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To curb wasteful spending by making 50 percent of year-end savings in salaries and expenses available for an additional fiscal year, and to use the remaining 50 percent for the purpose of deficit reduction.


SECTION 1. TITLE

This act may be cited as the ‘Saving Over Spending Act of 2012.’

SECTION 2. FINDINGS

The Senate hereby finds and declares that

1.) A 1980 report by the Senate Committee on Government Affairs found that “spending at year-end may be the result of legitimate, planned, and worthwhile spending intended by the Senate…the Subcommittee (on Oversight of Government Management) found numerous examples in which agencies took short cuts in the last few weeks of the fiscal year that led to questionable contracts” and that “hurry-up procurement practices resulted in the purchase of millions of dollars worth of goods and services for which there was no demonstrated current need.”

SECTION 3. EXTENSION OF AVAILABILITY OF YEAR-END SAVINGS IN SALARIES AND EXPENSES

1.) 50 percent of a federal agency's unspent funds the end of a fiscal year shall remain available to that agency for subsequent fiscal years.

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 year may not be taken into account in determining the amount by which an agency will be funded for each fiscal year.

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

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

A: No federal official, when engaging in an effort to enforce federal law, may prohibit, obstruct or prevent in any way shape or form the functions of a Regional Government, according to their laws, that also aren't in violation of Federal Law.

B: Failure on the part of a government official to follow the above statute can be dealth with in the following fashion:
              1. The Region targeted may sue the official in Federal Court, in accordance with the constitution, to seek an injunction against the official's actions to halt the obstruction of legal government functions.
              2. The Senate shall investigate the activities and determine whether or not further punitive actions need to be taken against the official, such as the impeachment of said official, based on the actions taken by said official and the cirumstances in which it occured.

The Less Than HONORable Service Preclusion of Benefits Act

1- This act may be known as the HONOR Act

2- Atlasians who receive a Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) from the military hereby forfeit all VA benefits, or other benefits available solely to veterans from the federal government, except those benefits provided in cases of disability.

3- A clause indicating such must be present on the enlistment document and acknowledged by the enlistee with his or her signature.

                                       
SUMMARY: Current Projected Figures for 2012               
               
Direct Spending                 $2,553.72 billion   
Tax Credits                           $298.8 billion   
TOTAL Expenditures             $2,852.52 billion   
               
REVENUE               $2,939.8 Billion               
EXPENDITURES     -$2,852.52 billion               
BALANCE                $87.28 Billion

Privacy is a good thing Act

1. The use of drones (unmanned aircraft) by law enforcement, at any level, for uses outside of search and rescue are to be banned in the IDS.

1.  Any executive official or board member of a publically traded corporation convicted of a crime of corruption related to his tenure at the corporation shall forfeit the benefits associated with his position upon departure from the current position.

2. The term "pension" shall also include any stock options that the executive has been awarded but has not yet exercised.

3. Crimes of corruption include but are not limited to bribery, fraud, embezzlement, racketeering, and perjury.

4. The provisions in Section 1 will not apply to any payment already made to the executive official or board member.

5.  This legislation shall take effect for all convictions occurring after January 1, 2013.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This act may be cited as the ‘Jobs Now Act of 2012.’

SECTION 2. HIRING INCENTIVES ACT RENEWAL

1.) The effects of the Hiring Incentives Act are hereby renewed for one year after passage of this legislation.

SECTION 3. VOLUNTARY WORK HOUR AND PAY CUT COMPENSATION

1.) Employers of businesses with 20 employees or more that have lost 17% of net income during the past year and have not been found to be involved in illegal activity will be allowed to give each worker the option of cutting their work hours by 10%, or their salaries by 10%.

2.) Companies must have declines in net income resulting from overall declines in sales and business during the reporting periods in question. Declines in Net Income resulting from one time financial transactions, or or otherwise not resulting from a decline in sales and business shall not be eligible for this program. The Department of the Interior shall be charged with enforcing and policing new applicants and auditing those within program to ensure compliance with the program's standards and requirements.

