Senate Legislation Introduction Thread (New)

[Senator Spark]

Childcare Opportunity Act

An act to provide affordable and effective childcare options to all Atlasians -

This Act may be cited as the “Child Care for Working Families Act”.

Section 1. Purposes

a. To ensure that no low- to moderate-income family pays more than 7 percent of its household income on child care.

b. To support working parents in making their own decisions regarding the child care services that best suit their family’s needs.

c. To support productive, high-quality, and inclusive childcare for all children and those with disabilities.

d. To provide before- and after-school and summer care services for school-age children.

e. To help child care programs meet evidence-based or national standards to improve the quality of child care.

f. To support regionwide systems to support the needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities, better coordinate child care and other services, and assist regions in increasing the number of child care providers that provide high-quality and inclusive care to families of infants or toddlers with disabilities and families of children with disabilities.

Section 2. Eligibility.

1. Application for Appropriations
Plan Requirement

i. SUPPORTING WORKING PARENTS.—Support working parents by providing assurances that the government supports their needs to provide their children with the best opportunities possible.


ii. to enroll such child with a child care provider who has received a child care certificate from such parent or parents;”;


iii. the region’s tiered and transparent system for measuring the quality of child care providers.

iv. to establish a description of the national standards or other equally rigorous and evidence-based standards tied to child outcomes that the regions use.

v. to establish the payment rates referred for providers at each tier of such system; and

vi the number and percentage of eligible providers at each tier of such system, in total and disaggregated by geographic location.

vii. information on opportunities for staff of child care providers to improve their skills and credentials, including information about training opportunities and professional organizations that provide such training.”;

2. TIERED AND TRANSPARENT SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.—The regional plan shall describe how the region will develop or revise with input from child care providers, from families, and from organizations representing child care directors, teachers, and other staff, within 3 years after the date of submission of the regional application, systems for measuring the quality of eligible child care providers who provide services for which assistance is made available under this subchapter, that consist of—
a tiered and transparent system for measuring the quality of eligible child care providers who serve eligible children, that—
applies to eligible child care providers (except providers of family, friend, or neighbor care that elect to be covered under clause (ii));
includes a set of standards, for determining the tier of quality of a child care provider, that—
uses other equally rigorous and evidence-based standards that are tied to child outcomes;
includes indicators that are appropriate for different types of providers, including child care centers and family child care providers, and are appropriate for providers serving different age groups (including mixed age groups) of children, while maintaining a high level of quality child care by all of the different types of providers and for all of the different age groups (including mixed age groups);
includes a different set of standards that includes different indicators, to be applied, when appropriate, for care during nontraditional hours of operation; and
in conjunction with the increasing payment rates under paragraph (4) (increasing due to factors specified in paragraph (4) such as the cost estimation model and quality basis for payment rates), provides for sufficient resources to enable standards at the entry tier for such system to increase in rigor over time; and
a separate system of quality standards for providers concerning developmentally appropriate and age-appropriate care that—
 applies to eligible child care providers of family, friend, or neighbor care (except such providers that elect to be covered.
3. PROHIBITION ON CHARGING MORE THAN COPAYMENT.—The regional plan shall provide that, after the systems described are in effect, child care providers receiving financial assistance under this subchapter may not charge the family of an eligible child more than the total of—
a. the financial assistance provided to the family under this subchapter; and
B. any applicable copayment
4. POLICIES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES.—The regional plan shall provide a description of—
how the region will ensure that eligible child care providers, except for providers of family, friend, or neighbor care that elect to be covered will prioritize children with disabilities and infants and toddlers with disabilities for slots in programs carried out by the providers; and
 
3. PAYMENT RATES.—
IN GENERAL.—The regional plan shall—
I. certify that payment rates for the provision of child care services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter—
Ii. will be based on a cost estimation model that is described.
III. will correspond to differences in quality based on the region’s tiered and transparent system for measuring the quality of child care providers.
 
