Southern Legislation Introduction Thread - 2018

[Mr. Reactionary]

Delegates, please post any bills in this thread. Note: please do not post bills unless you are a delegate or delegate-elect for the session for which you are posting the bill. That means no bills until the election is officially concluded. Thank you.

[Mr. Reactionary]

The following bills are being pre-filed for the next chamber session.

Animal Welfare Act

Be it enacted

1.) Violating any provision in this act shall be a Class 1 Misdemeanor.  

2.) The practice of horse soring is hereby prohibited.

3.) It shall be unlawful to house pigs in gestation crates which do not permit the animal to stand, lie down, and turn around.

4.) It shall be unlawful to house chickens in battery cages which do not permit the animal to move.

6.) Any special State or local regulations on the retail sale of iodine or chlorohexidine are hereby repealed.

7.) It shall be unlawful to euthanize a mammal or bird, in an unnecessarily prolonged or painful manner.

8.) No Regional money shall be used to fund any medically unnecessary scientific or medical research that causes significant pain or distress to a dog or cat. Significant pain or distress is defined as any procedure or condition classified under pain and distress category E by the Atlasian Department of Agriculture.

9.) The Southern Regional government shall purchase 20,000 troy ounces of silver bullion and commission the minting of 20,000 non legal tender, silver, 1 troy oz commemorative tokens, to be sold to the public at $35 per token.

10.) Each token shall include on the obverse, "Southern Region 2018" as well as a sculpting to be approved by the governor, of two geese aflight.

11.) Each token shall include on the reverse, "Southern Region 2018" as well as a sculpting to be approved by the governor, of an alligator with its mouth open.

12.) All proceeds from the sale of these tokens shall be deposited in a Wetlands Preservation Trust Fund for the purpose of restoring wetland habitats.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Black Mirror Act

Be it enacted

1.)  Violating any portion of this act shall be punishable as a Class 2 felony.

2.) The creation of a human clone or human-animal hybrid is hereby prohibited.

3.) The piloting or release of micro-drones into the low-altitude airspace above public lands or landowners who have not given express consent is hereby prohibited. For the purposes of this act, micro-drone is defined as any unmanned aircraft which weighs less than 1 pound or is smaller than a 12 OZ beverage can. Low-altitude airspace is defined as any space above the ground not occupied by a permanent fixture or structure which is not subject to FAA regulation.

4.) The use of technology or chemicals to delete another person’s memory or to exert undue control or influence over another person’s thoughts or actions is hereby prohibited.

5.) Cannibalism is hereby prohibited.

6.) The creation of artificial, sentient intelligence is hereby prohibited.

7.) The sale of aborted fetal tissue is hereby prohibited.

8.) This law shall take effect immediately.

[Mr. Reactionary]

FOIA Exemption Act

Be it enacted:

1.) The following information shall not be subject to FOIA:

a.) The name, address, any identifying information, and any contact information of any student in a public school or public college in the Southern Region.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Crime Victims Bill of Rights Act

Be it enacted:

1.) The direct victim of a crime in the Southern Region shall be entitled to the following:

a.) The right to bring a lawsuit for restitution

b.) The right to be notified about hearing, trial, and release dates of the suspected criminal

3.) The right to confer with prosecution

4.) The right to address the court prior to sentencing

5.) The right to an appropriate protective order when necessary to protect the victim

[Mr. Reactionary]

Uniform Statewide Building Code Adoption Act

Be it enacted:

1.) The 2012 Edition of the Uniform Statewide Building Code is hereby adopted by reference with the following exceptions:

a.) Anything which conflicts with the End of Session Omnibus Regulatory Reform Act

b.) Anything which conflicts with the Southern Property Usage Act

c.) Any State in the Southern Region may require stricter standards based on local conditions for the following:
     i.) Snow Loads of roofs
     ii.) Wind Resistance
     iii.) Foundation Strength
     iv.) Water-proofing

d.) Any building or structure which was constructed before 1985 must be inspected for asbestos prior to being granted a permit for renovations or demolitions. The owner or his agent must report this to the local inspections program.

e.) If a locality does not adopt a local inspections program, this law shall be enforced by the State of the locality.

f.) Anything which conflicts with common law public nuisance powers.

g) Failure to pay a required filing fee within the period for filing an appeal forfeits the appeal.

Text available here: http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/va-building-codes/building-and-fire-codes/regulations/uniform-statewide-building-code-usbc.html

[Mr. Reactionary]

Obsolete Crimes Deletion Act

Be it enacted

1.) Any State or local law in the Southern Region prohibiting the following activities is hereby repealed:

a) Fornication

b) Adultery

c) Sodomy

d) Homosexual Sodomy

e) Seduction

f) Swearing in public

g) Cohabitation

h) Miscegenation.