3.) Employees who take either option will be subsidized 60% of lost income.

4.) This section shall be in effect for one year after passage.


SECTION 4. WHITE ROOFTOP INCENTIVES FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATELY OWNED BUILDINGS

1.) All local, state, and regional administrative officials will be subsidized 25% for the hiring of construction workers to paint black rooftops of government buildings the color white.

2.) All individuals, households, and business owners will be subsidized 25% for the hiring of construction workers to paint black rooftops of houses and businesses white.

SECTION 5. REGIONAL PUBLIC BANKING SYSTEM

1.) All regions of the Republic of Atlasia are bestowed the option of creating individual public banks, the creation of which will be subsidized 35% per region by the federal government.

2.) Regional banks will be delegated with the duties
    To assist local banks with capital and liquidity requirements
    To provide loans & loan guarantees
    To provide assistance to borrowers in areas of job retention
    To provide assistance to borrowers in technology creation
    To provide assistance to small businesses and businesses of retail, and
    To participate in community service projects

3.) All revenues collected by each region shall be deposited in their respective banks.

4.) Funds that are deposited in a regional bank shall not transmit services to other regions or countries unless funds are prescribed to via a budget item of the region in control of the bank.

5.) 35% of a bank's earnings will be remitted to the region's Treasury.  If a treasury is not in place, the region will be responsible for establishing one.

6.) A regional bank will be responsible for keeping a record of all transactions and writing summaries which shall convey expectation and outlook of growth and inflation over each upcoming year.  The region's Treasury will be designated with the responsibility of annually checking the bank for organization of these records and efficiency in management.

7.) No individual, co-partnership, or corporation shall be permitted to subscribe for or to hold at any time more than $25,000 par value of stock in a regional bank.

SECTION 6. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION FORBIDDANCE

Section 2, subsection 4 of the Worker's Bill of Rights Act is hereby amended:

Purpose: Co- operative support and job creation
Section 1. Title
Worker Co-operative Pilot Program
Section 2. Descripton
This bill will start a pilot program that will focus on supporting worker co-operatives across the country.
Section 3. Funding
Funding: 1 Billion per year will be appropriated, 95% will be used to give favorable loan rates to co-operatives, and 5% on research and administration.
Section 4. Standards for Qualification
1. In order to qualify for the above mentioned program, the organization must be structured in a way that it is owned and/or run by the employees of the organization.
2. The organization must also be organized according to the ten basic cooperative principles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative_principles)
3. The Department of Internal Affairs will oversee the program and ensure that the above criteria are followed by all applicants considered.
4. The $.95 billion will be used to cover the difference in interest loan that would be typically at 6-7%, the loans under this program cannot be given at more than 5% annual interest.

End to the Zombie Apocalypse Act

1. The Anti-Zombie Act of 2009 (https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Anti-Zombie_Act_of_2009) is hereby repealed.

2. The Federal Activity Requirements Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Federal_Activity_Requirements_Revision_Act) is hereby repealed.

3. Section 14, Clause 1 of the Consolidated Electoral System Reform Act is hereby amended to read the following:
All those persons who have posted at least 10 times in the 8 weeks (56 days) prior to the commencement of an election shall be defined as active for the purposes of that election.

National University and General Education Reform bill
Section One: National University System
1.  $1 Billion shall be appropriated per each region for the construction of a federally-operated university.
2.  $470 Million shall be appropriated per each region per year for the hiring of faculty, accommodating the local community and to pay for costs associated with running the university. Payment in subsequent years will be tied to the rate of growth or decrease in personal income.
3.   Each regional government shall submit a location of economic distress or decline that would benefit from the presence of a strong university campus to the Secretary of Internal Affairs, who can approve or deny the location.
4.  If the Secretary of Internal Affairs denies the location, the region can either nominate a new location or petition the Senate to overrule the Secretary, which can be done by a majority vote of the Senate.
5.   If a regional government does not offer a location, these funds will be offered to another region to choose a location.
6.   The addition of future campuses shall be made possible at the request of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and approved by majority vote of the Senate.

