A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT designating the first saturday in march of each year as sayso saturday.
Whereas, Strong Able Youth Speaking Out (SaySo) is a statewide nonprofit organization of people aged 14 to 24 who are or have been in the out‑of‑home care system; and
Whereas, SaySo's mission is to work to improve the out‑of‑home care system by educating the community, speaking out about needed changes, and providing support to youth who are or have been in substitute care; and
Whereas, SaySo members have participated in numerous activities to help the organization reach its goals, including coordinating a statewide Make a Difference Day Project for foster children, providing regular speeches at regional adoption celebrations throughout North Carolina, promoting the development of local SaySo chapters, sponsoring annual SaySo Saturday conferences, participating in continuing education training for family court judges and guardian ad litem volunteers, and recruiting foster families; and
Whereas, some of the SaySo partners include the Fostering Perspectives Advisory Board, Advocates for Children's Services, Legal Services of North Carolina, Guardian Ad Litem Program, North Carolina Foster Parent Association, Workforce Development Institute, and the Covenant with North Carolina Children; and
Whereas, the General Assembly supports the efforts of SaySo and wishes to designate the first Saturday in March of each year as SaySo Saturday; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 103 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 103‑11. SaySo Saturday.
The first Saturday in March of each year is designated as SaySo Saturday."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.