lutton will serve on committees focused on health, education and employment.
A major goal of the council is to encourage political involvement among young people, said Patrick Cunningham, chief of staff for Speaker Bauer.
“This is new ground being set, and these kids are basically pioneers,” he said. “Their action will play a big role in the future of the advisory council.”
Lutton said she wants to become a veterinarian but has a growing interest in politics.
“I don’t plan to have a career in it, but I’ve been getting increasingly interested because of the upcoming election,” she said. “And this is making it so much more interesting.”
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What is the Indiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council?
State lawmakers created the ILYAC earlier this year through House Enrolled Act 1162. As many as 22 teens from around the state serve two-year terms, with the possibility of serving a second term. Members are recommended by their schools and state representatives and then appointed by leaders of the Indiana State Assembly and the governor.
Members meet three to six times a year to compile a report on specific social issues, including education, poverty, homelessness and substance abuse. Their recommendations are then submitted to lawmakers every November.
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