NSG Senate Coffee Shop: We don't serve decaf

[Argentarino]

I too shall sponsor.

[Calimera II]

-snip-

Anyone willing to sponsor it?

I'll sponsor, why not?

I too shall sponsor.

Great, thank you. Up to date.

[Arkolon]

Nordic style collective union bargaining would be superior to a flat minimum wage, as the poor would get a better deal and there would be little to no politicisation of the issue.

This.

[Glasgia]

The Minimum Wage Act

---

Author(s): Bojikami (Ernesto Valentin | CP), The New Sea Territory Alvaro Guerra (WA)
Sponsors: United Marxist Nations Nicolao Epifanio Núñez (CP), United Provinces of Atlantica Jean-Luc Martin (WA), Merizoc Ah Puch Tecu (WA) Potenco Zelda Potenco (CP)

---

Article 1 -. The purpose of the Act
The purpose of the act is to establish a minimum wage for the workers of Calaverde to ensure fair payment.

Article 2 -. Minimum Wages
Upon the passage of this act, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages for all hours worked at a rate of not less than 3 dollars an hour.
For each hour worked of overtime, the employer owes his or her employees $0.50.

Article 3 -. The Department of Labour ((OOC Note: This section only goes into effect if there is no such agency currently existing.))
Hereby creates a department of labour to enforce the provisions set forth by this act and all future acts related to labour and the workplace. These provisions include the following:

The department shall enforce this shall make and, from time to time, revise regulations, with the assistance of the board, when requested by the secretary, which shall be deemed appropriate to carry out the purposes of this act and to safeguard the minimum wage rates thereby established. Such regulations may include, but are not limited to, regulations defining and governing executive, administrative, or professional employees and outside sales persons, learners and apprentices, their number, proportion, length of learning period, and other working conditions; handicapped workers; part-time pay; overtime standards; bonuses; allowances for board, lodging, apparel, or other facilities or services customarily furnished by employers to employees; allowances for gratuities; or allowances for such other special conditions or circumstances which may be incidental to a particular employer-employee relationship.

This department is also granted the power to investigate the wages of persons employed in any occupation in the Republic; enter and inspect the place of business or employment of any employer or employees in any occupation in Calaverde at any reasonable time, for the purpose of examining and inspecting any records of any such employer that in any way relate to wages, hours, or other conditions of employment of any such employees.

Article 4 -. Exemptions

Exemptions to this act include:

Labour on a farm (Note, this only applies if this is irregular labour on a family farm.); Domestic services; Delivery of newspapers to the consumer; In connection with the publication of any weekly, semiweekly, or daily newspaper with a circulation of less than four thousand, the major part of which circulation is within the county where published, the activities of an educational, charitable, religious or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not in fact exist or where the services are rendered to such organization gratuitously; seasonal employment, if the employee is under eighteen years of age, or if a student under twenty-four years of age, by a nonprofit health or welfare agency engaged in activities dealing with handicapped or exceptional children or by a nonprofit day or resident seasonal recreational camp for campers under the age of eighteen years, which operates for a period of less than three months in any one year, in employment by an establishment which is a public amusement or recreational establishment, organized camp, or religious or nonprofit educational conference center.

Article 5 -. Enactment Clause
This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.

After the short discussion in the LFC, I will mark myself down as a sponsor if the minimum wage to be implemented is altered to no less than four dollars and thirty cents.

Nordic style collective union bargaining would be superior to a flat minimum wage, as the poor would get a better deal and there would be little to no politicisation of the issue.

This.

I'm sponsoring Senator Valentin's act in order to establish a minimum wage as soon as possible. However, I believe collective union bargaining is a preferable system that should be implemented to the benefit of the worker when it is possible to do so, as an amendment to the act or as a repeal and a new act.

[Skeckoa]

Act regulating the Declaration of Environmental Emergency

---

Author: Calimera II (Nicolás Leguizamón | IND.)
Sponsors: The Sarian (Matilde Ojeda-Campos | FDP), Bojikami (Ernesto Valentin | Partido Comunista), The New Sea Territory (Álvaro Guerra | WA),
Zurkerx (Ignacio Dari Vásquez | FCP), Argentarino (Cristobal Araullo | LibDem)

---

Article 1 -. The purpose of the Act
This Act is to regulate the procedure for declaring Environmental Emergency in a specific geographic area in case of occurrence of any sudden and/or significant environmental damage caused by natural causes, or humans impairing the environment, causing a public health problem as a result of air, water or soil pollution; that warrants immediate action at the local or regional level.

Article 2 -. Declaration of Environmental Emergency
2.1 The Senate is the competent authority declaring an environmental emergency.
2.2 - The resolution declaring the emergency contains an Immediate Action Plan of short Term set by the regulations of this Act, which points out the territorial area, the safety and health measurements to adopt, in order to prevent damage to the health of all citizens of Calaverde and the environment.

