Senate Legislation Introduction Thread

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Be it ordained in the

CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

To reduce the exorbitant costs of care for Atlasians


FOR SPONSORSHIP IN THE ATLASIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 6, 2021

Equal Access to Healthcare Act

Section 1.

a) Congress will create a Public Healthcare Fund

b) The Public Healthcare Fund will subsidize the costs of care for those who cannot afford quality care

c) The Public Healthcare Fund shall cover the costs of prescription drugs, co-pays, premiums, and deductibles up to an amount of $3,500 at minimum for applicable citizens

Section 2. Funding

a) The Public Healthcare Fund shall be financed through taxation via income, property, and sales but is not limited to these sources of revenue

b) The Public Healthcare Fund may receive contributions from private insurance entities

Section 3. Eligibility and Disbursement

a) The federal government and appropriate agency shall be responsible for the fund

b) Eligibility for reduction of healthcare costs is based on income below the poverty threshold

c) Disbursement of funds will be handled by the appropriate federal agency to regional health agencies and/or disburse payments to private insurers

[Spark]

IN THE SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

A BILL

Addiction Care Costs Reduction Act

To mitigate the costs of drug addiction treatment services for community centers

Section 1. Purpose

a) It is the purpose of this Act to provide emergency assistance to States, territories, Tribal nations, and local areas that are disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic and to make financial assistance available to States, territories, Tribal nations, local areas, and other public or private nonprofit entities to provide for the operation of more effective and cost efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with substance use disorder, including with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and their families.

Section 2. Eligibility

a) A state or locality must be evidenced by an increase in the number of cases per capita, the rate or number of overdose deaths, or the severity or need for services to treat various substance use disorders

b) A state or locality will be eligible for a grant under the above conditions

Section 3. Planning

a) To be eligible for grants for this purpose, the chief elected official of the local area must designate a substance use disorder treatment council that shall be -

i. Representative of the population in question
ii. Composed of health care provider members, community-based health organizations, local public health agencies

Section 4. Funding

a) Funding shall be appropriated and earmarked, then directed to local council for distribution to community health centers

b) The funding amount shall be determined based on the number of deaths in the localities that are eligible and the severity of need

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IN THE SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

A RESOLUTION

China Abuses Condemnation Resolution

To condemn the People's Republic of China in its currency manipulation and subversive actions in the Asia Pacific region

Section 1. Background

a. In flagrant violation of international law, the People's Republic of China has taken a series of actions that involve uses of force to instigate retaliation between its neighbors such as India. If no action is taken on the part of Atlasia, the two countries will be set on a path toward war. The purpose of this resolution is to condemn China's practices and tactics as it relates to their un-quenched desire for territorial expansion at the expense of the rest of the world.

b. As it relates to currency manipulation, China is able to set the value of its currency as it sees fit as it possesses a centrally-planned economy. This provides an unfair advantage to the People's Republic of China because the value of other nations' currency continues to fluctuate. By lowering the value of their currency, China gains an unfair advantage. While steps have been taken in recent years, the Republic of Atlasia shall monitor this activity closely to regain an international trade balance.

Section 2. Adoption
1. The passage of this resolution will create a watch-list and add China as a member country
2. Upon passage, The Republic of Atlasia will officially condemn China's "salami-slicing" practices in Asia.

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Increasing Requirements Act

Section 3, Part 8, of the Census Act of 2019 is amended as follows

Section 3. Registration
8.In order to be eligible to register, a poster’s Atlas Forum account must have been registered for at least one hundred and sixty-eight hours and must have accumulated at least fifteen fifty posts.

Section 4, Part 2, of the Federal Electoral Act of 2019 is amended as follows

Section 4. Voter Eligibility.
2. A registered voter shall only be eligible to vote in a federal election if they have made at least eight twenty-five posts from their account in the fifty six days (eight weeks) immediately prior to the commencement of the election.

I'd like to sponsor this legislation.