5. COST ESTIMATION MODEL.—The regional plan shall—
a. demonstrate that the region has, after consulting with the entities and individuals described, developed and used a statistically valid and reliable cost estimation model for the rates of such child care services in the State—
b. for providers at each of the tiers of the State's tiered and transparent system for measuring the quality of child care providers described in paragraph (which rates reflect variations in the cost of child care services by geographic area, type of provider, and age of child, and the additional costs associated with providing high-quality and inclusive child care services for children with disabilities and infants and toddlers with disabilities); and
c. demonstrate that the region prepared a detailed report containing the child care costs estimated with the region cost estimation model pursuant to clause (i), and made the estimated costs widely available (not later than 30 days after the completion of the estimation) through periodic means, including posting the estimated costs on the Internet;
d. describe how the region will set payment rates for child care services, for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter—
e. in accordance with the most recent estimates from the most recent cost estimation model used pursuant to clause
(i), so that providers at each tier of the tiered and transparent system for measuring program quality receive payment that is not less than the cost of meeting the requirements of such tier; and
Ii. that maintain an effective and diverse workforce by ensuring wages for staff of child care providers that—
III. are comparable to wages for elementary educators with similar credentials and experience in the State; and
IV. at a minimum, provide a living wage for all staff of child care providers;
V. describe how the State will provide for timely payment for child care services provided under this subchapter.
6. PAYMENT PRACTICES.—The regional plan shall include—
a. a certification that the payment practices of child care providers in the State that serve children who receive assistance under this subchapter reflect generally accepted payment practices of child care providers in the State that serve children who do not receive assistance under this subchapter, including the practice of paying the providers the payment rate described based on the number of children enrolled and not the number of children in daily attendance, so as to provide stability of funding and encourage more child care providers to serve children who receive assistance under this subchapter; and
b. an assurance that the region will implement enrollment and eligibility policies that support the fixed costs of providing child care services by delinking provider payment rates from an eligible child’s occasional absences due to holidays or unforeseen circumstances such as illness.
 
7. SLIDING SCALE FOR COPAYMENTS.—
a. IN GENERAL.—The regional plan shall provide an assurance that the region will require—
(i) a family receiving assistance under this subchapter to pay the copayment.
(ii) another entity to pay the copayment on behalf of the family, voluntarily or in accordance with Federal law.
SLIDING SCALE.—Such copayment shall be based on a sliding scale that provides that, for a family with a family income—
“(i) of not more than 75 percent of regional median income, the family shall not pay a copayment, toward the cost of the child care involved for all eligible children in the family;
“(ii) of more than 75 percent but not more than 100 percent of regional median income, the copayment shall be more than 0 but not more than 2 percent of that family income, toward such cost for all such children;
iii. of more than 100 percent but not more than 125 percent of regional median income, the copayment shall be more than 2 but not more than 4 percent of that family income, toward such cost for all such children; and
iv. of more than 125 percent but not more than 150 percent of regional median income, the copayment shall be more than 4 but not more than 7 percent of that family income, toward such cost for all such children.


Section 3. Compensation and Appropriations

1. Compensation.—The plan shall provide a description of the State’s wage ladder for staff of eligible child care providers, and an assurance that wages for such staff.

2. Stakeholders.—The plan shall demonstrate how the regions will facilitate participation of staff of eligible child care providers in organizations that foster the professional development and stakeholder engagement of the child care workforce.

3. Appropriations - Congress authorizes the following amounts to be appropriated as block grants to the regions and there are appropriated to carry out an amount of $20,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, $30,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, $40,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024 and each subsequent fiscal year.

[Senator Spark]

JUNETEENTH ACT

1. In celebration of the end of slavery in Atlasia, the 19th of June of every year is hereby proclaimed to be Freedom Day.