2.) The following tort actions are hereby repealed within the Southern Region:

a) Alienation of affection

b) Breach of a promise to marry

c) Criminal Conversation.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Prison Reform Act

Be it enacted

1.) It shall be the official policy of the Southern Region to phase out any usage of private prisons by the year 2025.

2.) There shall be created in the Southern Region a Parole Board of 15 NPCs who shall review applications from prisoners in the Southern Region for supervised early release from prison, at the conclusion of 50% of the original sentence, based on the degree and sincerity of prisoner’s rehabilitation, and the circumstances of the prisoner’s conviction and incarceration.

3.) No new prisoners in the Southern Region shall be transferred to private prisons.

3.) The total population of prisoners incarcerated in private prisons in the Southern Region shall be counted. Starting in 2018 and continuing each year until December 31, 2025, the total population of prisoners incarcerated in private prisons in the Southern Region shall be reduced by one/seventh of the 2018 population, until no prisoners remain incarcerated in private prisons.

4.) Reductions may occur through prisoner transfers to government-run prisons where the prisoner shall serve out the remainder of their sentence, or in the case of non-violent drug offenders, through approval by the Regional Parole Board for supervised early release. Transfer costs shall be paid by the Regional Justice Department or the State-level equivalent for Private State Prisons.

5.) $80 Million is hereby appropriated for the purpose of planning, constructing, or purchasing additional government prisons to relieve any overcrowding resulting from the phase-out of private prisons. Private prisons with existing contracts with the Regional or any State government, shall have the option to sell their facility to the other party at the tax assessed value.

6.) $5 Million is hereby appropriated for the purpose of providing each prison library in the Southern Region internet subscription-based access to at least once commercial law reporter which has a Supreme Court approved citation style.

7.) Solitary Confinement of prisoners in the Southern Region shall not be arbitrary or excessive. Solitary Confinement shall be limited to those prisoners who the warden declares pose a substantial likelihood of violence if not isolated. The warden shall be required to review such declaration after 6 months, considering all evidence.

8.) No prisoner shall be charged a fee for the reasonable use of tampons or toilet paper.

9.) Each prison shall annually publish a Rape Prevention Strategy, which shall contain the current policies the prison is undertaking to prevent prison rape.

10.) It shall be unlawful to carry a firearm onto the property of a prison, including firearms locked in a vehicle in an appurtenant, fenced-in parking lot, with the following exceptions:

a.) Law Enforcement Officers may leave their firearms in a locked vehicle, provided the firearm is in a separately locked container not visible from outside the vehicle.

b.) The National Guard during riots, when the Governor, in his or her judgment determines that such force is necessary under the circumstances.

11.) All prisoner X-Rays shall be digitized.

12. All current prisoners in Southern prisons shall have their immigration status verified and all future prisoners shall have their immigration status verified upon incarceration. Any prisoners found to be undocumented immigrants shall be reported to the Atlasian Department of Justice.

13. $5,000 is hereby appropriated to the town of Mount Airy, North Carolina for the purpose of repairing and maintaining their jail.

14.) The month of June 2018 is hereby declared Prison Guard appreciation month.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Real ID Compliance Act

Be it enacted:

1.) All States in the Southern Region shall issue photo ID cards which comply with the procedures and requirements required under the federal REAL ID Act by December 31st, 2019.

2.) $14 million is hereby appropriated to those States which are not yet in compliance, to assist in the transition.

3.) Each State in the Southern Region shall offer free photo ID cards to indigents or the homeless.

4.) Any State in the Southern Region may assess a fee on titling or retitling vehicles to pay for the requirements of this act.

5.) Government issued Photo ID Cards shall be vertical for persons under the age of 19 and expire on the card-owner’s 19th birthday. The renewed photo ID Card shall be horizontal.

6.) The failure to select either yes or no on the application form for a State drivers license about organ donations, shall be interpreted as selecting yes.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Very Important Act

Be it enacted

1.) The official beverage of the Southern Region is hereby declared to be orange juice.

2.) The official fiber of the Southern Region is hereby declared to be cotton.

3.) The official nut of the Southern Region is hereby declared to be the pecan.

4.) The official marijuana strain of the Southern Region is hereby declared to be Girl Scout Cookies.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Uniform Trust Code Adoption Act

1.) The 2010 Edition of the Uniform Trust Code is hereby adopted by reference with the following exception:

a.) Anything which conflicts with principles of equity.