[Spark]

BE IT ENACTED
In the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia

To decrease the burden of childcare across the nation

Childcare Costs Reduction Act

Section 1. Purpose

a. The title of this legislation shall be the Childcare Costs Reduction Act
b. To reduce the costs of childcare across Atlasia and reduce the burden upon parents and families to care for their dependents
c. To increase funding for nationwide community centers

Section 2. Establishment
a. Congress shall establish a Childcare Stabilization Fund
b. The fund shall provide grants to childcare centers and community agencies responsible for child protective services
c. The funding amount of the childcare fund should not exceed $50,000,000

Section 3. Funding
a. Childcare agencies in states and localities will receive stabilization grants that are earmarked for use in community centers
b. The grants shall be used to improve the supply and quality of childcare

Section 4. Eligibility
a. Children must be designated as being dependents of parents who are below the poverty line in Atlasia
b. Children who are dependents of COVID-19 healthcare professionals are eligible for a childcare tax credit of the original $1,000 plus an additional $2,000

[Spark]

Increasing Requirements Act

Section 3, Part 8, of the Census Act of 2019 is amended as follows

Section 3. Registration
8.In order to be eligible to register, a poster’s Atlas Forum account must have been registered for at least one hundred and sixty-eight hours and must have accumulated at least fifteen fifty posts.

Section 4, Part 2, of the Federal Electoral Act of 2019 is amended as follows

Section 4. Voter Eligibility.
2. A registered voter shall only be eligible to vote in a federal election if they have made at least eight twenty-five posts from their account in the fifty six days (eight weeks) immediately prior to the commencement of the election.

Due to the unusual nature of this bill, I hereby withdraw my sponsorship and encourage a different sponsor. Furthermore, it is a debate that we can have in Atlasia should it reach the Senate.

[Spark]

IN THE SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

A RESOLUTION

To re-affirm the Republic of Atlasia's support for peace in the Middle East and encouragement of the two-state solution regarding Israel and Palestine

Section 1. Purpose
a. Israel has been an indispensible force as a Democratic nation throughout its history
b. Relations between Israel and the Republic of Atlasia provides significant mutual benefit to bring peace in the Middle East and strengthens the bond between both countries

Section 2.

a. Upon adoption of this resolution, the Republic of Atlasia shall endorse to re-engage Israel and Palestine in negotiations in order to work toward a two-state solution
b. Annexation of the West Bank jeopardize prospects for such a solution, harm Israel's relations with its neighbors, and heighten hostilities in the region
c. A two-state solution is best to preserve Israel's Jewish and democratic nature in its current form while legitimizing the concerns of the state of Palestine and the sufferings that their people experience
d. Palestine's right to self-determination is assured which will create durable and lasting peace

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Farmer Stabilization Act of 2021

BE IT ENACTED in the CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

To support family farms in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic

Section 1. Purpose

a. Family farms have been devastated during the COVID-19 pandemic and it has caused wide spread disruptions in farm markets
b. The marketplace has inevitably been disrupted and commerce has slowed
c. The purpose of this act is to support local farms in order for farms to remain solvent

Section 2. Funding

a. The federal government shall provide block grants to emergency feeding organizations
b. An emergency feeding organization shall be defined as a local or regional food enterprise such as a farmers' market, a nonprofit organization, or a food hub
c. An initial amount of $75,000,000 shall be approved
i. $50,000,000 for grants
ii. $25,000,000 to support disadvantaged farmers
d. EMERGENCY designation due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Section 3. Grant eligibility
a. Block grants must be distributed to the regions in order to provide them to local farmers
b. Small, local farms are eligible and must be socially disadvantaged and isolated from other farmers
c. Priority given to retailers in food deserts that sold less than $500,000 in food products in the last year

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COVID-19 Funeral Relief Assistance Act

BE IT ENACTED IN THE CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

To reduce the burden of COVID-19 related expenses for Atlasians

Section 1. Purpose

a. Countless Atlasians lost their lives due to COVID-19 and it is the responsibility of the federal government to reduce the financial burden that Atlasians experience as a result of the losses of loved ones.
b. This bill shall establish a COVID-19 relief fund to lessen the burden of funeral expenses