Article 3 -. Criteria for Environmental Emergency Declaration
The indicators necessary for the purposes of environmental emergency declaration, considering the following criteria:
a) The level of pollutant concentrations should be above the Environmental Quality Standards set by the World Health Organisation.
b) High risk for vulnerable populations.
c) Occurrence of accidents that generate emission discharges of hazardous substances.
d) Long-term impacts on human health.
e) Protecting vulnerability and uniqueness of natural areas.

Article 4-. Responsibilities of the Senate and the guideline
The Senate is responsible for designing and implementing policies and strategies needed to address the environmental emergency. The Senate should set up an Immediate Action Plan, which should be in line with the following points:
a) Coordinate medical care for affected villagers couple environmental pollution in the area.
b) Coordinate actions of protection and / or isolation of the affected area by the environmental emergency, to prevent the dispersion of pollutants to other areas and reduce exposure.
c) Coordinate actions to reduce and / or eliminate emissions and discharges of pollutants related to environmental emergency.
d) Campaigns aimed at raising awareness and environmental education at all educational levels in declared emergency areas.
e) Install supervision for measurement purposes: socially, economically and environmentally.

Article 5-. ‘Extension or lifting’
The Senate may determine the extension or adjournment of the aforementioned emergency situation, based on the reports of the installed supervision, mentioned to in Article 4, point d.

Anyone willing to sponsor it?

Can it not be the senate who declares emergency. But instead one smaller group of elected officials that does the declaring? If it is really an emergency emergency, the senate can have a reputation for moving too slow.

[Calimera II]

Act regulating the Declaration of Environmental Emergency

---

Author: Calimera II (Nicolás Leguizamón | IND.)
Sponsors: The Sarian (Matilde Ojeda-Campos | FDP), Bojikami (Ernesto Valentin | Partido Comunista), The New Sea Territory (Álvaro Guerra | WA),
Zurkerx (Ignacio Dari Vásquez | FCP), Argentarino (Cristobal Araullo | LibDem)

---

Article 1 -. The purpose of the Act
This Act is to regulate the procedure for declaring Environmental Emergency in a specific geographic area in case of occurrence of any sudden and/or significant environmental damage caused by natural causes, or humans impairing the environment, causing a public health problem as a result of air, water or soil pollution; that warrants immediate action at the local or regional level.

Article 2 -. Declaration of Environmental Emergency
2.1 The Senate is the competent authority declaring an environmental emergency.
2.2 - The resolution declaring the emergency contains an Immediate Action Plan of short Term set by the regulations of this Act, which points out the territorial area, the safety and health measurements to adopt, in order to prevent damage to the health of all citizens of Calaverde and the environment.

Article 3 -. Criteria for Environmental Emergency Declaration
The indicators necessary for the purposes of environmental emergency declaration, considering the following criteria:
a) The level of pollutant concentrations should be above the Environmental Quality Standards set by the World Health Organisation.
b) High risk for vulnerable populations.
c) Occurrence of accidents that generate emission discharges of hazardous substances.
d) Long-term impacts on human health.
e) Protecting vulnerability and uniqueness of natural areas.

Article 4-. Responsibilities of the Senate and the guideline
The Senate is responsible for designing and implementing policies and strategies needed to address the environmental emergency. The Senate should set up an Immediate Action Plan, which should be in line with the following points:
a) Coordinate medical care for affected villagers couple environmental pollution in the area.
b) Coordinate actions of protection and / or isolation of the affected area by the environmental emergency, to prevent the dispersion of pollutants to other areas and reduce exposure.
c) Coordinate actions to reduce and / or eliminate emissions and discharges of pollutants related to environmental emergency.
d) Campaigns aimed at raising awareness and environmental education at all educational levels in declared emergency areas.
e) Install supervision for measurement purposes: socially, economically and environmentally.

Article 5-. ‘Extension or lifting’
The Senate may determine the extension or adjournment of the aforementioned emergency situation, based on the reports of the installed supervision, mentioned to in Article 4, point d.

Anyone willing to sponsor it?

Can it not be the senate who declares emergency. But instead one smaller group of elected officials that does the declaring? If it is really an emergency emergency, the senate can have a reputation for moving too slow.

The bill has been added to the queue already. By the way, I don't agree, I have used the Peruvian system of declaring an environmental emergency, which is known to be good.

[Lykens]

Can it not be the senate who declares emergency. But instead one smaller group of elected officials that does the declaring? If it is really an emergency emergency, the senate can have a reputation for moving too slow.

