NSG Senate Chamber [NSG Senate]

[Venaleria]

I move to omnibus the "Free School Meals Act" with the "Governmental Services Act" as it falls in line with public education, clearly stated there.

[Welsh Cowboy]

Anyone wish to debate the Criminal Code?

If not, I move to begin voting.

[Ainin]

Anyone wish to debate the Criminal Code?

If not, I move to begin voting.

It's not at the top of the queue yet.

We need an admin.

[Welsh Cowboy]

Anyone wish to debate the Criminal Code?

If not, I move to begin voting.

It's not at the top of the queue yet.

We need an admin.

Oops...

[Threlizdun]

Anyone wish to debate the Criminal Code?

If not, I move to begin voting.

I'm a bit confused about the wording for arson. Does the bill state that arson must be combined with murder, assault, or manslaughter if these offenses occur as a result, or is it stating that those guilty of arson will be charged with murder, manslaughter, and assault regardless of whether or not anyone is actually directly harmed by the act? Despite making no sense, it sounds as though the latter is the case.

[Kouralia]

Anyone wish to debate the Criminal Code?

If not, I move to begin voting.

I'm a bit confused about the wording for arson. Does the bill state that arson must be combined with murder, assault, or manslaughter if these offenses occur as a result, or is it stating that those guilty of arson will be charged with murder, manslaughter, and assault regardless of whether or not anyone is actually directly harmed by the act? Despite making no sense, it sounds as though the latter is the case.

I'll correct it, but it says the former.

It is a Delict, and must be combined with Vandalism, Assault, Murder, Manslaughter or Attempted thereof if that crime occurs in the process of Arsoning.

[Threlizdun]

I'll correct it, but it says the former.

It is a Delict, and must be combined with Vandalism, Assault, Murder, Manslaughter or Attempted thereof if that crime occurs in the process of Arsoning.

Thank you for the clarification. There are a few aspects of the bill I still oppose, though the revisions I would like to see would be unlikely to pass, and we desperately need a criminal code right now. I'll almost certainly vote in favor of it when it is time.

[Kouralia]

I'll correct it, but it says the former.

Thank you for the clarification. There are a few aspects of the bill I still oppose, though the revisions I would like to see would be unlikely to pass, and we desperately need a criminal code right now. I'll almost certainly vote in favor of it when it is time.

What are your revisions? When it comes up to debate we can decide if they should be added or not.

[Threlizdun]

Thank you for the clarification. There are a few aspects of the bill I still oppose, though the revisions I would like to see would be unlikely to pass, and we desperately need a criminal code right now. I'll almost certainly vote in favor of it when it is time.

What are your revisions? When it comes up to debate we can decide if they should be added or not.

With the exception of Blackmail, most of the crimes related to communication are extremely vague and can easily be abused. I do not want someone arrested for language liable to cause affray for simply calling someone something insulting. Repeated use of derogatory terms to the point of verbal abuse is acceptable grounds for criminal charges, but calling someone an asshole is not. Libel and slander also deliver great concern. There are few cases in which I honestly would feel it is appropriate to actually consider such acts worthy of criminal offense. I also have some reservations about arresting others simply for belonging to an organization.

The two revisions I would like to see that are unlikely to pass deal with stuatory rape and possession of child pornography. If an individual below the age of consent can be proven to have given consent, then I believe the charges should be dropped. When a couple that was formed when all involved were below the age of consent has one member age past the age of consent, then I feel it is absolutely ridiculous to force them to cease any activities they may have previously engaged in simply because one is older than they used to be.

As for child pornography, I am concerned about what may fall under the classification. I have seen a photographer held in interrogation rooms after taking a picture of children nude in a bathtub full of water that had turned orange from mountain runoff to illustrate the degree to which mining had polluted the water. It should be noted that not all photographs featuring nudity are pornographic, which is something many child pornography laws often fail to acknowledge.

[Maklohi Vai]

Anyone wish to debate the Criminal Code?

If not, I move to begin voting.

It's not at the top of the queue yet.

We need an admin.

Pardon?

Oh, yeah, that's good. It's ok at the top of the queue, but I would highly recommend not voting yet, as many people haven't seen the bill. (Yes, bold, underline, and italics. It's serious).

[Yanalia]

It's not at the top of the queue yet.

We need an admin.

Pardon?

Oh, yeah, that's good. It's ok at the top of the queue, but I would highly recommend not voting yet, as many people haven't seen the bill. (Yes, bold, underline, and italics. It's serious).

I move to close debate, begin voting, and ignore this motion.

[Ainin]

CURRENT QUEUE FOR LEGISLATION

1. Criminal Code of the Aurentine Commonwealth
2. Governmental Services Act
3. Ministry of Research and Astronomy Reform Act
4. National Culture Act
5. National Financing and Accounting Act
6. Legality and Restrictions Act
7. Senatorial Procedures Omnibus
8. Anti Corruption Omnibus
9. International Treaties Ratification Act
10. Economic Oversight Act
11. Civil Liberties Omnibus
12. Internet Omnibus Act
13. Voting out business management without holding shares is stupid idea and illegal
14. Standards of Daily Measurement Act
15. Condemnation of United States National Security Agency project: US-984XN
16. Environment Act
17. Transportation Amendments and Standards Omnibus
18. Armed Forces Reform Act
19. Revenue Collection Act of 2013
20. State of Emergency Act
21. National Fingerprint Registry
22. Free School Meals Act

[Venaleria]

Pardon?

