Northeast Assembly Legislation Introduction Thread

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

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]

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

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.

[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.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

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.

[sentinel]

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AND

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[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

AN AMENDMENT

To provide the Governor of the Northeast Region with a line-item veto for means of ensuring fiscal accountability.

Be it enacted by the Northeast Assembly convened

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the 'Line Item Veto Amendment of 2012.'

SECTION 2. LINE ITEM VETO AMENDMENT

1.) Article II, Section 8 of the Northeast Constitution is hereby amended:

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EDIT: WITHDRAWN.  I see few instances in which this could actually be useful...

[Cincinnatus]

Amendment to the SOAP

1.  Section 3, subsection G of the Northeast SOAP is hereby amended to read;

G. The Speaker shall have the authority to extend or shorten the debate period upon the written request of any Representative.  Except as provided by Section 3, subsection J, total debate time can never exceed 120 hours, and never be less than 36 hours.

2.  Section 3, subsection J of the Northeast SOAP is hereby included and shall read as such;

J.  Total debate time for tri-annual budgets in the Northeast may never exceed 168 hours, and never be less than 72 hours.  

[Cincinnatus]

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[Simfan34]

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[Simfan34]

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[Barnes]

Amendments to the Bi-Lingual Education Act

The Bi-Lingual Education Act is amended as follows:

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[Poirot]

Amendment to the Sbane Windfarm Act

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[Barnes]

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

To provide for a special health commission to investigate infant health issues, including malnutrition, under-nutrition, lack of adequate medical care, and for connected purposes.

Be it enacted by the Northeast Assembly convened

SECTION I: Title
This act may be cited as the "Protect Our Babies! Act of 2012".

SECTION II: The Infant Health Commission
1. The Northeast Department of Health and Human Services shall immediately establish a commission to be styled "The Infant Health Commission."
2. The purpose of the commission shall be to investigate the causes for infant health defects, developed during pregnancy or after birth, and their relation to access to adequate medical care as well as adequate sources of nutrition.
3. In relation to this goal, the commission shall investigate the current level of infant health care and nutrition within the Northeast as well as the current level of average infant nutrition.
4. The commission shall  and shall be composed of seven members representing leading medical, health, and nutrition specialists from within the region. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor.
5. The commission shall be charged with issuing a final report from a year from its establishment.

SECTION III: The Infant Health Outreach Program
1. The Northeast Department of Health and Human Services shall immediately invest in a region-wide community outreach program - styled "The Infant Outreach Program" - to educate mothers and families about the needs of infants after birth and the availability of both federal and government programs that can assist them.
2. The Program shall also be charged to educate mothers and families about the necessary infant foods and formulas ness scary for safe and healthy growth.
3. The program shall consist of informational packets and pamphlets, workshops, informational classes, and personal interview and discussion meetings. These programs shall be made available in participating regional hospitals as well as all regional welfare, unemployment, and community centers throughout the region.

SECTION IV: Enactment date and funding
1. This bill shall take effect upon being signed by the governor. The commission established in Section II of this act shall begin its meetings by no later than March 1, 2013. The outreach program established in Section III of this act shall begin distribution on February 1, 2013.
2. This act shall be funded through the $22 billion allocated for health services in the Fiscal Year13' Nov-March Budget.

[Barnes]

A RESOLUTION

A resolution to be transmitted to the Senate of Atlasia concerning this Assembly's concern over the state of the wiki. 

Be it enacted by the Northeast Assembly convened

To the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia:

To all whom these presents may come we, the Represetatives of the Northeast Assembly, send greeting.
1. WHEREAS the wiki is severly lacking in updates, especially in the cagegories of statutes and court cases;
2. WHEREAS the regions depend on an updated wiki to pass and enforce their own laws;
3. THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mideast Assembly urges the the Senate to hold a hearing to determine what should be done to rectify the problem.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

A BILL

To

1)   encourage the development and implementation of innovative programs to permit members of the community to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in the prevention of crime in the community
2)   provide additional and more effective training to law enforcement officers to enhance their problem solving, service, and other skills needed in interacting with members of the community

Be it enacted by Assembly of the Northeast Region convened.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Omnibus Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 2012’ or the 'Taking Back Our Streets Act.'

