Southern Legislation Introduction Thread - 2018

[Wisconsin+17]

Elimination of Income Tax Act

Given that - the United States prior to 1913 did not have an income tax AND

Given that the United States prior to 1913 had a much smaller debt load AND

Given that the United States prior to 1913 had greater income growth AND

Given the prosperity of the States of Texas, and Florida which do not have an income tax AND

Given that we the people should keep as much of their earnings as possible

Be it resolved that the Regional income tax of the south on individuals will be repealed.

[Wisconsin+17]

Sparks:

Inmate Resources Act

Section 1 - Definitions and goals

A. The title of this legislation shall be the "Inmate Resources Act".
i. The purpose of this legislation is to address overcrowding in jails and correctional institutions
ii. This act will provide transitional services including mental health, substances abuse treatments, counseling, health care, employment, and housing supports
iii. Goal of this act is to reduce recidivism within our criminal justice system

Section 2 - Circumstances and penalties

A. An inmate may be released from jail if he or she is found guilty and convicted of a non-violent offense on their person such as a small amount marijuana possession of <30 grams
i. This act does not extend to transportation such as vehicles including automobiles
ii. If a person if found to have possessed marijuana, he or she will serve a sentence of community service for up to 6 months instead of being incarcerated
iii. Federal law still applies due to superseding over this legislation

I am moving this up so this comes in ahead of my other bills.

[Wisconsin+17]

Sparks: Restructured Sentencing for Sex Offender's act

Section 1

A. The title of this act is "Restructed Sentencing for Sex Offenders Act"
i. This act shall relate to criminal procedure only

B. When sentencing a person convicted of a criminal offense for which there is a minimum sentence of imprisonment, the court may depart from the applicable sentence if the court finds substantial and compelling reasons on the record, after giving due regard to the nature of the crime, history, and character of the defendant presented in court
i. If a person is convicted of a criminal offense such as rape, unlawful contact, or indecent assault relating to minors, the minimum sentence is still applicable and may be maximized

C. The court shall not have the discretion to depart from the applicable mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment on convictions for criminal offenses under the following circumstances:
1. The offense for which the defendant was convicted involved the corruption of minors, indecent assault relating to minors, or rape
2. The offense for which the defendant was convicted involved the use of a firearm

[Wisconsin+17]

Amendments to the "Bessel-NeverAgain Transgender Rights Act of 2017."

Section 1 (Title & Definitions)
i. The title of this Act shall be, the "Bessell-NeverAgain Transgender Rights Act of 2017." It may be cited as the "Bessell-NeverAgain Act," the "Transgender Rights Act," or as "TRA."
ii. For the purposes of this Act, the "gender identity" of an individual shall refer to their actual gender, such as they themselves determine it to be.
iii. For the purposes of this Act, the "official gender" of an individual shall refer to their gender as noted on documents issued by the Southern Region or by the States thereof.

Section 2 (Protections)
i. Citizens of this Region shall have right to request their official gender be corrected to match their gender identity.
ii. There shall be no restriction on the number of times an individual may request the correction of their gender identity, but there will be a 2 year waiting period in between when a person may correct their identity.
iii. No adult may request the correction of their official gender who is currently being charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense, nor who is currently incarcerated for conviction of the same. If incarcerated, they will go to whichever gender is currently their official gender.

Section 3 (Official Gender)
i. Persons may choose to have their official gender noted as any of the following designations:
 (a). Female (F)
 (b). Male (M)
 (c). Neutral (N)
 (d). Intersex (I)

Section 4 (Age and Parental/Guardian Consent)
i. At or over age 18, any person may request a change to their gender identity.

Section 5 (Limits and Requirements to Identity Change)
i. To file within the South, you must be a citizen of the South.
ii. Changes can be denied if it can be shown that the intent is:
 (a). To avoid debts and obligations.
 (b). To defraud any other person.
 (c). To capitalize on the name/identity of a famous person.
 (d). To an identity that would be intentionally confusing.
 (e). To a number or punctuation mark.
 (f). To a racial slur.
 (g). To an identity that includes threatening or obscene words, or words likely to incite violence.

[Wisconsin+17]

Euthanasia Repeal Bill

Whereas, people possess the natural right to life AND

Whereas, the state does not have the right to deprive others of this right AND

Whereas, no one has the right to kill another person, even at their wishes AND

Whereas, people ought to receive the care that they need without the prejudice of the state AND

Whereas, jurisdictions that have seen euthanasia passed, have seen violations of the laws intended to restrict euthanasia:

Be it resolved that:

1. S15: "Euthanasia Ban Repeal act" is hereby repealed.

2. Euthanasia in any form is currently not permitted within the South.

3. Assisting in the death of another individual in the south shall receive the charge of 'assisting or facilitating the death of another'.

3. Any caregiver, nurse, or doctor charged with 'assisting or facilitating the death of another' within the South will be prosecuted for murder in the first degree if it can be proven that their actions were directly responsible for the death of an individual. If convicted, they will also be stripped of their respective licenses. After they have served their time, they may reapply to their respective licensing bodies for the restoration of their licenses.