The bill has been added to the queue already. By the way, I don't agree, I have used the Peruvian system of declaring an environmental emergency, which is known to be good.

We aren't Peru, my friend. And comparing the Senate to an efficient government body might not be.. realistic .

And you can write an amendment, and push to vote for it with the actual bill, it just takes five seconds. Maybe the equivalent of an Environment Minister would be better suited to declare an emergency. Seeing as it would just be him, rather than the hundred some senators taking two days to vote on it. Especially if, like Skeckoa said, it's a really bad emergency.

[Dejanic]

I feel like giving one person, or even a few people so much power in this regard could open up the possibility of political misuse, I prefer the previous suggestion where the Senate as a whole votes on it.

At the very least we could go for a compromise here? Perhaps a cabinet or government majority is needed?

[Lykens]

I feel like giving one person, or even a few people so much power in this regard could open up the possibility of political misuse, I prefer the previous suggestion where the Senate as a whole votes on it.

At the very least we could go for a compromise here? Perhaps a cabinet or government majority is needed?

I'm just not sure how declaring an environmental emergency in a region can be misused for political gain.

Can you give me an example?

[Calimera II]

I feel like giving one person, or even a few people so much power in this regard could open up the possibility of political misuse, I prefer the previous suggestion where the Senate as a whole votes on it.

At the very least we could go for a compromise here? Perhaps a cabinet or government majority is needed?

That was worry as well: that's why I opted for the Senatorial model. No political misuse is possible.

[Malgrave]

I don't think the national legislature is efficient enough to be tasked with declaring an environmental emergency considering it could take several days for a vote to fully process. I'd prefer it if these responsibilities got handed to the President or the Cabinet.

[Lykens]

I don't think the national legislature is efficient enough to be tasked with declaring an environmental emergency considering it could take several days for a vote to fully process. I'd prefer it if these responsibilities got handed to the President or the Cabinet.

I'd be fine with allowing the cabinet to do this, but still have no clue how it can be politically misused.

[Dejanic]

I don't think the national legislature is efficient enough to be tasked with declaring an environmental emergency considering it could take several days for a vote to fully process. I'd prefer it if these responsibilities got handed to the President or the Cabinet.

I'd be fine with allowing the cabinet to do this, but still have no clue how it can be politically misused.

One example would be through political inaction, let's say we have a generally pro corporate pro oil/fossil fuels government, and then an oil spill happened. If all power was vested in the minister of environment, as opposed to the senate, said minister could try and play down the issue and refuse to consider it a national emergency.

And let's be honest, what kind of minister wants to admit that they may or may of not indirectly caused an environmental disaster? Governments will defend themselves, always, and giving all power to one or a few people in this regard will help governments, but it won't secure safety or justice.

I'm not saying we have to keep all power within the Senate on this issue, as I agree that may be a bit too slow. I just feel like we need to come up with a reasonable compromise.

[Skeckoa]

I feel like giving one person, or even a few people so much power in this regard could open up the possibility of political misuse, I prefer the previous suggestion where the Senate as a whole votes on it.At the very least we could go for a compromise here? Perhaps a cabinet or government majority is needed?

That was worry as well: that's why I opted for the Senatorial model. No political misuse is possible.

Political missuse is possible with the senate at large as well. But either way, what does that say about us that we have to leave people in the middle of an emergancy because we don't trust ourselves. What if there is a clause that allows the senate to strike down a "Environment minister's" call of emergency (since you want that power in the inefficient senate). But really, fast-response aid should be that, fast!

[Skeckoa]

I'd be fine with allowing the cabinet to do this, but still have no clue how it can be politically misused.

One example would be through political inaction, let's say we have a generally pro corporate pro oil/fossil fuels government, and then an oil spill happened. If all power was vested in the minister of environment, as opposed to the senate, said minister could try and play down the issue and refuse to consider it a national emergency.

And let's be honest, what kind of minister wants to admit that they may or may of not indirectly caused an environmental disaster? Governments will defend themselves, always, and giving all power to one or a few people in this regard will help governments, but it won't secure safety or justice.

I'm not saying we have to keep all power within the Senate on this issue, as I agree that may be a bit too slow. I just feel like we need to come up with a reasonable compromise.

That minister would have been awarded the job from the current government, implying that they are the majority. A majority senate vote won't do the trick either in that case. What about if we allow both? Give the senate ability to call one if the EM (environment minister) chooses not to?

[Lykens]

I'd be fine with allowing the cabinet to do this, but still have no clue how it can be politically misused.

One example would be through political inaction, let's say we have a generally pro corporate pro oil/fossil fuels government, and then an oil spill happened. If all power was vested in the minister of environment, as opposed to the senate, said minister could try and play down the issue and refuse to consider it a national emergency.

