6th Council of Lincoln Legislative Introduction Thread

[S019]

This bill was sponsored and was supposed to reach the floor, last Council, but for some reason it didn’t. So I’ll reintroduce it, so that we can debate it.

Preventing Hate-based Intimidation by Police Officers Act

To provide training for police officers in order to prevent acts of hate-based intimidation.

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “Preventing Hate-based Intimidation by Police Officers Act.

Section 2. Definition

As used in Act, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context, the term “hate-based intimidation” shall mean a threat of physical injury, harm to property or other injury motivated by hatred toward an individual's or group of individuals' actual or perceived:

(1) race; (2) color; (3) religion; (4) national origin; (5) ancestry; (6) sex; (7) gender or gender identity; ( sexual orientation; (9) intellectual disability; (10) physical or sensory disability; or (11) behavioral or mental health

Section 3. Training

(a) In general. -

There is hereby established a commission to be known as the "Police Hate-based Intimidation Prevention Commission", hereinafter referred to as the “commission”.

(b) Purpose. -

The commission shall develop and provide training on hate-based intimidation to police officers. The commission may also consult with relevant stakeholders in developing the training. The training shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Identification of hate-based intimidation. (2) Methods to address hate-based intimidation. (3) Reporting of hate-based intimidation. (4) Hate-based intimidation recordkeeping.

Section 4. Implementation

This Act shall take effect 60 days after passage.

[S019]

This bill would have passed last Council, but due to a misinterpretation of the Final Business Period due to a misleading calendar it failed, so I will reintroduce this as it should have passed.

School Bus and School Vehicle Student Safety Act

To require all school buses to have surveillance cameras and seat belts; requiring school bus and school vehicle drivers to be distraction-free.

Section 1. Short title

This Act shall be cited as the “School Bus and School Vehicle Student Safety Act".

Section 2. Requirements

(a) Surveillance. -

Every school bus registered in the region of Lincoln shall be required to have a video monitoring system that, at a minimum, includes an internal camera positioned so that every seat is within the camera's field of vision and one of the following:

(i) an internal camera positioned outward so that the road ahead is within the camera's field of vision; or (ii) an external camera.

(b) Seat Belts. -

Every school bus registered in the region of Lincoln shall be equipped with or be fitted with retractable seat belts. No passenger may be carried for whom a seat belt is not available. Each passenger shall use a seat belt when the bus is in motion.

Section 3. Distracted Drivers

(a) In general. -

While operating a school bus or a school vehicle registered in the region of Lincoln on any road when the school bus or school vehicle is in motion and is transporting one or more passengers, no individual may:

(i) consume food or beverages; or (ii) operate a cellphone.

(b) Exception. -

The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply when the school bus or school vehicle is:

(i) parked in a safe area off of a road; (ii) the consumption of food or beverages is necessary for a medical condition; or (ii) the operation of the cellular telephone occurs during an emergency situation.

(c) Fines. -

A person who violates this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars. The fine shall be five hundred dollars if the violation causes a vehicular accident.

(d) Definitions. -

As used in Section, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context, the term "emergency situation" shall mean a call made to:

(i) an emergency system response operator or 911 public safety communications dispatcher; (ii) a hospital or emergency room; (iii) a physician's office or health clinic; (iv) an ambulance or fire department rescue service; (v) a fire department or volunteer fire department; (vi) a police department; (vii) a school district building or central dispatch; or (viii) an emergency roadside assistance agency or towing or repair businesses.

Section 4. Implementation

Section 2(a) of this Act shall take effect 90 days after passage; Section 2(b) of this Act shall take effect 180 days after passage; Section 3 of this Act shall take effect immediately after passage.

[S019]

Withdrawing sponsorship of these

[S019]

