Legislation Introduction Thread

[Ebowed]

Add this to the original set of chainsaw budget cuts and we have a balanced budget:

Foreign Aid Reduction Bill

1. The budget of the International Assistance Programs division of the State Department shall be reduced to $3 billion immediately upon the passage of this bill.

[Ebowed]

While you can certainly classify me as one of those concerned citizens, I fear that this amendment takes it too far in the opposite direction.  While I am opposed to the abolition of the public school system, I am also not supportive of writing a "right to education" into law:  I believe that parents may withhold their children from regular schooling if they wish, whether it be for homeschooling or for other purposes.  Therefore I would be opposed to the amendment in its current form.

[Ebowed]

I wish to withdraw the Forgotten Atlasians Day bill.

Federal Land Within the Southeast Bill

1. The Senate, hereby acknowledging an initiative passed by the voters of the Southeast on the weekend of October 24th, 2005, proceeds to meet the request of the resolution with this bill.

2. All land currently owned by the federal government that is located within the Southeast Region of Atlasia shall have its ownership transferred to the Southeast Regional Government upon the passage of this bill, with the exception of land owned by the federal government that is used for military purposes.


Before anyone jumps on me for regional favoritism, I'd like to note that this resolution was passed (by a fairly decent margin) in the Southeast nearly a month ago and I felt it wouldn't be right to ignore it as it specifically calls upon the Senate to take action.  If any other region passed a similar resolution, a similar bill modified to fit the region's request would be just as appropriate.  Thus, I am not doing this without cause; it was specifically asked for by Southeast voters.

[Ebowed]

I honestly don't see the urgency of those bills, particularly so close to an election.  As the second bill requires the constitutional amendment to pass, can we really pass the amendment without debate and expect the regions to ratify it in time for the elections?  I'm not sure we can do that, and I'd rather not be on the sorry side and end up with a disgusting mess of one or two regions still voting on the amendment's ratification when the SoFA opens up the polls for the midterms, rendering the entire debacle useless until February.

[Ebowed]

Even so, the Electoral System Reform Bill should not be "bumped" to the top of the agenda until the amendment is dealt with.  Putting both bills on the floor at the same time means that the Electoral System Reform Bill would be unconstitutional when passed.

[Ebowed]

Feeble Attempt to Make the Species Bill Slightly More Reasonable Bill

The text of the Species Bill of 2005 is hereby stricken and replaced with:

1. Endangered and Threatened Species
   a. Atlasia hereby recognizes the Endangered and Threatened Species List of animals and plants, as compiled by the Atlasian Fish and Wildlife Service.
   b. Any individual wishing to import into Atlasia an organism of a species that appears on one of these lists shall first purchase from the AFWS a permit for this purpose at a cost of $7,750 for each organism imported, assuming it is listed on the list of endangered or threatened "Vertebrate Animals."  For organisms on the "Invertebrate Animals" and "Flowering Plants," a license shall cost $3,500 per organism imported; for "Non-flowering Plants" a license shall cost $2,000 per organism imported.
   c. This fee shall be waived for any zoo or zoological society, as defined and satisfactorily inspected by the AFWS.
   d. If an organism of an endangered or threatened species is proved in a court of law to have been intentionally killed or died as the direct result of treatment by the party applying for an importation permit, said offender shall pay a fine of as defined by the following table:
First Offense
Threatened Species/Endangered Species
Vertebrate Animals ($15,000 / $40,000)
Invertebrate Animals ($5,000 / $10,000)
Flowering Plants ($3,500 / $7,500)
Non-flowering Plants ($2,000 / $6,000)

Second Offense
Threatened Species/Endangered Species
Vertebrate Animals ($30,000 / $80,000)
Invertebrate Animals ($10,000 / $20,000)
Flowering Plants ($7,000 / $15,000)
Non-flowering Plants ($4,000 / $12,000)

Third Offense
Threatened Species/Endangered Species
Vertebrate Animals ($45,000 / $120,000)
Invertebrate Animals ($15,000 / $30,000)
Flowering Plants ($10,500 / $22,500)
Non-flowering Plants ($6,000 / $18,000)

Any further offenses shall be fined as defined appropriate by the court.

   e. Any entity proved in a court of law to have imported an organism of an endangered or threatened species without first securing an importation permit shall be fined $15,000 per offense.

2. Invasive Species
   a. Atlasia hereby recognizes invasive species as a threat to the nation’s environmental resources.
   b. An invasive species shall be defined as any non-native plant or animal that disrupts or destroys the natural state of the environment.
   c. Only zoos or zoological societies shall be permitted to import invasive species into Atlasia.
   d. Any such organisms imported per the provisions of Section 2c of this act shall not be sold to other parties within Atlasia.
   e. Any entity other than those provided for in Section 2d found in a court of law to have knowingly imported in an invasive species shall pay a fine of $50,000 per offense.