Section Two: Repeal of Tuition Tax
1.   The tuition tax established in Section 6 of the ‘Education Reform Act of 2007’ is hereby repealed.

Section Three: Additional Regulations and Reforms
1.   A 50% tax shall be placed on all revenue a college or university receives from tuition or fees.
2.   This tax shall be waived should a college or university’s student population have 5% or greater receiving federal student loan assistance.
3.   $4.5 billion shall be distributed among the regions by the Secretary of Internal Affairs for the purpose of adding more vocational and career training courses to local community colleges.

Section Four: Secondary School Reform and Assistance
1.   $1 billion shall be distributed among the regions by the Secretary of Internal Affairs for the purpose of adding more arts and culture courses to secondary schools.
2.   $1 billion shall be distributed among the regions by the Secretary of Internal Affairs for the purpose of adding more vocational and career training courses to secondary schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled.

SECTION 1. TITLE

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

SECTION 2. CONTEST FOR NEW SEAL DESIGN

The people of Atlasia will have the opportunity to submit designs for a new seal until October 15th, 2012.  On October 15th, a poll shall open in the Atlas Fantasy Elections board for which submissions may be voted on by the public for a period of three days.  The poll will include a "none of the above" option.  If none of the poll options recieve a majority of the votes, the seal with the least number of votes will be dropped and a new poll will be created. This process will continue until a new seal is selected, or until a majority of voters decide that none of the seals are suitable.

3.For any Bill or Resolution to pass the Senate, it shall have gained a majority in a valid vote. Before the Bill or Resolution becomes Law, it shall be presented to the President of the Republic of Atlasia, unless it be concerning the rules for the proceedings of the Senate. If the President approves, he shall sign it, and it shall become Law. If the President does not approve, he shall return the Bill with his objections to the Senate, and it shall not become Law. Upon reconsidering the Bill, if the Senate shall approve the legislation by two-thirds of its number, it shall become Law. If a Bill is not returned to the Senate by the President within seven days after it shall have been presented to him, it shall become Law regardless.

Whensoever the Senate shall pass a bill and present it to the President, he shall have the option to redraft the bill and return it to the Senate in redrafted form. The President shall have this option once with each particular bill presented to him. The original sponsor of the bill, as so defined in Senate rules, shall either file a motion to approve the President’s redraft by a simple majority vote, and return it to the President for his signature or veto, or withdraw the bill from the Senate. If the Senate approves the President's redraft by a simple majority vote, the redrafted bill shall be returned to the President for his signature or veto. If the Senate rejects the President's redraft, the original sponsor shall either file a motion to send the original draft of the bill back to the President for his signature or veto, or shall direct the Senate to resume debate on the bill as presented to the President.

LGBT Dignity Act

1. All self-described "reparative" therapy and psychological therapy with the intent to subdue, erase, reform, influence, or change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity is without any scientific basis in fact and can cause severe psychological or physical harm.

2. These forms of therapy are hereby outlawed.

Article II
Section 3
4. Whenever the President transmits to the Senate President pro tempore his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Garden of Dreams Act.’

SECTION 2. CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE STATUS FOR ALIENS WITH AN ADVANCED DEGREE

The Department of Internal Affairs shall adjust the status of aliens who have earned a master’s degree or a doctorate degree in a STEM field  at an accredited institution of higher education to that of an alien conditionally admitted for permanent residence and authorize each alien granted such adjustment of status to remain in Atlasia--

1.)     For up to 1 year after the expiration of the alien’s student visa if the alien is diligently searching for an opportunity to become actively engaged in a STEM field; and

2.)     Indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field.