And let's be honest, what kind of minister wants to admit that they may or may of not indirectly caused an environmental disaster? Governments will defend themselves, always, and giving all power to one or a few people in this regard will help governments, but it won't secure safety or justice.

I'm not saying we have to keep all power within the Senate on this issue, as I agree that may be a bit too slow. I just feel like we need to come up with a reasonable compromise.

If there is a pro-corporate/pro-oil/pro-fossil fuel government, which was able to install an environmental minister who supports them, there is a pretty heavy chance thay have a majority in the Senate, so either way, nothing would get done.

That's why we, as senators not in the government, of opposition parties, should speak out against them.

Still on the fence.

[United Marxist Nations]

With the economic data compiled, I too would be supportive of altering the bill to have a higher wage.

[The New World Oceania]

Legislation updated with:

• Sponsors
• Name to Calaverdean Republic
• Some diction and syntax changes

Any final suggestions, revisions, or sponsors before submission to the Chamber?

---

Calaverdean Establishment Act

Sponsor: Aldbelwamasy Njil (SNP)
Signatories: Miguel Velasquez (FCP) | Emanuel Goldman (FCP) | Gloria Salinas deGroot (FCP) | Matilde Ojeda-Campos (FDP) | Memell (NFP)
WHEREAS we, the people of this nation, have sought freedom for centuries, and
WHEREAS we seek now to preserve it eternally, we
HEREBY ESTABLISH,

---

Article I - The State

Section I - Calaverde

a. The name of the state shall be the Calaverdean Republic.
b. Calaverde shall be bordered to the west by the Costa Rica, which shall be divided from Calaverde by the Pacuare River. The northeasternmost tip of Calaverde is defined where it meets Nicaragua. Calaverde shall extend to the east into the Caribbean Ocean as far as exists the island of Adrius and as far south as the northernmost coastline of Panama. The northernmost point of Calaverde shall be the tip of the furthest north island in the Verdant Sea. Calaverde shall legally possess the archipelago within this range and all formerly international waters therein.
c. The Calaverdean Republic may be viably abbreviated into a shortened title of Calaverde, the CR, or the Republic, all for official matters and regards.
d. Calaverde shall be governed by an Executive, a Legislature, and a Judiciary, and they shall balance each other in both their horizontal and vertical separation.
e. Calaverde is a nation independent of any external rule and shall be preserved as such to no foreseeable end.

Article II - The Executive

Section I - Prime Minister

a. The executive power shall be vested in the Prime Minister of Calaverde. The Office of the Prime Minister, the Parliament, and the Executive shall be led by the Prime Minister for a term of two months, to which they shall be elected as follows:
b.

1. There shall exist one round of voting, wherein all senators may vote for candidates in numerical order of preference, the first their top preference, the second their second preference, and so on, whom registered between two weeks prior to voting and one day prior to voting. Voters need not rank every candidate. Voting shall last for 96 hours.
2. At the close of the vote, the votes shall be counted by at least two individuals. The primary vote of each voter shall be considered first. The candidate with the fewest primary votes shall have the primary votes for them transferred to their voters' secondary votes. The candidate, then, with the fewest votes, shall have their primary and secondary votes transferred to their voters' tertiary votes. This shall be in order until one candidate holds 50% of the active votes plus one. Voters who decline to include another vote should their selected candidate fail are considered to abstain, as are voters who decline to vote. Abstentions shall not be counted in the final tally. The candidate winning the greatest number of votes shall be declared the winner of the election. The President shall break any ties.

c. In a vacancy of the Prime Minister, the President shall perform their duties until the Advisory Council appoints another eligible individual to serve the remainder of the term.
d. The Prime Minister must be a citizen of the Calaverdean Republic and only the Calaverdean Republic in order to hold their office. Their inauguration shall consist of their placing of the right hand on the head of the President, their drawing of blood into a chalice of wine, and their recitation of the oath, thereof: "I, <name>, do most sincerely promise, without the least equivocation, unyielding oath to the good of the people of their Republic and to eternally ensure Calaverde is truly those people's republic, binding myself under no less penalty than to have my throat cut from ear to ear, so help me truth."
e. Every other Prime Minister shall, upon the advice of the President, appoint the Advisory Council, which must be approved in its entirety by the Parliament.
f. The Prime Minister shall, from the nominations of the President, appoint their Cabinet, which must be approved on an individual basis by the Advisory Council.
g. All legislation passed by the Parliament must be approved by the Prime Minister in order to become law. If the Prime Minister declines to sign approval to the legislation within two weeks days, then the legislation automatically becomes law. If the Prime Minister vetoes the bill, it is sent to the Advisory Council for revision, then back to the Parliament which, if they vote in favor of it, sends it back to the Office of the Prime Minister, who then approves or vetoes it. The first time the Prime Minister vetoes, the President has no say. The second time the Prime Minister vetoes, the President may reverse the veto with the assent of two-thirds of the Advisory Council. If the Prime Minister approves of the legislation initially, the President may veto.
h. The Prime Minister shall summon and dissolve the legislature upon advice of the President.