2. Freedom Day shall be a federal holiday.

3. This provision shall take effect immediately.

[Senator Spark]

Affordable Energy Act

Section 1. Purpose

1. This bill is to provide for a less costly energy grid because many areas of Atlasia precluded from benefiting from earlier efforts made by the federal government to invest in rural electrification throughout regions.

a) This bill will provide for interconnection of regional electrical grids are not interconnected to those in other states or territories, and many communities in the state have isolated microgrids.

b) This bill will fix the isolation of many electric systems throughout the regions. This means that consumers in communities served by those systems cannot benefit from a reduction in energy bills by utilizing lower-cost power from other areas of the state;

c) This bill is intended to lower the average retail price of electricity where in rural communities this is the highest. The average cost of electricity per capita is $3,891.

d) The bill, through the energy authority, will reduce high energy costs for heating, electricity, and transportation that have a multiplying effect, which increases the cost of all goods and services in rural communities.

e) Many residents in communities with the highest power costs are unable to shoulder the financial burden of developing large-scale power infrastructure without significant government investment;

d) The bill will establish for lower carbon emissions through the development of economically feasible renewable energy projects and investment in an electric vehicle charging network.

Section 2. Implementation

a. BE IT RESOLVED that the Congress of the Republic mandates a creation of a national Energy Authority, in coordination with utility providers throughout the regions and with statewide power and electrical organizations.

b. This energy authority will develop a comprehensive 10-year infrastructure plan to reduce power costs by 25% in areas of the regions that endure extremely high electric and heating costs.

c. Be it FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress requests that the Energy Authority deliver a plan for the reduction of power costs in the region to the Senate by May 31, 2023, and notify the legislature that the plan is available.

d. The Congress hereby establishes a energy sustainability fund, this fund will be appropriated by  taxation on electric vehicles and tolls from federal highways to the amount of $50,000,000.

Section 3. Grant criteria

a. A "grant" shall be defined as a sum of money awarded for an energy related project in any of Atlasia's regions.

b. These grants shall be categorical in nature by funding upgrades to Atlasia's regional energy grids, for projects to reduce carbon emissions, increase electrical grid inter-connectivity.

b. Grants can only be made available for energy-related projects that will have substantial impact or effect upon the electrical grid in each region.

c. Eligible entities: Grants can be allotted for subsidies or incentives to regional energy companies, nonprofits, or independent contractors

Section 4. Funding

a. The Congress of the Republic of Atlasia will appropriate $25,000,000 in grants to each region for the establishment of a regional energy authority; these grants shall be up for renewal every 5 years.

b. Hereafter, the Congress shall appropriate monies to the amount of an additional $20,000,000 to establish electrical vehicle charging stations across Atlasia's regions.

Reintroducing this.

[Senator Spark]

ELECTRICITY INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

1. FERC is hereby prohibited from approving any Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) request to increase transmission costs by more than four percent (4%) in any year or by more than ten percent (10%) in any five (5) year period.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

[Senator Spark]

TICKETMASTER IS A RIPOFF ACT

1. As used in this Act, the following definitions apply:

A. ancillary charges means all fees that must be paid in order to secure a ticket from a primary ticket seller or secondary ticket marketplace, including service fees, convenience charges, parking fees, taxes and other charges.

B. base price means the price charged for a ticket other than any ancillary charges.

C. box office means a physical location where tickets are offered for primary sale.

D. bundled series tickets means packages of tickets for multiple events that are part of the same entertainment series.

E. distribution method means the manner in which a primary ticket seller distributes tickets to a particular event, whether through primary sale, limited presale promotions, donations to charity, reservations of season ticket holders, or allocated to the primary ticket seller, team, artist, or venue.

F. primary sale with regards to a ticket, means the initial sale of a ticket that has not been sold previous to such sale, by a primary ticket seller to the general public on or after the advertised date of such sale.

G. primary ticket seller means an owner or operator of a venue or a sports team, a manager or provider of an event, or a provider of ticketing services (or an agent of such owner, operator, manager, or provider) that engages in the primary sale of tickets for an event or retains the authority to otherwise distribute tickets.

