Northeast Assembly Legislation Introduction Thread

[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.

4. All tests shall be set by individual schools within these parameters

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

On behalf of Nix:

Amendment to the SOAP

1. This bill shall be titled the Speak Up or Get the Hell Out Act.

2. The following text shall be added to section 2 of the Northeast SOAP:

D. The Northeast Speaker may ignore legislation introduced by any citizen if that citizen has more than once in the current legislative session failed to advocate for his or her bills within 24 hours of each bill having been introduced to the Assembly for debate.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Enter the Promised Land Act

1. The Northeast Department of Urban Development shall designate Opportunity Zones within socially and economically distressed municipalities in the Northeast.

2. College graduates who buy or rent a home within an Opportunity Zone shall receive up to $10,000 over a period of two years to be used toward repaying student loans

5. Individuals who receive this benefit shall maintain a residence within the Opportunity Zone and work full-time for a period of at least five years.

6. This program shall take effect on January 1, 2013.

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Amendment to the SOAP

The following text shall be added to section 2 of the Northeast SOAP:

H. The Northeast Speaker may table legislation being debated in the Assembly if the sponsor of the legislation fails to speak on behalf of his or her bill within 24 hours of its being introduced to the Assembly for debate.

[bore]

The Medical research act

1. All drug companies have to be registered with the Northeastern Government to be allowed to sell  their products.
2. To be registered in the Northeast drugs companies must spend at least 70% of revenue on research and development, or related costs.

[Senator Barnes]

Amendment to the New Northeast Constitution

Article V (Bill of Rights) of the New Northeast Constitution is amended by inserting the following clauses:
6. Right to a Clean Environment: The Government of the Northeast is charged with preserving the pristine and unique ecological habitats found within the region for the present and future generations of the Northeast.  The citizens of the Northeast are guaranteed a clean and healthy environment to live and work in; free from the dangers of pollution, disease, or lack of resources.
7. While this article may be amended to add additional rights, the inherent rights guaranteed in this article and constitution of free speech, equality before the law, a democratic form of government, and a safe world to live in, shall be inviolable and unchanged.

[Senator Barnes]

The Clean Government Act of 2012

1. Beginning July 1, 2013, all publications and official documents published by the Northeast government shall be done so on at least 80% recycled paper.
2. Beginning January 1, 2014, all buildings and vehicles operated by the Northeast government shall be fully powered by clean and renewable "green" energy sources.
3. The Governor shall assemble a task-force to determine the exact form of alternative energy to be used in specific locations around the region to ensure that the .  The task-form shall be required to find the cheapest, most environmentally friendly, and largest job-producing energy option.
4. The task-force shall be composed of no more than twenty-five independent members who shall represent environmental groups, representatives of the executive departments, local business groups, and local citizens.
5. Begging January 1, 2013, all government buildings shall be required to provide recycling reciprocals in convenient locations for both visitors and workers.
6. The Northeast government shall request an independent agency to conduct an annual review on all government buildings to determine their carbon footprint and environmental impact.   

[Simfan34]

Stimulating Research in Basic Sciences Act of 2012 - the STAR Act

1. The Northeast Government shall provide $2 billion dollars to small-scale start up private institutions for the purposes of funding basic science research.

2. Companies that dedicate 5-10% of their research funds to basic research shall be entitled to a subsidization of their operating costs by a rate of 25%. Companies that dedicate 10% or above shall be subsidized at a rate of 50%.

3. The Government from time to time will be asked to establish various competitions in research fields (e.g: carbon-free energy or preventive medicine), and shall award the winners thereof full subsidization of their basic research costs for a period of no less than two and no more than five years.

[bore]

The Northeast Drugs bill
1. For a drug to be legally sold in the northeast it must be registered with the northeast government.
2 The Northeast government may only approve a new drug if it is proven in independent clinical trials to be better than any other similar drugs and a placebo.

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

Repeal of the Northeast Region Indoor Smoking Ban Act

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

[Senator Barnes]

The Clean Government Act (Revised) of 2012

1. Beginning July 1, 2013, all publications and official documents published by the Northeast government shall be on at least 80% recycled paper.
2. Beginning January 1, 2017, all buildings and vehicles operated by the Northeast government shall derive at least two-thirds of their power from clean and renewable "green" energy sources.[/quote]
3. The Governor shall oversee the creation of a Clean Government Authority to determine the exact form of alternative energy to be used in specific locations around the region.  The Clean Government Authority shall be tasked with finding the cheapest, most environmentally friendly, and largest job-producing energy options.
4. The Clean Government Authority's board of directors shall be composed of no more than twenty-five independent members who shall represent environmental groups, representatives of the executive departments, local business groups, and local citizens.
5. Beginning January 1, 2013, all government buildings shall be required to provide recycling reciprocals in convenient locations for both visitors and workers.
6. The Clean Government Authority shall conduct an annual review on all government buildings to determine their carbon footprint and environmental impact.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Damn the Torpedoes Act

1. Section 6 of the New Capital Act of 2012 is hereby repealed.

[Simfan34]

Year Round School Act of 2012

1. The Northeast Region shall require all primary and secondary schools to adopt a schedule of at least 190 school days.

2. This schedule shall require a continuous cycle of 60±5 blocks of school days and 20±5 breaks, for a year-round schedule.