SECTION 2. GUN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION

1.   The Northeast criminal code shall be amended to impose a fine no less than $500,000 and/or 20-year prison term on any person who:

(1.)   knowingly provides or receives from another person two or more firearms if such person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such transfer would violate a federal, state, or local law punishable by a prison term of more than one year (i.e., a felony)
(2.)   makes materially false statements to a licensed firearm importer, dealer, or manufacturer relating to the purchase, receipt, or acquisition of two or more firearms; or
(3.)   knowingly violate firearms restrictions under the federal criminal code, including recordkeeping requirements.

2.   The Chief Judicial Officer will be authorized to revoke or suspend the license of a firearms dealer for failure to have secure gun storage or safety devices, for transporting armor piercing ammunition, or for violating other federal prohibitions on gun trafficking.

3.   The Chief Judicial Officer will be required to identify licensed firearms dealers who have a heightened risk of firearms being diverted to criminal use.

4.   The Department of Justice shall study and report to the Assembly on firearms that are lost or stolen during commercial shipping, and will hire additional personnel to enable inspections of gun dealers on a three-year cycle and requires the Director to hire additional investigators and special agents to address trafficking in firearms.

SECTION 3. CORPORATE CRIME DATABASE

The Chief Judicial Officer will be authorized to:

(1)   acquire data, for each calendar year, regarding all administrative, civil, and criminal judicial proceedings against any corporation or corporate official involving a felony or misdemeanor or civil charge where potential fines may be $1,000 or more;
(2)   establish and maintain a publicly available website on improper conduct by all corporations with annual revenues of more than $1 billion; and
(3)   prepare an annual report to the Assembly detailing the number of civil, administrative, and criminal enforcement actions brought against any corporation or corporate official and the final dispositions of such actions.

SECTION 4. FIGHTING GANGS AND EMPOWERING YOUTH

The Chief Judicial Officer will be authorized to:

(1.)   make grants to public and nonprofit private entities (including faith-based organizations) for projects involving innovative approaches to combat gang activity,
(2.)   make grants to states and other entities to increase police presence and expand and improve cooperative efforts to address gang activity problems
(3.)   make grants to state or local police departments to implement an anonymous tip program using cell phone text messaging to assist police in preventing and solving crimes
(4.)   designate high-intensity interstate gang activity areas
(5.)   authorize programs for combating criminal gangs, including after-school programs and programs for safe schools and communities
(6.)   implement a grant program for workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders (30 years of age or younger)
(7.)   make grants to public housing agencies and private, for-profit, and nonprofit owners of federally assisted low-income housing for use in eliminating gang-related crime
(8.)   award grants to assist communities located in a high-intensity interstate gang activity area in developing and carrying out programs that target certain at-risk youth and juvenile offenders
(9.)   authorize a gang resistance education and training projects program, and
(10.)   modify existing procedures and policies to improve the transition of federal prisoners into local communities

SECTION 5. LITERACY, EDUCATION, AND REHABILITATION REFORMS

1.   A prisoner serving a term of imprisonment of more than one year will be eligible to receive credit beyond time already served for up to 60 days each year, in addition to any credit received for satisfactory behavior, for earning a certificate of completion in, or for participating in or teaching, a designated program that benefits prisoners or the Bureau of Prisons, including specified educational and vocational, treatment, and work and developmental programs.

2.   The Chief Judicial Officer will establish the number of days a credit a prisoner may be awarded considering the difficulty, time required, responsibility expected, and rehabilitative benefits of the program

3.   Any person sentenced to a term of imprisonment under the Chief Judicial Officer’s custody may be eligible for the credits, including prisoners transferred from foreign countries.

SECTION 6. FUNDING

$14.5 billion shall be accumulated from the Public safety fund from the November-March Northeast Budget FY2013.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

The Nefarious Act

aka

The Northeast Anti-Human Trafficking Act



Be it enacted by Assembly of the Northeast Region convened.

Human and Sexual Trafficking

Version a
Promotion of human trafficking; sexual trafficking of a minor; human trafficking