4. Any individual who does not qualify in the above categories charged with 'assisting or facilitating the death of another' shall be prosecuted for manslaughter if it can be proven that their actions were directly responsible for the death of an individual.

5. Any individual charged and convicted with the crime of 'assisting or facilitating the death of another', who's actions cannot be proven to be directly responsible for the death of an individual shall receive a jail term of no less than 5 years. 

6. If the euthanasia victim possesses a physical or mental disability, an additional charge of 10 years will be added to the sentences above.

[Wisconsin+17]

Religious Freedom Protection Act:

WHEREAS, individuals possess the natural right to freedom of association AND

WHEREAS, compelling an individual to do business with others is a violation of said freedoms AND

WHEREAS, individuals possess the right to earn a living in the manner of their choosing AND

WHEREAS, freedom of expression protects the right of an individual to have control over their brand AND

WHEREAS, freedom of religion is a core part of our fundamental freedoms

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Sole ownership firms within the South are permitted to refuse any business which violates their religious precepts.

2. Firms with fewer than 10 employees may in certain circumstances decline business provided that:

a) comparable services are offered within 200 miles of the service location AND
b) reasonable provisions are made to refer the client.

3. Firms with more than 10 employees and fewer than 100 employees may decline business provided that:

a) comparable services are offered within 200 miles of the service location AND
b) reasonable provisions are made to refer the client AND
c) a reasonable observer would conclude that such refusal was warranted.

4. Firms with more than 100 employees do not qualify under this act.

[Wisconsin+17]

Adoption Act

A bill to regulation the provision of adoption within the South.

WHEREAS Adoption is for the sole purpose of providing a loving and caring home, AND

WHEREAS Children have a right to the most secure environment possible, AND

WHEREAS Children are poorly served by current laws surrounding foster care.


BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Children must only be adopted to married couples. Those who are unmarried or single shall not be permitted to adopt.

2. Adoption services are permitted to select adoptions to fit the goals of the organization. 

3. Adoption services are permitted to use all available legal tools to screen couples prior to adoptions.

[Wisconsin+17]

State Land Divestment

WHEREAS: Increasing the private ownership of the land increases the tax base AND

WHEREAS: The current ratio of state land ownership in Texas is just 2%. AND

WHEREAS: This ratio seems more than sufficient to maintain the needs of the states

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

States with land ownership ratios of greater than 2% will sell land at market prices until it reaches 2% throughout the South.

Revenues raised from the Land Divestment will be reinvested to form a Land General Fund to reduce the overall taxpayer burden. 

[Wisconsin+17]

Clinic Regulations Act:

WHEREAS: Abortion is a surgical procedure AND

WHEREAS: Clinics ought to provide a consistent standard of care throughout the South AND

WHEREAS: There are significant instances of women being injured and killed by abortions.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. The following standards shall apply to all surgical clinics operating in the South.

I. Covered entryway to accommodate ambulances
II. Hallway widths wide enough to accommodate 2 gurneys moving in opposite directions
III. Minimum 1 parking spot per bed at the clinic
IV. Minimum 1 bed per patient receiving an abortion
V. HPA Equipment sterilization standards.
VI. ADA bathroom requirement standards.
VII. A minimum of 2 changing tables
VIII. A minimum of 1 defibrillator

2. Clinic physicians will be required to perform all abortions and they must possess hospital privileges to a hospital within 100 miles of their clinic.

3. The physician must be on location and must only perform abortions at his licensed clinic. Physicians wishing to transfer licenses must apply to their respective state medical bureaus for approval.

4. A physician may not hold more than one license to operate abortions at a time. Physicians wishing to operate more than one clinic must adequately staff clinics with a physician for each location.  

5. Inspections of clinics shall be conducted no less than once every six months at random intervals throughout the year. Clinics found to have missed inspections shall be required to submit to an inspection as soon as the violation has been discovered.

[Wisconsin+17]

Charter Schools Act.

The South hereby eliminates the cap on the creation and maintenance of Charter Schools. The elimination of this cap shall not relieve the South from its responsibility to audit any Charter School or hold such institutions to statewide standards.

Section 2

This act shall take effect immediately.

[Wisconsin+17]

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This passed, but was vetoed by Fairbol.

[Wisconsin+17]

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The clause 'who is not the Speaker' is struck.

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This clause shall be struck

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This clause shall be struck, and amended to the following. "Ballots cast shall follow the same rules for validity as under the Federal voting laws of atlasia."

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This entire section shall be struck.

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The number 6 will be replaced by the number 2. Also sections b and c will be struck.

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This shall be struck.

