HB 20-18: The ACE Act (Final Vote)

[Pericles]

A BILL

To encourage the growth of worker-owned enterprises

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

Section I: Recognition

1. We, the elected representatives of Atlasia, recognize that the working class first and foremost generates the wealth that propels our society forward. We stand alongside all laborers in the pursuit of economic justice.

2. In recognition that worker-owned and cooperative enterprises constitute the best possible arrangement for the workers of Atlasia, we resolve to encourage the growth of these organizations above for-profit corporate enterprise.

Section II: Definitions

1. Cooperative: A cooperative, or co-op, is a type of business or organization that is both controlled and owned by its members, who may also utilize the goods and services of the cooperative.

2. Worker-Owned Enterprise: Also known as an employee-owned enterprise (EO), this is a company in which the workers have a stake in ownership and/or may be 100% owned and operated by said workers.

Section III: ACE

1. The Agency of Cooperative Enterprises, or ACE, is established.

  a. This shall be an agency of the Federal Government of Atlasia stationed with the task to assist in the economic viability, recovery and persistence of cooperative and worker-owned enterprises. It shall aid, counsel and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of cooperative and worker-owned enterprise concerns.

  b. The agency shall be led by an Administrator and Deputy Administrator as appointed by the President.

    i. Administrative Associates shall be appointed by the Administrator.

    ii. These roles shall be NPCs.

2. The Administrator shall lead an agency-wide research effort within the first 120 days of this act's passage to

  a. Consider opportunities for relevant existing federal programs to support the growth of cooperative and employee-owned enterprises.

  b. Develop relationships with relevant existing federal agencies, included yet not limited to the Small Business Administration and Minority Business Development Agency, with the purpose to foster the development of cooperative and employee-owned enterprises.

  c. Publish an indexed report on its findings for public access.

3. ACE shall establish the EO Project.

   a. This shall be a directive, as led by the Administrator, to invest in the gradual process of transitioning existing small businesses to cooperative and employee-owned enterprises.

   b. ACE shall establish an EO Transition Promotion Program to offer educational resources, training, and assistance to qualified small businesses.

4. ACE shall be empowered to provide loans to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises.

  a. The Administrator shall have the authority to direct and conduct oversight for the methods by which lenders determine the details of the business loan.
  
    i. The Administrator may not guarantee a loan if the lender determines that the borrower is not eligible to receive the specified loan.

    ii. The Administrator must verify the applicant's criminal background, or lack thereof, through the best available means.

    iii. No loans shall be made if the total amount outstanding would exceed $5 million.

  b. The Administrator shall oversee a Loan Guarantee Program.

   i. The Loan Guarantee Program shall provide capital to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises to help start or expand their businesses.

   ii. Loans issues through this program shall not exceed $5 million.

  c. The Administrator shall oversee a Disaster Loan Program.

   i. The Disaster Loan Program shall provide zero-interest loans to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises to help repair or rebuild damaged property to its condition pre-disaster.

   ii. Loans issues through this program shall not exceed $5 million.

  d. The Administrator shall oversee a Microloan Program.

   i. The Microloan Program shall provide direct loans to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises with a total net worth below $5 million.

   ii. Loans issues through this program shall not exceed $50,000.

Section IV: Appropriations

1. The Agency of Cooperative Enterprises shall receive an annual fiscal budget of $1,000,000,000.

Section V: Enactment

1. This act takes effect on November 1st, 2020.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 3-0-1 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

Sponsor: Razze
House Designation: HB 20-18

[Pericles]

This needs a sponsor.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

I can sponsor

[Pericles]

24 hours to object to Representative Razze sponsoring this bill

[Pericles]

Representative Razze is recognized as the sponsor, please speak on this bill in the next 48 hours.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

This bill will provide the necessary funding and administrative support for a new wave of cooperative, employee-run businesses throughout Atlasia. There are plenty of examples of worker-operated businesses already, and this bill will ensure that they can grow! I encourage my colleagues to vote AYE on this bill.

[Poirot]

Proposing an amendment in section I.2
I am for encouraging cooperative worker-owned business but I am not comfortable for the government to declare the superiority of one type of business in a bill, and encourage the growth of one above the other. It is in the recognition section so it doesn't effect the substance of the bill, just a more neutral opening statement.

