SB 21-34: The ACE Act (Passed)

[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 a good arrangement for the workers of Atlasia, we resolve to encourage the growth of these organizations.

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,

House of Representatives
Passed 5-0-1 in the Atlasian House Assembled

People's Regional Senate(amended version)

Sponsor:
Senate Designation: SB 21-34

[Pericles]

This was amended in the House and so goes straight to a final vote, Senators have 72 hours to vote Aye, Nay or Abstain on this bill.

[Peanut]

Aye.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[ON Progressive]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Come on fourth vote!

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[Pyro]

Aye!

[Pericles]

The bill has passed 5-0-0-1.
Aye; 5 (Peanut, North Carolina Yankee, ON Progressive, MB, PyroTheFox)
Nay; 0
Abstaining; 0
Not voting; 1 (Devout Centrist)

[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 a good arrangement for the workers of Atlasia, we resolve to encourage the growth of these organizations.

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,

House of Representatives
Passed 5-0-1 in the Atlasian House Assembled

People's Regional Senate(amended version)
Passed 5-0-0-1 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled