Northeast Assembly Legislation Introduction Thread

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

SAFE WALKING ACT

In order to decrease incidents of accidents, injury, and death caused by people walking while paying attention to electronic instruments, i.e. texting and reading on smart phones and tablets, known as distracted walking, such practices that distract people from paying attention to what is going on around them shall be prohibited by law.

The fines for being convicted of distracted walking shall be first offence $50.00, 2nd offence $100.00, 3rd offence $200.00.   

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Job Creation and Infrastructure Renewal Act

1. Half of the surplus funds from the Northeast Region's budget will go into a fund created by the regional government to support immediate and direct job creation through public works and infrastructure building.

2. The fund will be administered by a Committee for Public Works, the members of which will be selected by the Governor of the Northeast Region.

3. This act will not take effect unless there is a surplus in the regional budget.

4. This act will be automatically repealed once the regional unemployment rate is below 6% for three consecutive months.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

This may not make it to an open slot during this session, but this proposal from Napoleon deserves our attention:

Fair Property Tax and Homeowner Relief Initiative

After 31 December 2012, local property taxes on real estate shall be assessed without taking into consideration the value of any improvements built upon it. This initiative shall not be interpreted as requiring that factors other than total area such as location, grade, water or mineral rights, etc. not be considered on determining the assessed value of the land for purposes of property tax.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

This may not make it to an open slot during this session, but this proposal from Napoleon deserves our attention:

Fair Property Tax and Homeowner Relief Initiative

After 31 December 2012, local property taxes on real estate shall be assessed without taking into consideration the value of any improvements built upon it. This initiative shall not be interpreted as requiring that factors other than total area such as location, grade, water or mineral rights, etc. not be considered on determining the assessed value of the land for purposes of property tax.

As the last day of this session is fast approaching, I will not be bringing this bill to the floor during this session.  This bill, as does any other bill, deserves to have a fair and adequate debate period, so all points of view can be heard without rushing it through.

In fairness to all concerned, the new Speaker can bring this to the floor in the new session.

[Comrade Funk]

I know this might not make it to a vote by the end of the session, but I am putting this here so we can bring it to the floor by the start of the new session.

NORTHEAST VOTER PROTECTION ACT

1.) Recognizing the fact that the more and more nations are passing Voter ID laws, requiring proper identification for the right to vote.

2.) Recognizing that Voter ID laws, while designed to prevent voter fraud, a noted rare occurrence in elections, disqualify a large proportion of Northeast voters.

3.) All laws requiring voter identification are henceforth banned, unless this law is repealed.

4.) Voter ID laws passed by municipalities in the Northeast before the passage of the Northeast Voter Protection Act, are now invalidated and considered null.

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

Repeal of the Northeast Region Indoor Smoking Ban Act

1. The Northeast Region Indoor Smoking Ban is hereby repealed.

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

I think we need an official procedure on what to do when there is a tie in the election for Lieutenant Governor, in order to avoid future confusion.

Amendment to the NE Constitution - Lieutenant Governor Election Clarification

1. Article 2, provision 12 of the Northeast Constitution is hereby amended to read:

12. The Lieutenant Governor of the Northeast Region shall be the Representative receiving the most votes in the most recent general election. In the event that two or more Representatives are tied for the most amount of votes, the one with the most first preferences shall become Lieutenant Governor. He or she officially opens and closes the legislative sessions of the Northeast Legislative Assembly and shall ascend to the Governorship if that office becomes vacant for any reason. If the Governor is temporarily absent (no more than ten days), the Lieutenant Governor may exercise the powers of Governor, excluding the ability to sign or veto legislation.

2. This amendment shall come into effect during the next general election.

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

I'm withdrawing my previous in favor of this amendment.

Amendment to the NE Constitution - Lieutenant Governor Election Clarification

1. Article 2, provision 12 of the Northeast Constitution is hereby amended to read:

12. The Lieutenant Governor of the Northeast Region shall be the Representative receiving the most first preferences in the most recent general election. He or she officially opens and closes the legislative sessions of the Northeast Legislative Assembly and shall ascend to the Governorship if that office becomes vacant for any reason. If the Governor is temporarily absent (no more than ten days), the Lieutenant Governor may exercise the powers of Governor, excluding the ability to sign or veto legislation.

2. This amendment shall come into effect during the next general election.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

A BILL

To promote the interests of the Northeast Region through the development of a new capital section in the city of Buffalo, New York.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Capital Act of 2012.’

SECTION 2. APPROPRIATIONS

1.) The Northeast Government is hereby charged with the responsibility of developing a new section of Buffalo for the purpose of capital relocation.

2.) This city section shall be funded using monies from a budget surplus.

3.) $15 billion of Building Bonds shall be issued to fund construction in the case of the diminution of the budget surplus.

SECTION 3. DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CITY SECTION

1.) The new city section shall be designed in accordance with the ideals of New Urbanism as explicated in the New Urbanist Manifesto.

2.) The construction and administration of the capital shall be charged to an Administrator of the city section, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Assembly. The Administrator shall have the duty of supervising the planning, construction, and running of the city section until its completion.

3.) The design and naming of the city section shall be approved by the Assembly.

4.) This city section shall be rendered fit for habitation and occupation by the Assembly and Governor in no more than one year.

5.) Upon completion, the new city section shall be within the boundaries and jurisdiction of the city government.

SECTION 4. BUSINESS INCENTIVE

Businesses that start or expand in the city section shall be granted a 50% cut in the regional sales tax.

SECTION 5. REPEAL OF THE CAPITAL REFERENDUM ACT

The Capital Referendum Act of 2012 is hereby repealed.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Re-introducing this bill originally proposed by the President for consideration during the current session:

Fair Property Tax and Homeowner Relief Initiative

After 31 December 2012, local property taxes on real estate shall be assessed without taking into consideration the value of any improvements built upon it. This initiative shall not be interpreted as requiring that factors other than total area such as location, grade, water or mineral rights, etc. not be considered on determining the assessed value of the land for purposes of property tax.

[Comrade Funk]

Re-introducing bill for new session.

NORTHEAST VOTER PROTECTION ACT

1.) Recognizing the fact that the more and more nations are passing Voter ID laws, requiring proper identification for the right to vote.

2.) Recognizing that Voter ID laws, while designed to prevent voter fraud, a noted rare occurrence in elections, disqualify a large proportion of Northeast voters.

3.) All laws requiring voter identification are henceforth banned, unless this law is repealed.

4.) Voter ID laws passed by municipalities in the Northeast before the passage of the Northeast Voter Protection Act, are now invalidated and considered null.

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Education Act

1. The Northeast Secretary of Education shall create a regional Board of Education, composed of Northeast citizens chosen by the Secretary, over which they will preside and set the rules of its governing.

2. All persons attempting to procure teaching licenses in the Northeast must pass a standardized test written by the Board.

3. The Board shall have jurisdiction over all K-12 education policy and teacher benefits, including but not limited to: curricula, standards, benefits, pay, and tenure.

4. The Board shall distribute the educational funding allotted in the Northeast Budget as it sees fit.

[Jerseyrules]

Capital Must Stay Act

Whereas the City of New York is the greatest cultural beacon of the world, and whereas New York City is the most culturally, ethnically, linguistically, religiously, and holistically diverse city in the world, and whereas New York City has been the capital of the Northeast, and a cross-section of all Atlasia for centuries, I hereby submit the Capital Must Stay Act of 2012.  New York City represents diversity, culture, and beauty; it represents all the great people that make up our great nation.

Under this Act:

The capital of the Northeast would remain in New York City.

[Jerseyrules]

Aerospace Commission Act of 2012

- create a 5-member board, appointed by the NE governor and subject to confirmation by the NE legislature
- eliminate sales and property taxes on any aerospace corporation based in the NE
- give incentive in the form of tax credits and grants to any corporation achieving certain goals established by the board within a certain amount of time, (ex. Launching a solar-sail powered spacecraft by 2015, landing on Mars by 2026, creating an ultra lightweight solar panel which can be used to power a solar sail, etc), all of which must be approved by a majority of the legislature and the governor

[Jerseyrules]

Northeast Online Gambling Freedom Act

Under this act all online gambling would be legal, with 5% of winnings being required to be donated to a charity of the winner's choice.


(I'm unsure whether online gambling was affected by the other Gambling Acts)

[Jerseyrules]

Standardized Testing Reform Act

1. This act would require that all standardized tests switch to a more in-depth model, which requires them to truly think about each question, requiring more than half of the questions to be non-multiple choice, so that the answers reflect more knowledge than mere memorization.

2. The multiple choice questions will be more complex and fewer so that each answer represents a careful thought process and each question represents evaluation on learning, rather than learning for the evaluation.

3. There will also be more essay and short response questions so that students learn that being able to explain something is the best way to evaluate their knowledge on subject matter.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Highway to the Danger Zone Act

1. The Northeast Region, which presently does not prohibit or specifically regulate the operation of autonomous vehicles, desires to encourage the development, testing, and operation of these vehicles on the public roads of the region. The region seeks to avoid interrupting these activities while at the same time creating appropriate rules intended to ensure that the testing and operation of these vehicles are conducted safely.

2. Autonomous vehicles may be operated on the public roads in the Northeast Region if the manufacturer of the  autonomous vehicle certifies, in a matter to be determined by the Northeast Department of Transportation, that the vehicle meets all regional safety standards and performance requirements.

3. An "autonomous vehicle" means a motor vehicle that uses computers, sensors, and other devices to safely operate without the active control and monitoring of a human operator.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Take My License, All That Jive Act

1. Speed limits in excess of 65 miles per hour are hereby prohibited on regional and local roads.

2. Speed limits in excess of 55 miles per hour are hereby prohibited on regional and local roads except for divided highways in counties classified as rural by the Census Bureau of Atlasia.

[Jerseyrules]

As an alternative to the governor's proposal,

The Quick Commute Act

- All speed limits on divided highways are hereby raised to 70 miles per hour
- All major highways have their speed limits increased to 80 miles per hour
- Regional funding for a highspeed rail in the amount of 50% of all expenses (during construction only) for any business that wishes to build the rail, though said business must be approved by the governor and a majority of the legislature.
- A tax break equivalent to 50% of all operating expenses shall be given to all private roads which add carpool lanes (I'm unsure of current law regarding carpool lanes in the NE)
- A "super license" program is to be created, which will create a lane for all major highways reserved only for people with "super licenses."  These "super licenses" will be given to any applicant over the age of 21 who passes a much more rigorous version of the Driver's Exam with a perfect or near-perfect score.  This license entitles them to drive up to 100 miles per hour in specially reserved "super license lanes."  Anyone caught in a super license lane without a super license has their license rescinded, effective immediately, and is slapped with a $5000 fine.

[bore]

The Absentee Ballot act
1a. All candidates wishing to get ballot status must declare their candidacy 4 days before the election.
1b. Any candidate declaring afterwards must run as a write in.

2.After this point any citizen can PM their vote to the Governor or a designated Representative, which will then be held in reserve, to be counted with the regular ballots.

[Jerseyrules]

Capital Must Stay Act

Whereas the City of New York is the greatest cultural beacon of the world, and whereas New York City is the most culturally, ethnically, linguistically, religiously, and holistically diverse city in the world, and whereas New York City has been the capital of the Northeast, and a cross-section of all Atlasia for centuries, I hereby submit the Capital Must Stay Act of 2012.  New York City represents diversity, culture, and beauty; it represents all the great people that make up our great nation.

Under this Act:

The capital of the Northeast would remain in New York City.

[Jerseyrules]

Northeast Power to the Teacher Act:

1. The teachers of the Northeast are responsible for all non-standardized testing

2. The teachers of the NE have the option to assign homework and/or projects regarding district-mandated curriculum. (I.e. the district says that all fourth-graders must read Tom Sawyer.  The teachers can choose to assign a book report, a research project on the south during the mid-1800s, a research project on Mark Twain, etc.).

3. The teachers of the NE have the opportunity to follow whatever schedule they wish for all mandatory curriculum.

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

The Northeast Gambling Tax Reform Act

1. The gambling tax is hereby reduced by 5%.

2. Anybody who wins 100$ or more through gambling is required to donate at least 5% of his winning to any charity of his choice.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Pastures of Plenty Act

1. The Northeast Minimum Age Act of 2012 is hereby repealed.
2. The Northeast minimum wage shall be set at $15.00 per hour on October 1st, 2012.
3. The Northeast minimum wage shall be indexed to inflation.
4. Adjustments to the minimum wage shall be made quarterly.
5. For the purposes of this act, tip income shall not be counted as a part of an employee's wage.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Truth or Consequences Act

1. Retailers in the Northeast Region are hereby required to include all consumption taxes in the advertised prices of all goods and services.
2. Retailers found to be in violation of this act shall be subject to a warning on the first offense.
3. Retailers found to be in violation of this act shall be subject to a fine on the second offense and all further offenses.