    Sec. 1. (a) A person who, by force, threat of force, or fraud, knowingly or intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports another person:
        (1) to engage the other person in:
            (A) forced labor; or
            (B) involuntary servitude; or
        (2) to force the other person into:
            (A) civil union;
            (B) prostitution; or
            (C) participating in sexual conduct;
commits promotion of human trafficking, a Class B felony.
    (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports a child less than sixteen (16) years of age with the intent of:
        (1) engaging the child in:
            (A) forced labor; or
            (B) involuntary servitude; or
        (2) inducing or causing the child to:
            (A) engage in prostitution; or
            (B) participate in sexual conduct;
commits promotion of human trafficking of a minor, a Class B felony. It is not a defense to a prosecution under this subsection that the child consented to engage in prostitution or to participate in sexual conduct.
    (c) A person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally sells or transfers custody of a child less than sixteen (16) years of age for the purpose of prostitution or participating in sexual conduct commits sexual trafficking of a minor, a Class A felony.
    (d) A person who knowingly or intentionally pays, offers to pay, or agrees to pay money or other property to another person for an individual who the person knows has been forced into:
        (1) forced labor;
        (2) involuntary servitude; or
        (3) prostitution;
commits human trafficking, a Class C felony.

Version b
Promotion of human trafficking; sexual trafficking of a minor;

    Sec. 1. (a) A person who, by force, threat of force, or fraud, knowingly or intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports another person:
        (1) to engage the other person in:
            (A) forced labor; or
            (B) involuntary servitude; or
        (2) to force the other person into:
            (A) civil union;
            (B) prostitution; or
            (C) participating in sexual conduct;
commits promotion of human trafficking, a Class B felony.
    (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports a child less than sixteen (16) years of age with the intent of:
        (1) engaging the child in:
            (A) forced labor; or
            (B) involuntary servitude; or
        (2) inducing or causing the child to:
            (A) engage in prostitution; or
            (B) participate in sexual conduct;
commits promotion of human trafficking of a minor, a Class B felony. Except as provided in subsection (e), it is not a defense to a prosecution under this subsection that the child consented to engage in prostitution or to participate in sexual conduct.
    (c) A person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally sells or transfers custody of a child less than sixteen (16) years of age for the purpose of prostitution or participating in sexual conduct commits sexual trafficking of a minor, a Class A felony.
    (d) A person who knowingly or intentionally pays, offers to pay, or agrees to pay money or other property to another person for an individual who the person knows has been forced into:
        (1) forced labor;
        (2) involuntary servitude; or
        (3) prostitution;
commits human trafficking, a Class C felony.
    (e) It is a defense to a prosecution under subsection (b)(2)(B) if:
        (1) the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age and the person is less than eighteen (18) years of age; or
        (2) all the following apply:
            (A) The person is not more than four (4) years older than the victim.
            (B) The relationship between the person and the victim was a dating relationship or an ongoing personal relationship.

The term "ongoing personal relationship" does not include a family relationship.
            (C) The crime:
                (i) was not committed by a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
                (ii) was not committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force;
                (iii) was not committed while armed with a deadly weapon;
                (iv) did not result in serious bodily injury;
                (v) was not facilitated by furnishing the victim, without the victim's knowledge, with a drug or a controlled substance or knowing that the victim was furnished with the drug or controlled substance without the victim's knowledge; and
                (vi) was not committed by a person having a position of authority or substantial influence over the victim.
            (D) The person has not committed another sex offense, including a delinquent act that would be a sex offense if committed by an adult, against any other person.

Restitution orders
     Sec. 2. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed for a conviction of an offense under section 1 of this chapter, the court shall order the person convicted to make restitution to the victim of the crime.
Civil cause of action
     Sec. 3. (a) If a person is convicted of an offense under section 1 of this chapter, the victim of the offense:
        (1) has a civil cause of action against the person convicted of the offense; and
        (2) may recover the following from the person in the civil action:
            (A) Actual damages.
            (B) Court costs (including fees).
            (C) Punitive damages, when determined to be appropriate by the court.
            (D) Reasonable attorney's fees.
    (b) An action under this section must be brought not more than two (2) years after the date the person is convicted of the offense under section 1 of this chapter.