Introducing this

Constitutional Amendment: Creation of the Minister of Legal Affairs

Article II of the Lincoln constitution shall be amended to read

1. The executive power shall be divided between the Governor of Lincoln and the Chancellor of Lincoln, with the governor having the powers of the head of state and the chancellor the powers of the head of government.
2. The governor shall be elected by the entire body of eligible voters. No person shall be governor who is not a registered voter of Lincoln, nor who has been a citizen thereof for fewer than 730 hours.
3. The governor shall have the power to carry out all acts in association with his role as the head of state of the Region; to command the militia in times of war; to issue pardons and reprieves for crimes committed under the laws of this Region, which shall be permanent upon their issuance, though he shall have no power to pardon himself; to appoint, in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the Republic of Atlasia, the Associate Justice for this Region; and to approve, or send to referendum, all acts passed by the Council.
4. The governor shall appoint a chancellor who he believes will have the confidence of the Council whenever a vacancy opens in the chancellorship by way of resignation, death, or whenever the Council shall pass a motion of no confidence in the government. Additionally, he shall appoint a chancellor who he believes will have the confidence of the Council following a general election.
5. The chancellor, who must be a member of the Council, shall have the power to carry out all acts in association with his role as the head of government of the Region; to lead the government, so long as he commands the confidence of the Council; and to administer the functions of the head of state as acting governor upon the death, impeachment, recall, or resignation of the governor, or whenever he should otherwise become unable to execute the duties of his office. The chancellor shall not forfeit his office upon ascending to the position of acting governor; but should the chancellor be elected governor in an ensuing by-election, he shall forfeit his offices in the Council, including the chancellery.
6. After the Council has been elected, the outgoing chancellor shall have the first right to form a government and seek appointment from the governor to reach a confidence vote. However, if the incumbent chancellor is not a sitting member of the new Council, the Council may suggest an alternative candidate for chancellor to the governor who it believes holds the confidence of the Council. If the governor has determined that a government cannot be formed, writs of election may be issued.
7. The Chancellor may name a Minister of Legal Affairs, who is subject to confirmation by 3/5ths of sitting Councillors. The Minister shall serve at the Chancellor's pleasure and shall be responsible for overseeing legal (but not judicial affairs) and shall serve as the primary counsel for Lincoln in the case that it is sued.

Article III, Section 1 of the Lincoln Constitution is amended as follows:

The people of the Region of Lincoln may initiate the recall of any officer of this Region, except the Associate Justice of the Circuit Court, the Minister of Regional Elections The Minister of Legal Affairs , or the Chancellor from that office-though they may still be recalled in their capacities as councilors—, by delivering to the Minister of Regional Elections a petition stating the reason for recall and signed by one tenth of the total population of the Region. The Minister of Regional Elections shall then open the voting booth, according to the rules and regulations for elections set forth in this Constitution; but if the officer to be recalled is the Minister of Regional Elections in their capacity as a councilor, then the Speaker of the Council shall open the voting booth. The ballot question shall be, “Shall [A.B.] be recalled from the office of [name of the office held]?” A vote of “YES” shall be considered a vote for recall; a vote of “NO” shall be considered a vote against recall. Abstentions will not affect the results. Recalled officers shall forfeit their offices immediately.

[S019]

Lincoln Transportation Overhaul Act


I. The Department of Transportation

1. The Lincoln Department of Transportation is created, it may also be cited as the DoT

2. The Department of Transportation shall monitor all transportation related affairs

3. It shall be lead by the Secretary of Transportation, this may be either a player in the game or an NPC

II. Transportation Trust Fund and Appropriations

1. The DoT shall be funded by a Transportation Trust Fund (TTF)

2. The TTF shall receive annual Appropriations of $20 billion for it's services

III. Raising Revenue for the TTF

1. Express toll lanes shall be used to pay for part of the Appropriations of the TTF

2. Express toll lanes are imposed on any highways of Interstate-level grade in the following cities: Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Boston, and Providence

3. The local city Council shall set the toll rate which may be between $5 and $15 per mile

4. Cars using renewable vehicles may use the lanes for free and HOV cars may use the lanes for free

5. Clause 4 of Section III will expire in May of 2036

6. Taxes on all income brackets making over 110,000 shall be raised progressively starting with a 10% hike and culminating with a 45% hike on the richest of Lincolnites

IV. Revenue Uses

1. 10% of total revenue for the TTF is given to the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority for work on its projects

2. 30% of total revenue shall be distributed equally to the following airports: Chicago O'Hare, Philadelphia, New York: Jojn F Kennedy, and Boston Logan

3. The remaining 70% of the revenue may be used by the department, however it desires, provided that these uses pertain to infrastructure

V. Implementation

I. This law takes effect 10 months after being signed by the governor

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Lincoln Urban Tree Protection Act

A bill to protect trees located in urban areas

1. This bill shall apply to any trees located in an urban area that are older than 15 years, or that have a diameter bigger than 20 centimetres measured at a height of 1.40 metres from the ground

2. The full cutting of trees in any urban area in the region of Lincoln is hereby prohibited, except for what local regulations may specify