3. All districts and primary and secondaries schools shall adopt this schedule by the beginning of the 2013 academic year.[/b]

[Simfan34]

Securing Teacher Excellence Act of 2012

1. Teachers shall be required to undergo processes of self-review monthly and write confidential reports on the performance of their colleagues. Problematic teachers will be required to undergo improvement training, if they fail to improve substantially the district may terminate their employment.

2. Any new teacher must score above the 50th percentile in their GPA from the institution they received their last degree.

3. A $200 million fund will be established to endow continuous-training and skill updating programs for teachers. Amharic shall be made an official language of the region. All districts shall be required to establish or provide for these training programs, whether they establish their own or work at an inter-district or county-wide level.

4. Districts will be encouraged to hire professionals to teach in their professions in schools.

[Simfan34]

Governor's School Act

1. The Northeast Department of Education shall set up a summer institution, known as the Governor's School, for the education of the most gifted and skilled students, rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

2. Each school shall be allowed to nominate no more than 2% of its class to the Governor's School.

3. Admission shall be based upon GPA, essays, teacher recommendations, and interviews.

4. Tuition, room and board shall be paid for by the region.

5. The courses offered shall include, but not be limited to: Literature, Latin, French, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, Applied and Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Music, Urban planning, and Sustainability and Environmental studies.

6. Enrollment in each grade's class shall not exceed 1500 students.

7. The Governor's School shall be hosted on the campus of the University at Buffalo.

Credit, of course, goes to Barnes.

[Senator Barnes]

Continuing Budget Resolution
1. To provide for a continuance in regional funding, the provisions of the July 2012 regional budget shall be extended until November 10, 2012, or until a new budget is passed, if that date is sooner.

[Senator Barnes]

Amendment to the SOAP

In order to provide for the confirmation process in the event of a gubernatorial appointment, the SOAP is amended as follows:

4. Confirmation hearings
A. The Assembly shall hold confirmation hearings for gubernatorial appointments to the positions in the executive departments, Chief Judicial Officer, or as the Northeast's regional senator (in the case of a vacancy in that office) - except as provided for in subsection (E).
B. Upon the announcement of a nomination by the governor, the Speaker shall open an independent hearing thread for the nominee.  The thread shall be open for no less than seventy-two (72) hours.  Per the request of a representative, debate time may be shortened or extended, but not any shorter than 36 hours or longer than 120, respectively.
C.  During this time, Representatives may question the nominee as they see fit in relation to the position for which they have been nominated.  If a nominee feels he is being unfairly questioned or harassed within the thread with regard to matters that do not concern his appointment, he may appeal to the Speaker.
D. Upon the expiration of debate time, the Assembly shall vote to confirm the nominee; a simple majority shall be required for approval.  In the event of a time, the vote shall be deemed to have failed.
E.  If the appointment is to fill the Northeast senate seat and there are less than ten (10) days remaining in the term, no confirmation hearing shall be held.

The sections of the SOAP following this amendment shall be renumbered accordingly.

[Senator Barnes]

Gubernatorial special election amendment
Article II of the New Northeast Constitution is amended as follows:

5. If the office of Governor is to become vacant at some point while he or she is in office, the Lieutenant Governor is to be immediately sworn in as Governor of the Northeast Region. shall assume the role of Acting Governor until a special election may be held.  During this time, the Acting Governor shall retain their position as Lieutenant Governor and Representative.  However, they shall not be able to exercise any of their duties as Lieutenant or as Representative during this time.  If the vacancy occurs less than three weeks before the next regularly scheduled election, the Lieutenant Governor shall immediately become the Governor and serve for the remainder of the term - vacating their other offices.
6. In the event that the office of Governor falls vacant three or more weeks before the next scheduled gubernatorial election, a special election shall be held to fill the remainder of the term.  The election shall be held on the second Friday following the start of the vacancy and be held in the same manner as regular gubernatorial election.  Upon certification of the results, the Governor-elect shall immediately assume office.

Subsequent clauses shall be re-numbered accordingly. 

[Senator Barnes]

The Bi-Lingual Education Act
1. Beginning with the 2014-15 class of Kindergartners, the Northeast government shall implement the instruction of both English and Spanish as primary languages.
2. This instruction shall be implemented one additional grade level per academic year, following the aforementioned Kindergarten class.  Following this schedule, English and Spanish shall both be taught as primary languages to all K-12 levels by the 2027-28 school year.
3. The same requirement shall be instituted for private schools, but not for home schools.
4. School districts may choose, at their discretion, to implement full Spanish language classes to other elementary school grades during this period.