Section II - President

a. The power of the Head of State shall be vested in the President of Calaverde. The Office of the President, the Advisory Council, and the Executive shall be led by the President for terms of six months, to which they shall be elected by the momentary Advisory Council on the leave of the President preceding.
b. The President shall split any votes tied within the Advisory Council.
c. The President shall, for each Prime Minister, nominate three individuals for each position of the Cabinet for the Prime Minister to appoint from.
d. The President shall, upon the advice of the Foreign Minister and approval of the Advisory Council, appoint all ambassadors, delegates, and representatives to foreign nations or international organizations.
e. The President forfeits the right to vote in the Senate.

Section III - Resignation

a. The Prime Minister, should they desire to resign, shall be required to provide written resignation to the President.
b. The legislature may invoke impeachment against the Prime Minister for maladministration, or conduct criminal or unbecoming of their position by petition of one quarter of the Senate.
c. The Parliament shall then, by a two-thirds majority, and with permission from the Advisory Council, vote on the petition against the Prime Minister after proceedings carried out before the Parliament, the Advisory Council prosecuting, the Cabinet defending, and the President presiding. The proceedings shall be carried out in accordance with relevant legislation.
d. The sentence, should the Prime Minister be found guilty by the Senate, shall be the slitting of their throat as specified in their oath, unless the President pardons the Prime Minister from execution. The Prime Minister may not, however, be pardoned from impeachment itself.
e. The President, should they desire to resign, shall be required to provide written resignation to the Advisory Council, forfeiting future leadership positions but becoming a life member of the Advisory Council.
f. The Advisory Council may, if they feel the President can no longer fulfill the demands of office, remove them by a vote of at least 90% of the Council and the approval of either the Prime Minister of a simple majority of the Cabinet, whichever is granted first.

Section IV - Cabinet

a. The Cabinet shall be appointed by the Prime Minister from the nominees of the President, and it shall be composed of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister, other members as required by law, and members at the discretion of the President. The Cabinet shall advise the Prime Minister.
b. Ministers may enact executive actions under their Ministry. These actions must be approved by the Prime Minister and may be vetoed by the President.
The Prime Minister, should they desire to resign, shall be required to provide written resignation to the President.
c. The legislature may invoke impeachment against any Minister for maladministration, or conduct criminal or unbecoming of their position by petition of one quarter of the Senate.
d. The Advisory Council shall hear a closed-doors case against the Minister, Speaker prosecuting, and Deputy Prime Minister defending.
e. The President, Prime Minister, or Cabinet members need not divulge information to any court unless compelled by the Advisory Council.

Article III - The Senate

Section I - Structure

a. The Senate shall be the legislature of the Calaverdean Republic, which makes and amends laws within the Republic, structured herein:
b. The lower house shall be the Parliament, composed of one Senator or Member of Parliament from each constituency. All legislation shall originate from the Parliament.
c. The upper house shall be the Advisory Council, appointed by the Prime Minister and approved the by the Parliament.
d. The administrative management of the Parliament shall be the Speaker, appointed by the largest political party and approved by the Cabinet, and they shall maintain order in the Parliament and queue legislation.
e. The administrative management of the Advisory Council shall be the President.

Section II - Legislation

a. Any Senator may table any legible legislation with at least five signatories supporting its debate.
b. Legislation shall be debated at the Speaker's discretion or as determined by law, then voted upon with votes easily determinable as in favor, against, or abstaining from the legislation. Legislation passes with 50% plus one vote in favor.
c. Legislation may be withdrawn by half of the signatories, including the sponsor, any time before voting begins.
d. All legislation passed by the Parliament must be approved by the Prime Minister in order to become law. If the Prime Minister declines to sign approval to the legislation within two weeks days, then the legislation automatically becomes law. If the Prime Minister vetoes the bill, it is sent to the Advisory Council for revision, then back to the Parliament which, if they vote in favor of it, sends it back to the Office of the Prime Minister, who then approves or vetoes it. The first time the Prime Minister vetoes, the President has no say. The second time the Prime Minister vetoes, the President may reverse the veto with the assent of two-thirds of the Advisory Council. If the Prime Minister approves of the legislation initially, the President may veto.