H. purchaser means any person who purchases a ticket from a primary ticket seller or a secondary ticket sales marketplace.

I. resale or secondary sale, with regards to a ticket, mean any sale of a ticket that occurs after the primary sale of the ticket.

J. secondary ticket sales marketplace means a business, including a website, software application for a mobile device, any other digital platform, or portion thereof, of a physical seller whose primary purpose is to facilitate the resale of tickets to purchasers.

K. ticket means a ticket of admission to a sporting event, theater, musical performance, or place of public amusement of any kind, including bundled series tickets.

2. The following shall apply to any interregional ticket sold in Atlasia:

A. All primary ticket sellers shall disclose the total number of tickets for sale to the general public within seven (7) days of tickets becoming available for sale.

B. All primary ticket sellers must disclose any ancillary charges to customers before they select a ticket for purchase. The price of the ticket cannot change during the purchase process based off demand response.

C. All primary ticket sellers must include all ancillary charges in any refund provided.

D. No primary ticket sellers may restrict a purchaser from reselling tickets.

E. Any primary ticket seller may impose a cap on how many tickets any person may purchase.

F. No primary ticket seller may institute a price floor on reselling tickets.

G. All primary ticket sellers must disclose any guarantee or refund policy at the time of sale.

H. All secondary market companies must verify that the secondary ticket reseller is in possession of a ticket, or has made clear the secondary ticket reseller does not possess the ticket with an explanation on how to obtain a refund if the purchaser receives a ticket that does not match the description.

I. All online resale marketplaces must disclose to any purchaser when the secondary seller is the primary ticket seller, venue, team, or artist associated with the event.

J. All secondary market companies must disclose any ancillary charges to customers before they select a ticket. In addition, ticket sellers must display the total cost including all ancillary charges in price quotes and advertisements. The price of the ticket cannot change during the purchase process based off demand response.

K. All secondary ticket sales marketplaces must disclose the face value of each ticket, the location of the tickets seat or space, and the date and time of purchase if the secondary ticket sales marketplace purchased the ticket during a public sale.

L. All secondary ticket sales marketplaces must if it guarantees delivery of tickets to a purchaser and if it fails to deliver the tickets requires a full refund be provided for the total cost of the ticket, including all ancillary charges.

M. All secondary ticket sales marketplaces must disclose to any person purchasing a ticket any delivery guarantee policy.

N. No secondary ticket sales marketplace may make any representation of affiliation or endorsement with a venue, team, or artist, without the express written consent of the venue, team, or artist.

O. All online secondary ticket sales marketplaces, must publish a clear and conspicuous notice that they are engaged in the secondary sale of tickets at the time of sale.

P. The secondary sale of tickets by individual employees of venues, primary ticket sellers, teams, artists, online resale marketplaces, or box offices that are involved in hosting, promoting, performing in, or selling tickets shall be prohibited if the sale is or knows will be sold at a higher price than the primary sale of the ticket.

Q. No reseller shall sell a ticket for the same seat to more than one (1) person at the same time.

R. No person shall be sanctioned or denied admission to an event because a ticket was resold or gifted.

S. No secondary market company, secondary ticket sales marketplace, or online secondary ticket sales marketplace shall hold more than a 60% market share of its respective industry for greater than one (1) year. A violation of this provision shall constitute an anti-trust violation.

3. The Attorney General and the FTC may enforce violations of these rules as unfair or deceptive acts prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

4. Regional and State Attorneys General may bring a civil action on behalf of their residents if they have reason to believe that their residents will be adversely affected by a violation of this act.

5. Any person wronged by a violation of this act may bring a civil lawsuit for an injunction or damages and may recover from such person damages for such injury plus $1,000 for each violation for up to five (5) years from any violation.

6. This law shall not preempt or supersede any Regional regulation that is stricter than this act.

7. This act shall take effect forty (40) days from the date of passage.

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