SECTION 3. REMOVAL OF CONDITION

The Department of Internal Affairs shall remove the conditional basis of an alien’s conditional permanent resident statuson the date that is 5 years after the date such status was granted if the alien maintained his or her eligibility for such status during the entire 5-year period.

SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS

'Actively engaged in a STEM field' shall mean a) employed at a for-profit business, government enitty, or non-profit organization in Atlasia or b) teaching one or more STEM courses at an accredited institution of higher education in Atlasia.

SECTION 5. TWICE ANNUAL STARTUP AND BUSINESS FORMATION REPORTS

The Secretary of Internal Affairs shall regulary compile quantitative and qualitative data on new business formation, which is then to be presented to the Senate and the public, beginning in January of 2013, and following every six months thereafter. This report shall contain the following data provided to the Department of Internal Affairs by the Game Moderator:

1.)    The number of new business formed, the number of jobs created by these formations, average employee compensation, tax revenues generated by all levels of gov't and any other information relating the creation of new business startups and its impacts on the economy during the previous six months.

2.)    A representative, random survey of new business owners, conducted over the past six months, regarding factors impacting their decision to form a new business.

1.) $30 billion shall be set aside for repair and restoration of infrastructure that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. This money shall also be available to provide aid to individuals and families hurt by the storm including supplementation of food, medicine, medical care, temporary housing or other forms of aid as shall be designated by regional and local disaster relief officials.

2.) $20 billion shall be set aside for infrastructure enhancements to help prevent future hurricane damage.

3.) Monies from clauses 1 and 2 shall only be made available to the Northeast and Mideast Regions.

4.) The above monies shall be distributed through the process detailed in Section Three of the Natural Disaster Relief Act.

5.) All unused funds shall be dealt with as established by Section Three, Clause 3 of the Natural Disaster Relief Act.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Atlasian Institute of Teachers Act.’

SECTION 2. FOUNDATION AND GOVERNANCE OF THE ATLASIAN INSTITUTE OF TEACHERS
The Atlasian Institute of Teachers (AIT) shall be established as a professional, non-union, non-political professional organization for the teachers of Atlasia. The AIT shall be governed by teachers.  The AIT shall establish and maintain branches in the regions and work with regional authorities.

SECTION 3. ISSUANCE OF FEDERAL TEACHER'S LICENCES

The AIT shall have the responsibility of issuing teacher's licenses. A teacher's license shall be required to teach in any public primary or secondary academic institution in Atlasia. Licensing shall be done through the regional branches.


SECTION 4. LICENSING EXAMINATION

Teachers licenses shall be awarded on the basis of an National Teacher's Licensing Examination (NTLE). The exam shall be administered through the regional branches. The passing score on the NTLE shall be designed to not admit more than 75% of applicants.

Prospective teachers shall apply to their regional bureaus to take an NTLE on one of three levels: There will be Junior NTLEs (for teachers of kindergarten to sixth grade), Intermediate NTLEs (for teachers of sixth grade to eighth grade), and Senior NTLEs (for high school teachers). There will be two types of NTLEs at the Junior and Intermediate levels: One class of tests for foreign language teachers (with language-specific content for each test), and one common test for non-language teachers. At the senior level, tests will be completely subject-specific. Each examination shall be subject to yearly approval from the Department of Internal Affairs and the regional boards of education.

Broadly, the AIT will consider all regional curriculums to administer consolidated teaching proficiency tests. Each NTLE shall test the applicants’ familiarity with basic course concepts, conflict resolution techniques in the classroom, and sensitivity.

SECTION 5. FUNDING

Prospective teachers shall pay $50 for their initial NTLE and first year of accreditation. Membership will cost $50 per teacher for each subsequent year. These payment standards will be in place for the first three years of the AIT. After such time, the AIT may alter these charges, with alterations subject to the approval of the DoIA.

1. The Federal Government shall provide $8 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 tax credit equal to their operating costs by a rate of 25%. Companies that dedicate 10% or above shall be credited 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.