[Senator Barnes]

During the entirety of the Christmas sales period, the following tax credits shall be extended to Northeastern retailers that meet the following conditions:
1) For all businesses with a majority of their products "Made in Atlasia" - a credit equal to 5% of their Christmas sales revenue.
2) For all businesses with a majority of their products "Made in Atlasia" as well as "Made in the Northeast" - a credit equal to 10% of their Christmas sales revenue.

[Governor Scott]

AN AMENDMENT

To formally and constitutionally establish the new capital of the Northeast Region in Buffalo, NY

Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘New Capital Relocation Amendment of 2012.’

SECTION 2. CAPITAL RELOCATION

Article I of the Northeast Constitution is amended:

The administrative center for the government of the Northeast Region established in this Constitution shall be New York City, NY. Buffalo, NY.

[Governor Scott]

November-March Northeast Budget FY2013

IN THE NORTHEAST ASSEMBLY

A RESOLUTION

Establishing the budget for the Northeast Government lasting from November 2012 until March 2013

Resolved by the Northeast Assembly convened,

Expenditures

$50 billion - School aid
$45 billion - Economic development
$35 billion - Transportation
$25 billion - Public safety
$25 billion - Higher education
$22 billion - Health services
$15 billion - Tax expenditures
$7 billion - Environment & energy
$3 billion - Direct aid & incentives to municipalities
$2 billion - Government administration

TOTAL EXPENDITURES - $229 billion


PROJECTED SURPLUS - $11.5 billion
- 50% of the surplus will be placed in a fund reserved for emergencies. The Northeast Assembly will have the power to allocate this funding.
- If the Northeast Region passes the New Capital Relocation Amendment, 50% of the surplus will go toward the development of a new regional capital. If the Northeast does not pass the New Capital Relocation Amendment, this funding will also be placed in the emergency fund.

PROPOSED TAXES

Income tax
0.0%    $0 - $24,999
1.0%    $25,000 - $49,9999
2.0%    $50,000 - $99,999
4.0%    $100,000 - $249,999
6.5%  $250,000 - $999,999
9.0%   $1,000,000 +

Rates remain the same for married couples filing jointly, but brackets are doubled.

Sales tax
4.5% [excludes groceries, clothing, and footwear]

Property tax
$35 per mil on assessed value of unimproved land

Excise Taxes
Gas: 68 cents per gallon
Diesel: 85 cents per gallon
New automobile purchase tax (by curb weight): $500 per thousand kilograms
Tanning: 33 and 1/3 cents per minute [tax already exists per Northeast Healthy Skin Act]

[Governor Scott]

A BILL

To formally request that Atlas Forum Administrator David Leip create a separate board for the Northeast Region.

Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the 'Northeast Independence Act of 2012.'

SECTION 2. REQUEST FOR INDIVIDUAL BOARD TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE ATLAS FANTASY GOVERNMENT CHILD BOARDS

1. The Northeast Region hereby formally requests from Mr. David LEIP the creation of a sub-board of the "Atlas Fantasy Government" board to be entitled Northeast Region; this board shall deal with all matters related to the Northeast Region.

2. The Governor of the Northeast Region will be responsible for writing and sending this request.

[Senator Barnes]

Continuing Budget Resolution No. 2
1. To provide for a continuance in regional funding, the provisions of the July 2012 regional budget shall be extended until November 18, 2012, or until a new budget is passed, if that date is sooner.

[Governor Scott]

A BILL

To authorize the Northeast Government to take necessary steps to keep spending at low, but satisfactory, levels for the benefit of long-term sustainability and fiscal responsibility.

Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened

SECTION 1. TITLE

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

SECTION 2. EXTENSION OF AVAILABILITY OF YEAR-END SAVINGS IN SALARIES AND EXPENSES

1.) 50 percent of a regional agency's unspent funds the end of a fiscal session shall remain available to that agency for subsequent fiscal sessions.

2.) 50 percent of these unspent funds shall be remitted to the Treasury and used for the purpose of deficit reduction.

3.) Unspent funds carried to a subsequent fiscal session may not be taken into account in determining the amount by which an agency will be funded for each fiscal session.

4.) The Governor will be responsible for oversight and reporting how much money which is saved by this legislation is allocated toward the deficit per session.

5.) This act shall go into effect at the start of the next fiscal session.

SECTION 3. CREATION OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR DEBT REDUCTION

1.) The Governor will be authorized to create and maintain a five-member Commission of appointed citizens to look for departments of regional government that can be merged or eliminated, as well as excessive bureaucracy or formalities that can be reduced, under the condition that these changes do not reduce benefits or the sustainability of necessary programs.

2.) During the next fiscal session, the Governor shall report how much money the Commission found can be saved upon making the spending reductions.