Section III - Procedure

a. Any Senator may raise an objection to question the legitimacy of legislation or proceedings. The Speaker shall rule the objection sustained or dilatory, which may be appealed by any Senator with the Advisory Council — however, the appeal shall not put a hold on proceedings and any contra-actions will be repealed if the appeal is upheld.
b. Any Senator may move, with eight seconds, a main motion or a restorative motion. With five seconds, one may move for a subsidiary, incidental, or privileged motion, but these are all subject to overruling by the presiding officer of the Parliament, subject to objection.
c. No Senator shall be arrested on the floor except with permission from the Speaker, President, or Advisory Council.
d. Senators shall be expected to maintain composure and respect within the chambers of Parliament, eventually as specified by legislation on the matter.

Section IV - Advisory Council

a. The Advisory Council shall be the upper house, but shall not introduce or vote on legislation. Their composition should be of approximately six, but is at the discretion of the Prime Minister and President.
b. The Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Prime Minister, every other term, on suggestion of the President. The Advisory Council's selection shall be sent to the Parliament, which may approve or reject the proposal. If rejected, the Prime Minister and President will redraft and resend the proposal. This shall have no safeguards and must continue until both the PM and the Parliament are satisfied.
c. The President shall preside over the Advisory Council. They may vote in the Council only to break ties.
d. All diplomatic agreements and treaties shall be negotiated and agreed upon on the behalf of the Advisory Council, however subject to approval by the Prime Minister prior to becoming law.
e. The President and the Prime Minister shall cooperatively serve as commanders-in-chief of the armed forces. The Advisory Council shall assist them and have the capacity to declare war and peace.
f. The Advisory Council shall have the right to grant pardon to any individual convicted of any crime with sole exception of impeachment proceedings.
g. The Advisory Council shall have the right to introduce budgetary legislation.
h. Legislative and procedural appeals shall be heard by the Advisory Council.
i. The Advisory Council must approve any executive actions by Cabinet members.
j. The Advisory Council shall declare states of emergencies as advised by the President and Prime Minister.
k. Individuals may be removed from the Advisory Council on suggestion of the Prime Minister by a two-thirds vote from the Cabinet and the consent of the President.
l. Most importantly, the Advisory Council — and only the Advisory Council — shall wield the exclusive privilege of appointing the President of the Calaverdean Republic.

[The Grand Republic of Atlantia]

ACT TO PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE WITHOUT CRIPPLING FAMILY-SUPPORTING INDUSTRY
Author: Senator Jason Aurelius, IND.
PURPOSE: To reclaim abandoned mine lands
The Senate of Calverde hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1: Short Title
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the AML Reclamation Act.
Section 2: Definitions
Abandoned Mine Lands (AML)- Defined as lands, waters, and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation, or processing of ores and minerals has occurred. These lands also include areas where mining or processing activity is temporarily inactive.
Fossil Fuel Extraction Sector- The economic industry consisting of coal mining and oil and natural gas drilling.
Green Energy Sector- The economic industry describing any source of energy that does not expel a carbon molecule into the atmosphere as a byproduct of the energy production process.
Section 3: AML Homestead
All abandoned mine lands that have not been reclaimed or purchased by a commercial entity are hereby homesteaded.
Section 4: Homestead Requirements
Homestead divisions will be determined by an application process that will accept applicants six months from the date of passage and determine possessions in under three months from the final application deadline. To be eligible for a homesteaded abandoned mine land territory:
1) The applicant must be a registered commercial entity corporation.
2) The corporation must be within the Green Energy Sector.
3) The corporation must prove profitability. This requires a full financial statement and demonstration of previous or predicted profitability. Previous profitability will be weighted higher in this category.
4) The corporation must possess sufficient resources to reclaim the requested abandoned mine land territory.
Section 5: Post-Homestead Division Requirements
The Department of Environmental Protection will confirm the fulfillment of these additional requirements every six months for each entity that received a division of the homesteaded land. The post-homestead division requirements are:
1) Demonstrated profitability on site. If a corporation is not profitable during a period of one year, or two inspections by the PA DEP, the homesteaded territory will be revoked and reassigned.
2) Demonstrated progress in mine land reclamation. The corporation receiving the homesteaded territory must invest in restoring the abandoned mine lands. Demonstrated progress is at the discretion of the PA DEP, but must be a universally maintained standard for all entities receiving homesteaded land.
Section 6: Funding
All funding for this act will come from the Department of Environmental Protection. The primary cost for this act is incurred during the application process.
Section 7: Effective Date
This Bill will come into effect one (1) year after passage

Looking for sponsors and signatories.

[The New World Oceania]

snip

Try this formatting instead:

---

Prevention of Environmental Damage Act

Author: Senator Jason Aurelius, IND.
Sponsors:
An act to reclaim abandoned mine lands. The Senate of Calverde hereby enacts as follows:

---

Section 1: Short Title

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the AML Reclamation Act.