A BILL

To encourage the growth of worker-owned enterprises

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

Section I: Recognition

1. We, the elected representatives of Atlasia, recognize that the working class first and foremost generates the wealth that propels our society forward. We stand alongside all laborers in the pursuit of economic justice.

2. In recognition that worker-owned and cooperative enterprises constitute the best possible a good arrangement for the workers of Atlasia, we resolve to encourage the growth of these organizations. above for-profit corporate enterprise.

Section II: Definitions

1. Cooperative: A cooperative, or co-op, is a type of business or organization that is both controlled and owned by its members, who may also utilize the goods and services of the cooperative.

2. Worker-Owned Enterprise: Also known as an employee-owned enterprise (EO), this is a company in which the workers have a stake in ownership and/or may be 100% owned and operated by said workers.

Section III: ACE

1. The Agency of Cooperative Enterprises, or ACE, is established.

  a. This shall be an agency of the Federal Government of Atlasia stationed with the task to assist in the economic viability, recovery and persistence of cooperative and worker-owned enterprises. It shall aid, counsel and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of cooperative and worker-owned enterprise concerns.

  b. The agency shall be led by an Administrator and Deputy Administrator as appointed by the President.

    i. Administrative Associates shall be appointed by the Administrator.

    ii. These roles shall be NPCs.

2. The Administrator shall lead an agency-wide research effort within the first 120 days of this act's passage to

  a. Consider opportunities for relevant existing federal programs to support the growth of cooperative and employee-owned enterprises.

  b. Develop relationships with relevant existing federal agencies, included yet not limited to the Small Business Administration and Minority Business Development Agency, with the purpose to foster the development of cooperative and employee-owned enterprises.

  c. Publish an indexed report on its findings for public access.

3. ACE shall establish the EO Project.

   a. This shall be a directive, as led by the Administrator, to invest in the gradual process of transitioning existing small businesses to cooperative and employee-owned enterprises.

   b. ACE shall establish an EO Transition Promotion Program to offer educational resources, training, and assistance to qualified small businesses.

4. ACE shall be empowered to provide loans to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises.

  a. The Administrator shall have the authority to direct and conduct oversight for the methods by which lenders determine the details of the business loan.
  
    i. The Administrator may not guarantee a loan if the lender determines that the borrower is not eligible to receive the specified loan.

    ii. The Administrator must verify the applicant's criminal background, or lack thereof, through the best available means.

    iii. No loans shall be made if the total amount outstanding would exceed $5 million.

  b. The Administrator shall oversee a Loan Guarantee Program.

   i. The Loan Guarantee Program shall provide capital to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises to help start or expand their businesses.

   ii. Loans issues through this program shall not exceed $5 million.

  c. The Administrator shall oversee a Disaster Loan Program.

   i. The Disaster Loan Program shall provide zero-interest loans to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises to help repair or rebuild damaged property to its condition pre-disaster.

   ii. Loans issues through this program shall not exceed $5 million.

  d. The Administrator shall oversee a Microloan Program.

   i. The Microloan Program shall provide direct loans to cooperative and worker-owned enterprises with a total net worth below $5 million.

   ii. Loans issues through this program shall not exceed $50,000.

Section IV: Appropriations

1. The Agency of Cooperative Enterprises shall receive an annual fiscal budget of $1,000,000,000.

Section V: Enactment

1. This act takes effect on November 1st, 2020.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 3-0-1 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

If it gets you to support the bill, you'll see no objection from me!

[Pericles]

Oh gosh sorry I missed this, 24 hours for objections to Poirot's amendment.

[Pericles]

With no objection Representative Poirot's amendment is adopted. Debate resumes.

[Pericles]

Any further debate here?

[Dr. MB]

motion for a final vote

[Pericles]

24 hours to object to Representative MB's final vote motion.

[Pericles]

With no objection, a final vote has begun on this bill. Representatives have 72 hours to vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Poirot]

aye

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[RC]

Aye

[Pericles]

Extending this for 24 hours.

[thumb21]

Aye

[Elcaspar]

Aye

[Blair]

aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Abstain

[JGibson]

AYE

[Pericles]

This bill passes 5-0-1-3.
Aye; 5 (ReaganClinton, thumb21, Elcaspar, Blair, JGibson)
Nay; 0
Abstaining; 1 (LouisvilleThunder)
Not voting; 3

Note that MB was succeeded by thumb21, and Poirot was succeeded by Blair.

[YE]

Aye FTR