Oh, yeah, that's good. It's ok at the top of the queue, but I would highly recommend not voting yet, as many people haven't seen the bill. (Yes, bold, underline, and italics. It's serious).

I move to close debate, begin voting, and ignore this motion.

Heck, seconded.

[Maklohi Vai]

I move to close debate, begin voting, and ignore this motion.

Heck, seconded.

This is all very fun

... but no, seriously. Don't motion for voting, please.

[German-Spanish Empire]

I am going to firmly say no to that meal act.

[Geilinor]

I move to close debate, begin voting, and ignore this motion.

Heck, seconded.

It's a big list, we should have more people look through it to see if all the definitions are clear enough.

[The Zeonic States]

Are Certain Senators again pushing for debate to be closed when other Senators wish to continue to speak of the issue?

Hardly Surprising given the interests that are served here.

[Yanalia]

Are Certain Senators again pushing for debate to be closed when other Senators wish to continue to speak of the issue?

Hardly Surprising given the interests that are served here.

It was a joke...

[Welsh Cowboy]

Are Certain Senators again pushing for debate to be closed when other Senators wish to continue to speak of the issue?

Hardly Surprising given the interests that are served here.

It was a joke...

And I would note that the actual debate has been lacking.

[Free South Califas]

How do I replace a bill in the queue which already has the original author's sponsorship? Do I just need a fifth sponsor?

If so, this is one sponsor away from replacing the Public Education Act, second in the queue. It's really urgent for the sake of equality in Aurentina's schools, and I hope we can get the sponsorship we need to help the author finish the bill.

Friendly Amendments to Public Education Act for Students with Disabilities and Different Needs
...

These have been added to the following draft, which I move to replace the current Public Education Act in the omnibus immediately, please fifth this if you agree with the Friendly Amendments for disabled students, as the author does:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Original co-sponsors: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

Author and current sponsor: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Current co-sponsors: Saul Califas (C), Wulukuno Maklohi Porunalakai (LD), Pesda (RG)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.

2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed, and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or 3 months of jail to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same for each 1,500 hours of school missed.

2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.

4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.

5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.

6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.

7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.

8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.

9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school described as such in this Act.

10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.

11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.

12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.

13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.

14. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.

15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).

15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.

15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc.

16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.

19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

[/quote]

[Beta Test]

How do I replace a bill in the queue which already has the original author's sponsorship? Do I just need a fifth sponsor?

If so, this is one sponsor away from replacing the Public Education Act, second in the queue. It's really urgent for the sake of equality in Aurentina's schools, and I hope we can get the sponsorship we need to help the author finish the bill.

These have been added to the following draft, which I move to replace the current Public Education Act in the omnibus immediately, please fifth this if you agree with the Friendly Amendments for disabled students, as the author does:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Original co-sponsors: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

Author and current sponsor: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Current co-sponsors: Saul Califas (C), Wulukuno Maklohi Porunalakai (LD), Pesda (RG)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.

2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed, and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or 3 months of jail to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same for each 1,500 hours of school missed.

2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.

4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.

5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.

6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.

7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.

8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.

9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school described as such in this Act.

10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.

11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.

12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.

13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.

14. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.

15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).

15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.

15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc.

16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.

19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

[/quote]

Amend it to allow the government to offer financial assistance to private schools, to help reduce the burden on parents and caregivers.

[Slazliyka]

How do I replace a bill in the queue which already has the original author's sponsorship? Do I just need a fifth sponsor?

If so, this is one sponsor away from replacing the Public Education Act, second in the queue. It's really urgent for the sake of equality in Aurentina's schools, and I hope we can get the sponsorship we need to help the author finish the bill.

Amend it to allow the government to offer financial assistance to private schools, to help reduce the burden on parents and caregivers.[/quote]
Nothing in the bill prohibits that so it's not necessary.

[Beta Test]

Amend it to allow the government to offer financial assistance to private schools, to help reduce the burden on parents and caregivers.

Nothing in the bill prohibits that so it's not necessary.[/quote]

Fair enough. In that case I would like to sponsor the bill.

[The Nihilistic view]

How do I replace a bill in the queue which already has the original author's sponsorship? Do I just need a fifth sponsor?

If so, this is one sponsor away from replacing the Public Education Act, second in the queue. It's really urgent for the sake of equality in Aurentina's schools, and I hope we can get the sponsorship we need to help the author finish the bill.

Amend it to allow the government to offer financial assistance to private schools, to help reduce the burden on parents and caregivers.

I am a firm supporter and believer in private schools but seriously, WTF. That would be so unbelievably morally wrong.

[Free South Califas]

Nothing in the bill prohibits that so it's not necessary.

Fair enough. In that case I would like to sponsor the bill.

Many thanks, Senator Updated version below:

How do I replace a bill in the queue which already has the original author's sponsorship? Do I just need a fifth sponsor?

These have been added to the following draft, which I move to replace the current Public Education Act in the omnibus immediately, you may wish to sixth this if you agree with the Friendly Amendments for disabled students, as the author does:

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Original co-sponsors: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

Author and current sponsor: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Current co-sponsors: Saul Califas (C), Wulukuno Maklohi Porunalakai (LD), Pesda (RG), Rupert Weinthal (LD)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.

2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed, and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or 3 months of jail to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same for each 1,500 hours of school missed.

2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.

4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.

5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.

6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.

7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.

8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.

9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school described as such in this Act.

10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.

11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.

12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.

13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.

14. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.

15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).

15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.

15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc.

16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.

19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.