Section 2. Eligibility for assistance for COVID-19 expenses

a. An Atlasian citizen must experience the death of a loved one due to the COVID-19 disease.
b. An Atlasian citizen must not have insurance to pay for such expenses
c. Prove COVID-19 as a cause of death pursuant to death certificate verified by a physician and coroner
d. The amount shall not exceed $10,000 to the affected individual

Section 3. Funding
a. The fund shall be established through the use of taxation and accrue an amount of $50,000,000

Section 4. Distribution

a. Grants earmarked to the regions of the Republic of Atlasia
b. Regions must designate the grants to localities

[Spark]

A BILL in the SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

To regulate the harmful effects of abortion and to protect our unborn children

Section 1. Title and Purpose

a. Too many countless lives are lost each year due to the heinous practice of abortion, and this bill is intended to protect life once a heartbeat is detected.

b. The title of this bill shall be the Atlasian Life Protection Act of 2021

Section 2. Liability and Regulation

a. Any physician, knowingly or unknowingly, and thereby kills a human fetus by termination of a pregnancy -
i. Without determining, according to standard medical practice, whether the fetus has a detectable heartbeat
ii. Without informing the mother of the results of that determination
iii. After determining that the fetus has a detectable heartbeat after performing the standard medical practice
iv. As this practice contravenes the Hippocratic Oath, if all or one of the above conditions are met, a physician shall not be imprisoned more than 5 years and fined, or both.
v. If after this first offense, the physician subsequently performs another abortion, that physician shall lose the right to practice the profession of medicine
vi. Mothers shall bear no prosecution or repercussion for seeking an abortion

[Spark]

Reintroducing this -

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

To regulate the harmful effects of abortion and to protect our unborn children

Section 1. Title and Purpose

a. Too many countless lives are lost each year due to the heinous practice of abortion, and this bill is intended to protect life once a heartbeat is detected.

Section 2. Liability and Regulation

a. Any physician, knowingly or unknowingly, and thereby kills a human fetus by termination of a pregnancy -
i. Without determining, according to standard medical practice, whether the fetus has a detectable heartbeat
ii. Without informing the mother of the results of that determination
iii. After determining that the fetus has a detectable heartbeat after performing the standard medical practice
iv. As this practice contravenes the Hippocratic Oath, if all or one of the above conditions are met, a physician shall not be imprisoned more than 5 years and fined, or both.
v. If after this first offense, the physician subsequently performs another abortion, that physician shall lose the right to practice the profession of medicine
vi. Mothers shall bear no prosecution or repercussion for seeking an abortion

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A RESOLUTION

In the SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

To condemn predatory and monopolistic business practices

Section 1. Background & Purpose

a. Many companies exploit by pricing out competitors out of the market and control over 50% of the market share for industries. Tactics such as predatory pricing degrade the market. This causes innovation to decline, and as a result, consumers suffer the consequences with poorer product quality. The purpose of this resolution is, broadly, to condemn these practices and reaffirm the enforcement of the federal government to regulate monopolies for consumer protection.
b. The title of this resolution shall be the Market Fairness Resolution of 2021

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Anti-Human Trafficking Act

Be it resolved in the CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

A bill to reduce the harmful effects of human trafficking in our land.

Section 1. Permissions

A regional department shall be authorized to provide emergency care and supervision to any child without seeking a court order for a period not to exceed seven days when:

A) As a result of an emergency or illness, the person who has physical and legal custody of a child is unable to provide for the care and supervision of such child, and such person or a law enforcement officer, emergency personnel employed by a licensed ambulance provider, fire rescue personnel, or a hospital administrator or his or her designee requests that DFCS exercise such emergency custody; and

B) A child is not at imminent risk of abuse or neglect, other than the risks arising from being without a caretaker

Section 2. Penalties

The crimes and offenses relating to trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude are as follows:

A) A person commits the offense of trafficking an individual for sexual servitude when that person knowingly:

1) Subjects an individual to or maintains an individual in sexual servitude;

2) Recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, solicits, patronizes, or obtains by any means an individual for the purpose of sexual servitude; or

3) Solicits or patronizes by any means an individual to perform sexually explicit conduct on behalf of such person when such individual is the subject of sexual servitude Benefits financially or by receiving anything of value from the sexual servitude of another."