4. The patent term for patent applications filed on or after the date that this bill goes into effect shall be 10 years.

All federal prohibitions, regulations, and or restrictions emplaced on in-person gambling (defined as gambling not based on the internet and thus lacking in direct person to person interactions) are hereby and henceforth repealed.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Order of the Star of Atlasia Act.’

SECTION 2. PROVISIONS

1. The Order of the Star of Atlasia shall be a recognition of merit awarded by the President of the Republic of Atlasia to recognize the achievements rendered to it by its citizens.

2. The Order shall be granted in one of two degrees, the Silver Star or the Gold Star, which shall be for particularly meritous achievements.

3. Awardees of the Order shall be entitled to use the postnominal OSAS for the Silver Star and OSAG for the Gold Star.

4. The Senate, by a two-thirds vote, may strip a recipient of this award.

Amendment to the Trade Agreement Re-evaluation Commission

1: Subsection "d." shall be added to the Trade Agreement Re-evaluation Commission. Subsection "d." shall read "Drafting recommendations for increasing efficiency in the Department of External Affairs through realignment and closure of Department military facilities."

Section I

Recognizing that many individuals are employed by and depend on the Atlasian postal service, and that the vast majority of the public desires its continued operation, the Senate has decided upon the following:

1. Labor and pension costs shall not exceed a maximum of 70% of all Atlasian Postal Service expenses.

2. The Postal Service shall begin a process of attempted renegotiation of employees' labor and pension contracts to bring existing plans in line with the new policy.

3. $8 billion shall be granted as a loan to the Atlasian Postal Service, to be repaid by the end of calender year 2021, for the purposes of repaying their existing financial deficit.

Section II

In order to put the postal service on a firm financial footing in the future:

1. The Atlasian Postal Service shall close and consolidate post offices if (a) substantial economic savings to the Postal Service would result from such closing or consolidation and (b) such closure or consolidation does not prevent the Atlasian Postal Service from meeting its obligation to maintain effective and regular postal services to rural communities where post offices are not self-sustaining.

2. The Postmaster General shall appoint a Chief Innovation Officer. The Chief Innovation Officer shall have proven expertise and a record of accomplishment in areas such as (1) the postal and shipping industry, (2) innovative product research and development, or (3) new and emerging communication technology. The Chief Innovation Officer shall lead the development and implementation of (1) innovative postal products and services, particularly products and services that use new and emerging technology to improve the net financial position of the Postal Service; and (2) non-postal products and services that have the potential to improve the net financial position of the Postal Service.

3. The Chief Innovation Officer shall be tasked, upon taking office, to immediately begin a study to determine the logistical possibility, and long-term effects, of ending all Saturday delivery services within the Postal Service.  The CIO shall make his report no later than July 1, 2013, and if it suggests the elimination of Saturday services, the Postal Service shall begin to implement the recommendation no later than January 1, 2014.

A BILL

To address the connection between
mental health and violent crime in the Republic of Atlasia.

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled.

SECTION 1. TITLE.

1. This bill may be cited as the Firearms and Mental Health Act of 2013.

SECTION 2. FUNDING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

1. A national sales tax of 25% shall be applied to the purchase of all handguns, long guns, automatic weapons, and ammunition for the aforementioned types of guns in the Republic of Atlasia. This charge may be hidden within the displayed cost of said weapons upon final sale.

2. All monies from the tax shall be used to fund new mental health programs at the regional level, as coordinated between the Department of Internal Affairs and all appropriate regional bureaus. For budgetary purposes, this exchange will occur through a delineated “Mental Health Fund.”