3. Species Tracker
   a. The Atlasian Fish and Wildlife Service shall create a computer system to track the importation and exportation of endangered, threatened, and invasive species into and out of Atlasia.  This system is required to keep on file information identifying each violator.
   b. Any endangered, threatened, or invasive species import or export must be reported the Atlasian Fish and Wildlife Service.
   c. Any individual, company, zoo or zoological society that is found in a court of law to be violating any sections of this bill shall within two years report all of owned endangered, threatened, and invasive species to Atlasia’s Fish and Wildlife Service to be logged in the computer system.

[Ebowed]

Well, his reasoning is that it is functionally impratical to keep them on the floor, so he did use that criterion.

I wouldn't mind keeping the 5% defense cut, either.

[Ebowed]

Pending the agreement of the PPT, the Supplemental Appropriation for Katrina Relief Efforts Bill is bumped to the top of the legislative agenda, after the Deregistration Bill.

[Ebowed]

From a concerned constituent:


Article III, Section 2, Clause 2 of the OPSR shall be amended to read:

"At any one time, there may be no more than five pieces of legislation on the Senate floor. Of these, no more than two shall be constitutional amendments. The PPT shall leave one spot open for the introduction of legislation that he considers to be related to forum affairs, and emergency legislation which can be introduced pursuant to Article VII, Section 1."

As this has already passed in the form of another amendment to the OPSR, this is withdrawn from the floor pending consent of the PPT.

[Ebowed]

In accordance with the recent amendment to the OPSR, the Deregistration Bill has been moved to the fifth "forum affairs/emergency legislation" slot, allowing another bill to reach the floor.

[Ebowed]

The Palestinian Authority Aid Elimination Bill and The Office of Personnell Management Reduction Bill also need new sponsors.

[Ebowed]

If a Senator would be so kind, I request the introduction of the following bill:

Expansion of Gun Rights Bill

Section 1: Applicability
1. This law shall only apply in the District of Columbia and in federal territories that do not form part of any Region.

Section 2: Concealed Carry
1. All persons shall have the right to conceal and carry firearms in public areas, except as otherwise provided by this law.
2. It shall not be necessary to obtain a license or pay a fee to be able to conceal and carry firearms.
3. The right to conceal and carry firearms shall not extend to anyone under the age of eighteen, to anyone who is insane, or to anyone whose right to bear arms has been suspended as a punishment for the commission of a crime.

Section 3: Disallowing Concealed Carry
1. Any person may disallow the concealed carrying of firearms on his private property.
2. The government may disallow the concealed carrying of firearms in any government-owned building, including but not limited to courthouses and schools.

Section 4: Repealed Legislation
1. Section 3, "Concealed Carry", of the Protection of the Right to Bear Arms Act is hereby repealed.

[Ebowed]

Another bill for a willing Senator to introduce.  For reference, here is the full text of the Regional Quarters Act.


Regional Quarters Extension Bill

Section 1: Findings
1. The demand of Clause 4 of the "Regional Quarters Act" is as follows: "The Senate requests Regions to submit their decisions to the Secretary of the Treasury within one month of the passage of this Act."
2. The bill passed on September 16, 2005, and was signed into law by President Siege40 on September 17, 2005.  The demand in Clause 4 was never met, and that the time to meet this demand has long past.

Section 2: Removal of Original Requirement
1. Clause 4 of the "Regional Quarters Act" is hereby repealed.

Section 3: Extension of Requirement
1. The Senate requests Regions to submit their decisions, which must be in accordance with Clauses 2 and 3 of the "Reqional Quarter Act", to the Secretary of the Treasury within one month of the time that this bill becomes law.

[Ebowed]

What follows is a package of bills I'd like any willing Senators to introduce.  The first deals with Columbus Day, which I believe should be abolished; the second introduces restrictions on abortion in federal territories; the third is my own nationwide minimum wage law which I will push for should the applicable constitutional amendment pass; the final two are Cabinet reforms that give the Secretary of State and Attorney General respectively something to do, also conveniently closing some holes in previously passed legislation.


Abolition of Columbus Day Bill

Section 1: Applicability
1. This law shall not be construed as to alter or repeal any regional laws regarding Columbus Day.

Section 2: Abolition of Columbus Day
1. Columbus Day, as a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday every October, is hereby abolished.
2. References to Columbus Day in previous legislation are hereby stricken.


Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Bill

Section 1: Applicability
1. This law shall only apply in the District of Columbia and in federal territories that do not form part of any Region.