4) Any person who commits the offense of trafficking an individual for labor servitude or sexual servitude shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years and a fine not to exceed $100,000.00.

5) Any person who commits the offense of trafficking an individual for labor servitude or sexual servitude against an individual who is under 18 years of age and such individual under the age of 18 years was coerced or deceived into being trafficked for labor or if the offense is committed against an individual who has a developmental disability, the person shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 25 nor more than 50 years or life imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $100,000.00.

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Home Buyer Assistance Stabilization Act

Be it resolved in the CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

April 2, 2021

Section 1. Title

A) The title of this bill shall be the Home Buyer Assistance Stabilization Act

Section 2. Administration

A) Departments of housings in regions across Atlasia shall establish and administer the home buyer assistance program to:

1. Assist home buyers by providing low-interest mortgage loans, with down payment and closing cost assistance options for the purchase of homes.  

2. Coordinate with, as appropriate, provide matching monies for similar programs that are offered by private employers and county and municipal governments so to maximize the total amount that home buyers can receive under this program.

B) The home buyer assistance fund is hereby established which shall consist of legislative appropriations to be compiled to at least $1,000,000 via monies received from the repayment of loans provided by the program and interest earned on those monies. The departments of each region shall administer the fund for continuous appropriation.

C)  For loans provided under this program, the departments shall:

1. Allow home buyers to use the loans for the purchase of newly constructed or existing homes, including homes that are held in cooperative or condominium forms of ownership.

2. Require that borrowers under this program do not own other residential real estate at the time of the loan request.

3. Require a home purchased under this program be occupied by the home buyer as a princiapl residence.

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AN ACT

To strengthen the delivery of mental health care services to every Atlasian

Be it enacted in the CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

Remote Medical Coverage Act

Section I.

1. Definitions

a. Distant site means a site at which a health care provider legally allowed to practice by providing health care services by means of telemedicine.

b. Site of origination means a site where the patients resides or at which a patient is located at the time health care services are provided to him or her by means of telemedicine.

c. Telehealth means the use of information and communications technologies consisting of telephones, remote patient monitoring devices or other electronic means which support clinical health care, provider consultation, patient and professional health-related education, public health, health administration, or other services.

d. Telemedicine is defined as a form of telehealth which is the delivery of clinical health care services by means of real time two-way audio, visual, or other telecommunications or electronic communications, including the application of secure video conferencing or store and forward transfer technology to provide or support healthcare delivery, which facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management and self-management of a patient's health care by a health care provider practicing within his or her scope of practice as would be practiced in-person with a patient, legally allowed to practice in the state while such patient is at an originating site and the health care provider is at a distant site.

Section II. Coverage and Administration

1. Each insurer proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred basis; each corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness subscription contracts; and each health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services shall provide coverage for the cost of such health care services provided through telemedicine.

2. Each insurer proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred basis; each corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness subscription contracts; and each health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services shall provide coverage for the cost of such health care services provided through telehealth as directed.

3. The federal government, shall, enabled by this legislation to assume the cost of telemedicine only through a fund established through financing from insurance premiums.

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AN ACT

To reduce the unlawful killings of citizens due to police brutality in the Republic of Atlasia

Section 1. Purpose and Title

a. Too many of our citizens live in fear of being stopped by the police only to lose their life. No one should fear that they may lose their right to life when interacting with an officer. This legislation is designed to augment the tactics used by police.

b. The title of this legislation shall be the De-Escalation in Policing Act

Section 2. Provisions

A federal law enforcement agency, police department or state law enforcement administrative agency shall adopt regulations that require a police officer, probation officer, parole officer, municipal correctional officer, or correctional officer to

(1) attempt to de-escalate a situation and exhaust all alternative non- lethal methods of engagement before discharging a firearm at or in the direction of another person; and

(2) provide an oral warning to a person against whom deadly force is intended to be used before discharging a firearm, if providing the oral warning is safe to attempt.