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This shall be struck

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This shall be struck

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This shall be struck

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This shall be struck

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The clause, "The presiding officer may ignore amendments that he or she deems frivolous, functionally impractical, or unconstitutional at his or her discretion" Shall be struck

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This shall be amended to add the following clause:

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This shall be struck

Sponsor: Ben Kenobi
[/quote]

[Wisconsin+17]

Ban on selling fetal tissue:

WHEREAS: the sale of other human remains has been prohibited AND

WHEREAS: we ban the sales of organs AND

WHEREAS: human remains should be properly buried.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Any Abortion clinic that is convicted of selling fetal remains shall be fined no less than 10k for the first offense and 50k for every subsequent violation.

2. Fetal remains from the clinics shall be buried. Improper disposal of fetal remains shall result in a violation of health ordinances and shall result in a fine of 5k for each incidence.

[Wisconsin+17]

Commercial Driver License Reciprocity

WHEREAS: Commercial drivers through the United States are overburdened by regulations AND

WHEREAS: All commercial drivers already must be certified in a state before getting their license AND

WHEREAS: Current legislation forces commercial drivers to retake tests if they move their residency AND

WHEREAS: There is an increasing shortage of qualified drivers.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT

1. Commercial driver's licences (CDLs) issued in one state will be recognized as valid throughout the South.

[Wisconsin+17]

Free Speech Protection:

WHEREAS: The protection of speech is fundamental for the operation of a free nation.

WHEREAS: Campus speech codes have had an increasingly chilling effect on public discourse

WHEREAS: Speech that is considered offensive to some is the only speech worth protecting.

WHEREAS: Substantial government overreach has inflicted penalties for unpopular speech

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. All public campus speech codes regulating the location of speech and it's content are abolished.

2. Campuses will be free to all peaceful forms of public expression, regardless of content.

3. Students and organizations who have been denied permits to speak will be refunded their deposits and the campuses responsible will be fined 10k. These fines will be payable to a charity of the afflicted party's choice.

4. Teachers who have lost tenure or have been fired for their public speech at a public institution will have the choice of being re-hired with lost pay, benefits and interest dating from the time of their firing or are free to take a lump sum payment for twice the remaining value of their pension.

5. Teachers and Students will not be charged for 'misgendering' fellow students. All fines inflicted shall be reimbursed for twice their original value including interest from the date that the fine was levied.

[Wisconsin+17]

Straw Lives Matter!

WHEREAS: Most 'single use bags' have many uses beyond their original use AND

WHEREAS: Most of the plastic garbage in the world is not sourced to Atlasia AND

WHEREAS: Bag fines are contrary to the Texas Constitution AND

WHEREAS: Bag fines amount to a tax on the poor for buying food from grocery stores. AND

WHEREAS: Paper straws are terrible things.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. All restaurants and grocery stores are permitted to sell and provide plastic straws to their customers.

2. All municipal and state laws regulating the sale of plastic straws are abolished.

3. All municipal and state laws regulating the sale and purchase of plastic bags are abolished.

4. All grocery stores are banned from charging fees for plastic and paper bags.

[Wisconsin+17]

Timber tax reduction

WHEREAS: Timber taxes have a large effect on timber harvesters AND

WHEREAS: The American lumber industry has higher costs than foreign competitors AND

WHEREAS: The timber industry is the source for a large amount of jobs throughout the South.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The timber tax may not exceed 200/acre throughout the south. Local jurisdictions may choose lower taxation levels where appropriate.

[Wisconsin+17]

Oil and Gas Exploration Tax Reduction:

WHEREAS: Oil and Gas is one of the larger Southern industries AND

WHEREAS: Many other jurisdictions are reducing costs and taxation AND

WHEREAS: Severance taxation is a significant cost driver for the industry.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the severance tax rates be capped at 5 percent throughout the South.

[Wisconsin+17]

Southern Heritage Act

Being that we are the South AND

Being that the South has a long and proud history AND

Being that it is only through preserving history that we can come to understand it and avoid the mistakes of the past.

Article I: Be it resolved that by the Chamber of Delegates that will fly the Stars and Bars to honor our Southern Heritage on Confederate Memorial Day. Confederate and Union cemeteries and monuments will be protected by law from desecration, defilement and vandalism. Southern citizens shall be permitted to fly the Stars and Bars anywhere they wish on private property. Any regulations on it's distribution shall be rescinded, anyone may buy or sell a Confederate flag.

Article II: Civil War Memorial Day
     Section I: May 9th shall be "Civil War Memorial Day" throughout the South.

[Wisconsin+17]

We have no constitutional mandate to overturn a budget that was successfully passed in June. While I appreciate the spirit of this bill and the content in wishing to fix things that need to be fixed, we need to wait and do this in March, at the proper time.

Also, this oversteps the constitutional authority of the governor to attempt to overturn a budget passed by the Chamber. The governor has wide latitude but for obvious reasons, should not have control over supply.

I request that TM submit this as a budgetary proposal so that the Chamber has a model to work off when we do construct our budget in March, saving us all quite a bit of time. The budget is a good one, but unfortunately not something we can act on in this capacity at this time.