Section 2: Definitions

Abandoned Mine Lands (AML)- Defined as lands, waters, and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation, or processing of ores and minerals has occurred. These lands also include areas where mining or processing activity is temporarily inactive.
Fossil Fuel Extraction Sector- The economic industry consisting of coal mining and oil and natural gas drilling.
Green Energy Sector- The economic industry describing any source of energy that does not expel a carbon molecule into the atmosphere as a byproduct of the energy production process.

Section 3: AML Homestead

All abandoned mine lands that have not been reclaimed or purchased by a commercial entity are hereby homesteaded.

Section 4: Homestead Requirements

Homestead divisions will be determined by an application process that will accept applicants six months from the date of passage and determine possessions in under three months from the final application deadline. To be eligible for a homesteaded abandoned mine land territory:

1) The applicant must be a registered commercial entity corporation.
2) The corporation must be within the Green Energy Sector.
3) The corporation must prove profitability. This requires a full financial statement and demonstration of previous or predicted profitability. Previous profitability will be weighted higher in this category.
4) The corporation must possess sufficient resources to reclaim the requested abandoned mine land territory.

Section 5: Post-Homestead Division Requirements

The Department of Environmental Protection will confirm the fulfillment of these additional requirements every six months for each entity that received a division of the homesteaded land. The post-homestead division requirements are:

1) Demonstrated profitability on site. If a corporation is not profitable during a period of one year, or two inspections by the PA DEP, the homesteaded territory will be revoked and reassigned.
2) Demonstrated progress in mine land reclamation. The corporation receiving the homesteaded territory must invest in restoring the abandoned mine lands. Demonstrated progress is at the discretion of the PA DEP, but must be a universally maintained standard for all entities receiving homesteaded land.

Section 6: Funding

All funding for this act will come from the Department of Environmental Protection. The primary cost for this act is incurred during the application process.

Section 7: Effective Date

This Bill will come into effect one (1) year after passage.

[Bojikami]

With the economic data compiled, I too would be supportive of altering the bill to have a higher wage.

The Minimum Wage Act

---

Author(s): Bojikami (Ernesto Valentin | CP), The New Sea Territory Alvaro Guerra (WA)
Sponsors: United Marxist Nations Nicolao Epifanio Núñez (CP), United Provinces of Atlantica Jean-Luc Martin (WA), Merizoc Ah Puch Tecu (WA) Potenco Zelda Potenco (CP)

---

Article 1 -. The purpose of the Act
The purpose of the act is to establish a minimum wage for the workers of Calaverde to ensure fair payment.

Article 2 -. Minimum Wages
Upon the passage of this act, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages for all hours worked at a rate of not less than 3 dollars an hour.
For each hour worked of overtime, the employer owes his or her employees $0.50.

Article 3 -. The Department of Labour ((OOC Note: This section only goes into effect if there is no such agency currently existing.))
Hereby creates a department of labour to enforce the provisions set forth by this act and all future acts related to labour and the workplace. These provisions include the following:

The department shall enforce this shall make and, from time to time, revise regulations, with the assistance of the board, when requested by the secretary, which shall be deemed appropriate to carry out the purposes of this act and to safeguard the minimum wage rates thereby established. Such regulations may include, but are not limited to, regulations defining and governing executive, administrative, or professional employees and outside sales persons, learners and apprentices, their number, proportion, length of learning period, and other working conditions; handicapped workers; part-time pay; overtime standards; bonuses; allowances for board, lodging, apparel, or other facilities or services customarily furnished by employers to employees; allowances for gratuities; or allowances for such other special conditions or circumstances which may be incidental to a particular employer-employee relationship.

This department is also granted the power to investigate the wages of persons employed in any occupation in the Republic; enter and inspect the place of business or employment of any employer or employees in any occupation in Calaverde at any reasonable time, for the purpose of examining and inspecting any records of any such employer that in any way relate to wages, hours, or other conditions of employment of any such employees.

Article 4 -. Exemptions

Exemptions to this act include:

Labour on a farm (Note, this only applies if this is irregular labour on a family farm.); Domestic services; Delivery of newspapers to the consumer; In connection with the publication of any weekly, semiweekly, or daily newspaper with a circulation of less than four thousand, the major part of which circulation is within the county where published, the activities of an educational, charitable, religious or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not in fact exist or where the services are rendered to such organization gratuitously; seasonal employment, if the employee is under eighteen years of age, or if a student under twenty-four years of age, by a nonprofit health or welfare agency engaged in activities dealing with handicapped or exceptional children or by a nonprofit day or resident seasonal recreational camp for campers under the age of eighteen years, which operates for a period of less than three months in any one year, in employment by an establishment which is a public amusement or recreational establishment, organized camp, or religious or nonprofit educational conference center.