3. Whenever trees are required to be removed for construction or other purposes, they shall be transplanted instead

4. The prunning of trees is hereby prohibited in any urban area in the region of Lincoln, with the following exceptions:
-When minimum distances to electric power lines are not kept
-When tree branches obstruct the view of traffic lights or other traffic elements
-When tree branches create a risk for pedestrians or cars
-When it is necessary to keep the tree's health

5. The owners of trees located in urban areas shall be responsible for their maintenance and conservation. Municipalities and counties in Lincoln shall perform inspections to verify this every 2 years

6. Municipalities in Lincoln shall peform an inventory of trees in their urban area if they have not done so already. This inventory shall be updated every 10 years or more frequently

7. Sections 1-5 of this bill are enacted immediately after passage. Section 6 shall be enacted 2 years after passage

Since Speaker Suburban asked for more bills, I took the easy way out and translated a bill from RL. It is a fairly boring one, but also a simple one.

Sponsoring this, great step forward for tackling climate change!

[S019]

Gubernatorial Redraft Amendment

To allow the Governor of Lincoln to submit a redraft of a bill instead of sending to referendum

1. The following is appended to Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution of Lincoln:

a) The governor may instead choose to return a redrafted version of the bill to the Council. The Council shall then vote by simple majority on whether or not to accept the redraft. Should the Council accept, then the redrafted version shall be enacted into law; however, should the Council reject the redraft, the original version shall again be presented to the governor, who must then choose either to sign the bill or send it to referendum.

2. All instances of the pronoun "he" in the Constitution of Lincoln shall hereby be removed and replaced with the gender-neutral singular "they".

Sponsoring this

[S019]

Introducing the following:

Reinstating Affirmative Action in Lincoln

I. Repeal of the Ban

A. LC 2.18 is repealed, effective immediately

II. Implementation

A. This law shall take effect two weeks after being signed by the governor.

Reintroducing this (old 5th Council bill)

[S019]

Ishan’s Nicotine Tax Act

Section 1 (Title)

i. The title of this Act shall be, the "Frémont Nicotine Tax."

Section 2 (What classifies as an item with Nicotine)

i. Vapes, Cigarettes, Chewing Tobacco, and Roll Your Owns

Section 3  (Taxes)

i. There will be a 90% tax on all of the products covered in Section 2.


Section 4 (When will the Tax be Applied)

i. This bill will take effect on August 1st, 2020 if passed.
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So this is being debated in Fremont and I think it’s a good bill, and after a quick Wiki scan we don’t have anything like it, so I’ll introduce it here.

[S019]

As a complement to my thread in Atlas Fantasy Elections, introducing this as citizen legislation:

Wiki Assignments Amendment

To formally assign the updating of the Wiki to officeholders

1. Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution of Lincoln is amended as follows:

6. Every bill passed by the Council, before it becomes law, shall first be sent to the governor. If he approves of it, he should sign it and it will become law; but if he disapproves he may refer the bill to a general referendum. The Council may override the reference of the governor by a majority vote of all elected MCs. If the governor fails to take any action on a bill within 120 hours of its passage, it shall become law. After this, the Governor, the Chancellor and the Speaker of the Council shall be entrusted with the duty of uploading the bill in question to the Atlasia Wiki. This does not preclude or forbid any other Atlasian citizen from doing that by themselves.

I will sponsor

[S019]

Better Elections Amendment

Section 5 of Article V. of the Lincoln Constitution shall be amended as follows:


The manner for electing the governor shall be as follows, using a two-round voting ranked-choice voting system: a general ballot of all declared candidates shall begin at 12:00:00 am on the penultimate Friday of the given month and conclude seventy-two hours thereafter. Voters shall mark their ballot for a single candidate only by giving each candidate, who is running, a preference. If the same preference is used for two different candidates, the ballot shall be invalid.. In the event one candidate should receive a majority of all the votes cast, inclusive of blank or spoilt ballots, that candidate shall be elected governor. Should no majority exist there be a tie, the recipients of the largest and next-largest shares of the votes cast candidates who tied shall advance to a second ballot to be held beginning at 12:00:00 am on the final Friday of the given month and to conclude seventy-hours thereafter. No more than two candidates shall advance to the second ballot, and none save these shall be eligible to receive votes. Should the number of candidates qualified to advance be greater than two as the result of a tie, the Council shall nominate two candidates to advance to the second ballot, unless a sufficient number should earlier concede. A majority of valid votes on the second ballot shall be sufficient to elect the governor; in the event of a tie, the governor shall be elected by a vote of the Council. Special elections for governor shall be by Instant Runoff Voting.