The 44th annual Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA) was held in Raleigh March 21-23.
At the mock general assembly, North Carolina’s high school students met to draft bills, engaged in debate and voted on mock legislation; 214 students from 91 schools in 39 counties participated.
Sage Earnhardt, a junior at Trinity High School, was sponsored by N.C. Rep. Pat Hurley and represented Randolph County. In addition to meeting new friends, she worked on a committee about a bill with athletes and drug testing.
Among those presiding over the assembly was Brandon Paul, a senior at South Davidson High School.
Students followed actual procedures used by the N.C. General Assembly and participated in one of 10 committees before gathering for the general sessions. Among the issues debated were an act to prohibit North Carolina teens from eating while driving and an act to restrict the use of offshore drilling in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. A YLA final report will be sent to the governor, members of the General Assembly and other key state leaders.