April 5, 2007

High School Students Participate in "County Legislative Day"

---Annual event sponsored by the League of Women Voters designed to familiarize students with the legislative process---

High School students from all over the County participated in County Legislative Day on March 26th, an annual event sponsored by Westchester's League of Women Voters that provides students a hands-on lesson on the mechanics of the legislative process.
Arriving at 8:30 AM, the students enjoyed breakfast and a brief overview of how county government functions by Board Chair Bill Ryan and County Executive Andy Spano.

After attending a regular meeting of the full Board at 10 AM, the students had lunch with their legislators. Click here for pictures of students with legislators.

Capping the day was a mock debate on a couple of issues that generated some lively debate. Students, sitting at the legislators' desks in the Chamber, discussed whether to endorse state laws that would prohibit drivers under 18 from using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone or wireless device while driving, and, that would increase the number of supervised driving hours from 20 to 50 for a class DJ or class MJ license.

Board Chair Bill Ryan coaches students on legislative procedures the Board follows in floor debates and votes.

Student legislators stood to make their points in the debates on the issues before the student mock board.