PEORIA, IL – As part of an all-inclusive civics lesson, more than 40 students from the 37th Senate District took part in State Sen. Chuck Weaver's first Youth Advisory Council Dec. 3 at Bradley University. 
"I hope that today's Youth Advisory Council will provide these students with an excellent opportunity to engage in debates on the issues that affect their lives on a daily basis," said Weaver (R-Peoria). "These young men and women will have insight into the democratic process and their decision today will possibly help us craft legislation in Springfield."
Students from Cambridge, Dunlap, Elmwood, Galesburg, Galva, Knoxville, Metamora, Oneida, Peoria and Princeton took part in the 2015 Fall Youth Advisory Council. A diverse group of students were represented from urban, suburban, and rural agricultural areas.
Weaver said the event is the first-of-its-kind for the 37th District and provides youth leaders with an invaluable opportunity to learn more about how their state government functions. Students heard from a series of panelists, who lead in government and the private sector. After the panelists, the students broke up into smaller groups to decide and debate on a litany of public policy questions.
The students developed 12 ideas for possible legislation and then took a popular vote on two mock legislative proposals to address problems with the "Common Core" education standards and mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients.
"Today's ideas from the students are all very well thought out and their presentations are an example of what creative debate can achieve," Weaver said. "Their comments are excellent and I will consider their thoughts as I move legislation in Springfield."