3. These programs shall be focused on local mental health outreach, counseling, and support services.

1. Section 5 of the Spurring Skilled Immigration Act of 2012 shall be amended to read:

The Labor Rights Act of 2012
Section 1 
 • Union busting will be legally defined as a practice that is undertaken by an employer or their agents to prevent employees from joining a labor union, or subvert, stop workers right to join, or destroy unions that already exist.
 • The above practice will be made illegal in Atlasia in order to protect the rights of citizen workers in the region.
 • Punishments for companies may include large fines totaling no more than twenty five percent of their annual income for that year that the union was affected by the aforementioned practice.
 • It is hereby lawful for any company or organization to require an employee to join a union (or labor organization) or pay union dues in order to be employed or to maintain their employment.
Section 2
• An additional ballot to require an employer recognize a union is herby eliminated, if a majority of workers have already signed cards expressing their wish to have a union
 • Requiring an additional ballot will be made illegal in order to protect the rights of citizen workers in the region.
 • Punishments for companies that force an additional ballot may include large fines totaling no more than twenty five percent of their annual income for that year that the union was affected by the aforementioned practice.
Section 3
• Workers in all professions are allowed to unionize; this includes the following professions that were once prohibited:
      o Agricultural workers including family farms
      o Domestic workers
      o First-level managers
      o Independent contractors
      o Regional and state government workers 
Section 4
 • Sections 2 through 8 of F.L. 28-11 (https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/) ("The Labor Rights Act") are hereby repealed.

Section I

Recognizing that the costs of military retirement are rising at an alarming rate and that action must be taken to contain these spiraling costs to prevent them from undermining future warfighting capabilities, the Senate has decided upon the following:

1. Adopt a defined annual contribution plan, wherein the Atlasian government contribution would be funded at a percentage level comparable to the highest end of a private sector pension plan.

2. This contribution would double during years that the service member served in a combat zone or in another high-risk tour, and would also increase by an amount to be determined during hardship tours. Contributions could also rise as necessary to encourage retention, specific occupational specialities, or other demands.

3. These accounts would be transferrable to the private sector and back to the military.

4. Investment options could vary from a 401(k) type plan to annuities or cash balance accounts.

5. The individual account would provide for rights for survivorship transferability upon death.

6. Payout options could include a traditional payout, an annuity, or a lump sum.

7. Individual tax-deferred contributions would be limited to $16,500 per year (applying to contributions from basic, special, incentive and bonus pays, but does not include service matching contributions) and an additional $5,500 'catch-up' contribution for personnel aged 50 and older (which is deducted from taxable basic pay and submitted as tax-deferred to the retirement account; this is in addition to the elective deferral and annual additions limit) (roughly comparable to the civilian limits on IRA contributions). The annual maximum contribution limit would be $49,000, which applies when a member contributs while in a designated combat zone depositing tax-exempt contributions to his account. The limit includes tax-deferred and tax-exempt member contributions from basic, special, incentive and bonus pays (member contributions and any Service matching contributions) but does not include catch-up contributions.

8. The plan would vest after 5 years of service and would be payable at age 65.

9. Partial withdrawals or loans to cover education, healthcare, home ownership, business acquisition, or other specified unplanned events or emergencies would be allowed.

10. Fully disabled participants would qualify for an immediate pension, which would be formulated with VA benefits, as presently structured.

11. Upon retirement, a time formulated transition payment option would be implemented to facilitate the change to a new career.

12. This legislation would apply to Reserve and Active Duty personnel; retired and disabled personnel would be unaffected.

13. The total active force would rapidly transition to the new plan. Their accrued benefit from the old plan would be preserved but there would be no further accrual. Those with less than 20 years of service would receive a proportional benefit under the old plan if they stay for 20 or more years (10 years of service under the old plan would result in 10/20 of the old plan benefit at the old vesting date or 25% of pay at retirement). All active-duty personnel start to accrue new benefit for the balance of their service payable under the new terms. The average DoEA contribution under the revised system includes all extra incentives.

LAW OF THE SEA TREATY
RESOLUTION OF ADVICE AND CONSENT TO RATIFICATION

Resolved, (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein), That the Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Treaty between the Republic of Atlasia and the United Nations, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.