Section 2: Definitions
1. The term 'abortion' means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device intentionally to terminate the pregnancy of a female known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead unborn child who died as the result of a spontaneous abortion, accidental trauma or a criminal assault on the pregnant female or her unborn child.
2. The term 'minor' means any person under the age of 18.
3. The term 'legal guardian' means the guardian of a minor under federal law.
4. The term 'union' means two individuals united in Civil Union.
5. The term 'spouse' means an individual engaged in a civil union with another individual.

Section 3: Restriction of Abortions, and Exceptions
1. It shall be against the law to induce an abortion on or after the 90th day following the beginning of the pregnancy.
2. Clause 1 shall not apply in the case of a severe threat to the mother's physical health or to the mother's life, in which case an abortion may be performed at any time in the pregnancy.
3. Clause 1 shall not apply if the mother's pregnancy is the result of rape, in which case it shall be against the law to induce an abortion on or after the 180th day following the beginning of the pregnancy.

Section 4: Parental Consent
1. To undergo an abortion, a minor must have the consent of at least one of her legal guardians unless otherwise provided in Clause 2.
2. Exceptions to Clause 1 will be made in the following circumstances:
(a) The minor signs a written statement of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect by her parents.
(b) The abortion is necessary to save the life of the minor because her life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.
3. No medical practitioner in the District of Columbia or federal territories may preform an abortion on a minor without a signed statement from the minor's legal guardian witnessed by at least two others unless otherwise provided in Clause 2.

Section 5: Spousal Consent
1. It shall be against the law to induce an abortion without the written consent of both spouses.
2. Exceptions to Clause 1 will be made in the following circumstances:
(a) The spouse seeking an abortion signs a written statement of sexual abuse or physical abuse by her spouse.
(b) The abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother because her life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.
3. No medical practitioner in the District of Columbia or federal territories may preform an abortion on a mother who is united with a spouse in Civil Union without a signed statement from the mother's spouse witnessed by at least two others unless otherwise provided in Clause 2.

Section 6: Penalties
1. Any individual who induces a prohibited abortion shall have any existing licence from the federal government or a federal territory, or a subdivision thereof, to practice a medical profession revoked and shall be permanently barred from the same.
2. Any individual who induces a prohibited abortion shall be sentenced to three years in prison. Any person knowingly facilitating the inducement of a prohibited abortion shall be subject to a criminal fine of $500,000.


This is, of course, only legitimate in the event that the constitutional amendment to allow the Senate to set a minimum wage is passed by the Senate and ratified.

Fair Minimum Wage Bill

Section 1: Nationwide Minimum Wage Standard
1. The minimum wage shall be set at $7.40 hourly for all persons aged 18 and above.
2. The minimum wage shall be set at $5.75 hourly for all persons aged 15 through 17.
3. Regions are permitted to pass a higher regional minimum wage than the national standard, should they so desire.  Regional laws with lower wages than defined in Clauses 1 and 2 will be overridden by this law.

Section 2: CPI Indexing
2. The nationwide minimum wage shall be indexed annually to the Consumer Pricing Index (CPI).


Foreign Aid Accountability Bill

Section 1: Findings
1. The "Foreign Aid Reduction Aid Act" states in Clause 1 that the budget for foreign aid, which is defined as $7 billion, "...shall be used at the discretion of the State Department."
2. There is no way to find out how much aid goes to which countries on a consistent and regular basis.

Section 2: Requirement of Secretary of State
1. The Secretary of State shall be required, using the timetable given in Clause 2, to provide a report stating:
(a) Which countries are receiving foreign aid;
(b) How much aid is going to each country; and
(c) What sort of programs and/or activities receive funding.
2. This report shall be delivered once every four months: on the third week of January, May, and September.


Hate Crimes Statistics Bill

Section 1: Findings
1. The "Hate Crime Laws Abolition Bill" states in Clauses 4 that "[t]he Atlasian government shall keep track of the number of racially motivated crimes committed after the passage and implementation of this bill."
2. Clause 5 of said bill states that "[t]he Atlasian government shall keep track of the number of crimes committed because of the victim's sex or sexual orientation after the passage and implementation of this bill."
3. The bill was signed into law by President Siege40 on October 13, 2005.  Since taking effect on that date, the Atlasian government has not released these statistics collected regarding crimes that were committed based on the victim's race, sex, or sexual orientation.

Section 2: Requirement of Attorney General
1. The Attorney General shall be required, using the timetable given in Clause 2, to provide a report stating the number of crimes committed based on the victim's race, sex, or sexual orientation in the previous four months, including specific breakdowns by category of crime and region.
2. This report shall be delivered once every four months: on the third week of January, May, and September.