Rights of alleged victims
     Sec. 4. (a) An alleged victim of an offense under section 1 of this chapter:
        (1) may not be detained in a facility that is inappropriate to the victim's status as a crime victim;
        (2) may not be jailed, fined, or otherwise penalized due to having been the victim of the offense; and
        (3) shall be provided protection if the victim's safety is at risk or if there is danger of additional harm by recapture of the victim by the person who allegedly committed the offense, including:
            (A) taking measures to protect the alleged victim and the victim's family members from intimidation and threats of reprisals and reprisals from the person who allegedly committed the offense or the person's agent; and
            (B) ensuring that the names and identifying information of the alleged victim and the victim's family members are not disclosed to the public.
This subsection shall be administered by law enforcement agencies and the Northeast criminal justice institute as appropriate.
(C) The Northeast shall grant asylum to any victim that is not an Atlasian national provided approval from the national government
    (b) Not more than fifteen (15) days after the date a law enforcement agency first encounters an alleged victim of an offense under section 1 of this chapter, the law enforcement agency shall provide the alleged victim with a completed Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons. However, if the law enforcement agency finds that the grant of an LEA Declaration is not appropriate for the alleged victim, the law enforcement agency shall, not more than fifteen (15) days after the date the agency makes the finding, provide the alleged victim with a letter explaining the grounds for the denial of the LEA Declaration. After receiving a denial letter, the alleged victim may submit additional evidence to the law enforcement agency. If the alleged victim submits additional evidence, the law enforcement agency shall reconsider the denial of the LEA Declaration not more than seven (7) days after the date the agency receives the additional evidence.


(Source of original bill: http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar42/ch3.5.html)

[Poirot]

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[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

A BILL

To amend The Northeast Regional Bank Act to authorize grants and loan guarantees from the Bank to enable contractors and developers to fund capital needs projects.

Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development Act of 2012’ or the ‘BUILD Act.’

SECTION 2. CREATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

The Northeast Regional Bank Act is amended;

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[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

A BILL

To provide the Northeast Region with additional tools to develop short-term and long-term economic strategies and to effectively close deals with large and small businesses looking to bring in new jobs.

Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Quick-Action Closing Fund Act.’

SECTION 2. CREATION OF QUICK-ACTION CLOSING FUND

$20 billion will be accumulated from the Economic development fund expended by November-March Northeast Budget FY2013 to the Northeast Department of Commerce for the creation of this program:

(1.)   The Northeast Department of Commerce will establish a non-partisan ten-member board to be assigned with the task of formulating long-term economic-development strategies as well as researching and contacting businesses looking to locate or relocate their facilities in the Northeast Region.

(2.)   The board will have the ability to negotiate for workforce training, capital investments, and other projects to help collaborate with businesses and manufacturers interested in locating or relocating their facilities in the Northeast Region.

(3.)   Grants and incentives that are provided by the fund may be used for onsite (equipment and facilities) and offsite (infrastructure) expenses if approved by the Bank of the Northeast.

[Cincinnatus]

Section 9 is just for my amusement, and I doubt it will last debate

[quote]

8. Vacancies in the Legislative Assembly shall be filled in a manner specified by Law, and until such determination is made, by Gubernatorial appointment. Vacancies occur upon resignation, recall, impeachment, failure to swear in within one week of the legislative session’s opening, failure to vote on three consecutive pieces of legislation without publicly declaring absence, or failure to participate in the debate of three consecutive pieces of legislation.

9. For the purposes of Article II, subsection 8, debate excludes one word posts, and simple expressions of agreement or disagreement

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Bump so I don't have to keep going to look for this.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Section 9 is just for my amusement, and I doubt it will last debate

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Attaching my signature or whatever so we can get this thing going.

[bore]

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[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

A BILL

To require companies that package meat and grocery stores to label all meat products treated with carbon monoxide.


Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as 'The Red Meat Act.'

SECTION 2. FINDINGS

The Assembly finds and declares that;

1.) Carbon monoxide (often referred to as CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, one measly oxygen molecule away from the carbon dioxide all humans exhale.  However, this chemical can have detrimental effects on the human body at very low concentrations.

2.) The Canadian Meat Packers Council recommends that the internal meat temperatures not go above 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit. That has also been defined by other international meat regulators as the optimum storage temperature of meat.

3.) In a carbon monoxide system, with low oxygen, the carbon monoxide will react with myoglobin and give aged meat a bright red color. The low oxygen mixture artificially limits the growth of spoilage organisms that are commonly caused by increased levels of heat in display cases.

4.) More than 70% of all beef and chicken in the United States, Canada and other countries is being treated with poisonous carbon monoxide gas to look fresh.

Source of this information: http://www.theidealistrevolution.com/decayed-meat-treated-with-carbon-monoxide-to-make-it-look-fresh-at-the-grocery/

SECTION 3. MEAT PACKAGING REQUIREMENT

1.) All meat treated with carbon monoxide must have a label that reads "TREATED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE" on their packages at a font size no smaller than 20 pt.

2.) Markets that sell meat which are encased in packages that do not contain such labels may be fined $35,000,000 per offense.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVENESS

This law will go into effect on March 1st, 2013.

[Poirot]

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