(3) An officer must undergo in service training in de-escalation tactics each year during the course of their career.

(4) For all new police recruits in police academies, de-escalation must be the primary focus and may not be less than 60 hours of de-escalation training completed.

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A BILL
To rescue the Atlasian economy

Be it enacted in both houses of Congress assembled,

Section 1. Title
1. This legislation may be cited as the Third Emergency Economic Stimulus Act.

Section 2. Extension of Expiring Stimulus Measures
1. The universal income established under Section 2 of the Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 shall be extended from April 1, 2021 until October 1, 2021 pursuant to subsection 4.
2. From October 1, 2021, the universal income shall decrease by 25% on the first day of each month until it is eliminated.
3. A congressional vote shall begin 14 days before October 1, 2021 in both houses of Congress for Congress to decide whether or not to extend the universal income.
a) The vote shall be a simple 'Aye' or 'Nay' on the extension. If Aye receives a majority in both houses of Congress then Congress shall be able to decide on the length of the extension. The default shall be for the universal income to continue in full until January 1, 2022, in the event of an Aye vote-unless Congress legislates for an alternative end date.
4. Section 5 of the Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 shall be amended as follows:

1a. Citizens, permanent residents and households in the Republic of Atlasia who do not have a source of income above the federal minimum wage between April 1, 2020 and October 1, 2020 April 1, 2021 October 1, 2021; may not be evicted from their house, nor their supply of water, electricity or internet cut off; for not paying the appropriate bills.
1b. Between October 2nd, 2020 and January 31st, 2021 April 2, 2021 and July 31, 2021 October 2nd, 2021 and January 31st, 2022; utilities may be cut for not paying their appropriate bills, but no tenants shall be evicted from their house for not paying the appropriate mortgage or rent bills.
1c. After January 31st, 2021 July 31, 2021 January 31st, 2022; companies and tenants may rise the appropriate bills by no more than 10% in order to recover the unpaid dues.
2. The earning of unemployment benefits between April 1st, 2020 and October 1st, 2020 April 1st, 2021 October 1st, 2021 shall not affect in any way the collection of future unemployment benefits.
3. The payments discussed in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 shall not be counted towards the federal minimum wage accounting discussed in Section 4.1.

Passed 8-1-0-0 in the Atlasian House assembled

Introducing this bill in the Senate.

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A BILL
To bar the United Arab Emirates from getting military aid.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

1. This bill may be known as the No UAE Arms Sales Act.

Section II. Content

1. All Military Aid, including both lethal and non-lethal supplies to the United Arab Emirates shall be suspended. This ban shall only be lifted after a majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
2. Any arms, aerospace or other company providing Military equipment, logistical support or defense personnel to the United Arab Emirates will not be allowed to bid for future contracts with the Government of Atlasia.

Section III. Action

1. This bill shall take effect immediately after the President signs this.

Passed 4-3-2-0 in the Atlasian House assembled

Also introducing this bill in the Senate.

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Compensation for Retired Educators Act of 2021

A bill to support our retired educators in the Republic.

Section 1. Establishment

Upon retirement from service, a retirement allowance shall consist of:

a) An annuity shall be the equivalent of his or her accumulated contributions at the time of his or her retirement

b) A pension which shall be equal to the annuity allowable at the age of retirement, but not to exceed an annuity allowable at age 65 computed on the basis of contributions made prior to the attainment.

Section 2.

With the provision the election of an option shall be effective on the effective date of retirement, any member may elect prior to retirement to receive, in lieu of his or her retirement allowance payable throughout life. The actuarial equivalent at that time of his or her retirement allowance also provides a provision to grant, in a reduced retirement, allowance payable to a beneficiary in the event of his or her death:

a) If the pensioner dies before he or she has received in annuity payments the present value of his or her annuity as it was at the time of his or her retirement, the balance shall be paid to his or her legal representatives or to the person as he or she shall nominate by written designation.

b) Upon his or her death, his or her reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to the person as he or she shall nominate by written designation.

c) Upon his or her death, half of the reduced retirement allowance will be continued throughout the life of and paid to the person as he or she shall nominate by written designation.