Text available at: http://www.uniformlaws.org/shared/docs/trust_code/UTC_Final_2017sep5.pdf

[Mr. Reactionary]

Evacuating Sex Offenders Act

Be it enacted

1.) During any mandatory evacuation in a declared emergency, any registered sex offender who enters a government shelter shall only be required to notify the shelter commander rather than every person in the shelter. The sex offender shall obey the shelter commander’s decisions regarding sleeping assignments, interaction with children, monitoring, and other decisions necessary to protect the safety of all evacuees in the government shelter.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Uniform Commercial Code Adoption Act

1.) The 2012 Edition of the Uniform Commercial Code is hereby adopted by reference with the following exceptions:

a.) Anything permitting a lawsuit for failing to complete a promised gift.

b.) Anything which conflicts with the Occupational Licensing Reform Act.

c.) Anything which conflicts with principles of equity

Text available here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc

[Mr. Reactionary]

One More Year Act

Be it enacted:

1.) It shall be a class 2 Misdemeanor to sell or barter the following lawful products to persons under the age of 19:

a.) Beer, wine, or alcoholic spirits

b.) Tobacco products or Vaping equipment and solution

c.) Marijuana or products containing thc or cbd, unless the person has a valid prescription from a doctor licensed in the Southern Region.

d.) Salvia

[Mr. Reactionary]

Hunting and Fishing Act

Be it enacted:

1.) During any licensed hunt on non-posted land, each licensed hunter and each member of their party must wear at least one visible item colored either blaze orange or blaze pink. This shall not apply to tree stands or hunting blinds provided the occupants display a flag colored blaze orange or blaze pink which is visible at 70 yards. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as a limitation on the possession, transportation, or manufacture of ghille suits.

2.) Hunting with a Machine Gun or explosives is hereby prohibited, punishable as a class 4 felony.

3.) Hunting with a Bear Trap is hereby prohibited, punishable as a class 2 misdemeanor.

4.) Fishing in public waters with explosives, electricity, poison, heat, or radiation is hereby prohibited, punishable as a class 1 misdemeanor.

5.) No State or locality may prohibit lawful hunting on Sundays.

[Mr. Reactionary]

How do I propose an amendment to a bill?

One on the floor or one posted in this thread?

[Mr. Reactionary]

School is Cool Act

Be it enacted

Section 1: Instruction

1.) The minimum curriculum required for any public school system in the Southern Regions shall include the following:

- Filler
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler

2.) The total length of a school year shall be 180 days, conducted Monday through Friday. Each locality shall determine the starting date and ending date of each school year as well as dates on which school will not be held for holidays, adverse weather conditions, or other reasons which the locality determines warrant school closure. The school year must begin in either the month of August or the month of September and must conclude in either the month of May or the month of June. In the event that local weather conditions or other situations beyond the control of the locality result in a local school system being held for less than 180 days, the system may apply for a waiver from the Southern Chamber to avoid any penalties.

3.) All children under the age of 16 whose primary domicile is in the Southern Region shall be required to regularly attend classes in a public education system. Each locality shall determine the maximum number of days during the school year that a student may miss without a valid reason. Valid reasons shall include illness, religious practice, a required appearance in court, or other reasons as allowed by the locality. Failure of a student to attend the minimum number of days required shall result in a enforcement proceedings in the local Juvenile Court, or the local general district court if no such Juvenile Court has been established. The presiding judge shall have the power to determine reasonable remedies to ensure truants attend school.

4.) The parents or guardians of any child may opt their child out of the compulsory public education system provided they enroll their child in a private school program or home school program which meets the minimum requirements established for curriculum and school year length as proscribed in this act.

Section 2: Instructors

1.) Any teacher who is hired to teach in a public school system in the Southern Region shall meet the following requirements:

- Filler
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler

2.) The Southern Region shall create a loan forgiveness program for teachers. In addition to salary, any teacher in the Southern Region who teaches for 7 years at a public school where the median income level for students is less than or equal to the poverty line, shall have the liability for paying any outstanding student loans assumed by the Southern Region. A loan forgiveness trust fund is hereby created for the purposes of paying off the assumed loans. Filler Filler Filler Amount is hereby appropriated into the trust fund, to be invested in interest bearing bonds, until such time as eligible teachers qualify for the program.

Section 3: Students

1.) Discipline Filler Filler Filler Filler

2.) Any public school system may allow students in the same administrative district who are enrolled in a lawful home school program to participate in extracurricular activities conducted by the public school system, provided the home school students are subject to the same waiver of liability applicable to public school students.

3.) No public school system may prohibit a student from possessing or wearing sunscreen.

Section 4: Transportation

1.) Any School Bus purchased by any public school in the Southern Region after December 31, 2022 shall contain seat belts for each seat.

2.) Any public school system may pool together with other public school systems for the purpose of jointly purchasing school buses.

3.) Any public school system may sell advertising space on the sides of their school buses, provided the revenue generated from such sales is used for educational activities within the school system

[Mr. Reactionary]

Naval Infrastructure Spending Act

1.) There shall be a tax levied on ship and barge fuel sold in the Southern Region of $AMOUNT$ deposited directly into the Naval Infrastructure Trust Fund.

2.) There shall be a special tax annually levied on yachts harbored in the Southern Region of $AMOUNT$ deposited directly into the Naval Infrastructure Trust Fund.

3.) The proceeds of the sale of any public sand acquired during dredging shall be deposited directly into the Naval Infrastructure Trust Fund.

4.) There shall be created a Naval Infrastructure Review Board consisting of 12 NPCs appointed by the Governor, who shall study existing naval infrastructure in Southern Region and release a list of all such infrastructure sub-divided into 3 categories: "Major Concern", "Moderate Concern", and "Low Concern". "Major Concern" means the infrastructure is in immediate need of repair, "Moderate Concern" means the infrastructure needs repair in the near future, and "Low Concern" means the infrastructure is in good condition. Naval Infrastructure is hereby defined as ports, harbors, LNG Terminals, Beacons, Lighthouses

5.) $AMOUNT$ is hereby appropriated for the purpose of repairing or replacing

[Mr. Reactionary]

Construction Statute of Repose

Be it enacted:

1.) No action to recover for any injury to property, real or personal, or for bodily injury or wrongful death, arising out of the defective and unsafe condition of an improvement to real property, nor any action for contribution or indemnity for damages sustained as a result of such injury, shall be brought against any person performing or furnishing the design, planning, surveying, supervision of construction, or construction of such improvement to real property more than five years after the performance or furnishing of such services and construction.

2.) The limitation prescribed in this section shall not apply to the manufacturer or supplier of any equipment or machinery or other articles installed in a structure upon real property, nor to any person in actual possession and in control of the improvement as owner, tenant or otherwise at the time the defective or unsafe condition of such improvement constitutes the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which the action is brought; rather each such action shall be brought within the time next after such injury occurs.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Drivers License Suspension Act

Be it enacted:

1.) A criminal conviction for possession of illegal drugs unrelated to driving while intoxicated shall not be punishable by suspension of driving privileges.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Rules of Evidence Adoption Act

1.) The 2015 Federal Rules of Evidence is hereby adopted by reference with the following exceptions:

a.) Anything which conflicts with the Tort Reform Act of 2017

b.) Anything which conflicts with principles of equity

c.) Proposed Rules 501 - 513 on Privileged information shall be included.

2.)  These rules shall not apply to Administrative Law adjudications or arbitration hearings.

Full text found here: http://www.law.harvard.edu/publications/evidenceiii/rules.htm

[Mr. Reactionary]

Revenge Porn Curtailment Act

1.) For the purposes of this act, “revenge porn” shall be defined as sexually explicit photos or recordings of a person that the subject has not consented to share with the general public.

2.) Any person in the Southern Region who distributes “revenge porn” with the intent to harrass or embarrass the subject or a person known by the subject shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

3.) Any person in the Southern Region who is the subject of revenge porn, may maintain a lawsuit in a Southern Court of general jurisdiction for the purposes of enjoining the distribution of revenge porn featuring the subject.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Uniform Rule Against Perpetuities Adoption Act

1.) The 1990 Edition of the Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities is hereby adopted by reference.

Text available here: http://www.uniformlaws.org/Act.aspx?title=Statutory%20Rule%20Against%20Perpetuities



Summary: This is another model rule that eliminates legal issues related to the length of conditions imposed on land transactions. Figuring it out can be a nightmare, and this model rule will help everyone.

[Mr. Reactionary]

More Obsolete Crimes Deletion Act

Be it enacted

1.) Any State or local law in the Southern Region prohibiting the following activities is hereby repealed:

a) Using an elephant to plow cotton fields

b) Being tattooed

c) Dwarf Tossing

d) Wrestling a bear

e) Stocking a vending machine with non-latex condoms

f) Parachuting out of an airplane on Sundays

g) Carrying a firearm or weapon into a church

h) Hunting with a ferret

i) Inhaling noxious chemicals without a permit or license

j) Advertising drink discounts and specials

2.) No locality may require a special use permit to represent oneself as a fortune teller

3.) The Collaborative Regional Symbols Act is hereby repealed

4.) The West Virginia tax on soft drinks and soft drink syrup is hereby repealed.

[Mr. Reactionary]

I ask the Chamber of Delegates to consider this legislation:

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SUPREMACY CLAUSE, YOU LOSER!