Article 5 -. Enactment Clause
This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.

After the short discussion in the LFC, I will mark myself down as a sponsor if the minimum wage to be implemented is altered to no less than four dollars and thirty cents.

This.

I'm sponsoring Senator Valentin's act in order to establish a minimum wage as soon as possible. However, I believe collective union bargaining is a preferable system that should be implemented to the benefit of the worker when it is possible to do so, as an amendment to the act or as a repeal and a new act.

Note taken. Will update the new minimum wage.

[The Grand Republic of Atlantia]

snip

Try this formatting instead:

Thank you!!!!!

Still looking for sponsors. I think its a strong, multilateral bill.

[Atlanticatia]

---

Official Information Act

Author: Sen. Sebastián Luc Morales (Atlanticatia | DemLeft)
Sponsors: Ernesto Valentin (Bojikami | CP), Encarnacion Diaz (Lykens | LDP), Salvador O'Hara (Beta Test | LDP), Aldbelwamasy Njil (The New World Oceania | SNP), Eugenia Malgrave (Malgrave | DemLeft)
An act to improve transparency and accountability within the government, by providing a framework for release of official information to citizens and organisations, when requested.

---

Definitions

• Public institutions - any public entity or civil servant listed under § 1.c.
• You, your - synonymous with 'citizen'
• Citizen - Any individual person who is considered a legal citizen of Calaverde.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are as follows,

• To make government more transparent.
• To ensure corruption is not fostered in the government.
• To enable effective civic participation by citizens.
• To promote the accountability of Senators, Ministers, the Public Service, and Government to citizens.

§ 1 - Process and Framework

a) Citizens of Calaverde are entitled to make a written request for release of official information from noted public institutions and civil servants. Citizens are also entitled to make a request on behalf of a business, non-governmental organisation, or any other private entity registered in Calaverde.
b) Official information includes any specified information that the government holds within defined limits, internal rules and regulations used by the relevant public institution, information or further explanations on a decision about you, and meeting agendas of meetings undertaken by the relevant public institutions.
c) Citizens may request information from the following public institutions, entities, and civil servants: Government ministries, Ministers of the Government, state-owned enterprises, public educational and medical institutions (such as schools, hospitals, and universities) local authorities and sub-national governmental institutions, and government departments.
d) Citizens must make an official request in writing to the relevant institution or civil servant, that includes: i.) a specific description of the information or explanation being requested; ii.) a declaration of your name, contact information, the private entity you are contacting on the behalf of if relevant, and your country of citizenship. iii.) how you want the official information released - i.e. as a copy of a document, an answer to a question, or a video file.
e) The Official Information Act request must be completed, or denied with a relevant reason, within twenty working days. Public institutions have a right to take an additional extension of not more than ten working days to complete an Official Information Act request, provided they inform the requesting citizen of this extension within twenty working days. Public institutions may contact the Office of the Transparency Ombudsman if a further extension is required, and the extension must be approved by the Ombudsman.
f) The relevant public institution is entitled to charge a fee for the release of the official information if additional hours of compensated labour are required, or if there are significant administrative costs. These costs must be clearly and individually listed, and may not be more than $100. A fee may only be charged if the relevant public institution had to spend money on releasing the request, in addition to what would normally be spent on other day-to-day operations.

§ 2 - Limits on the release of information

a) Public institutions are not required to release information that is covered by the following:

i.) the information may harm the national security of Calaverde
ii.) negative effects to the public order
iii.) the release of the information may expose trade, commercial, or security secrets
iv.) personal privacy may be compromised
v.) the information is protected by professional/legal privilege (i.e. doctor-patient confidentiality)
vi.) health and safety of the public
vii.) the information is part of an ongoing criminal investigation, legal case, or civil suit
viii.) the information is about a government decision that was made as part of a prosecution, a civil suit, or through another legal system
ix.) the release of the information requested exceed's the administrative capacity of the institution

b) Some information may be redacted from a document if it is deemed irrelevant or is covered by §2a.

§ 3 - Establishment of the Office of the Transparency Ombudsman

a) A Transparency Ombudsman will be appointed by the President, and confirmed by a majority vote in the legislature every 5 years, by a vote on the matter.
b) The Office of the Transparency Ombudsman will be operated at 'arm's length' from the government, and will not be influenced by the Government, instead being a government-owned independent agency.
c) The Transparency Ombudsman will be able to employ an administrative staff to manage the Office's administrative affairs.
d) Citizens will be able to appeal to the Transparency Ombudsman if they:

i.)feel that their Official Information Act response has not fulfilled their request.
ii.) the relevant public institution did not fulfill the Official Information Act request within 20 working days.
iii.) the citizen disagrees with a reason given by a relevant public institution for not releasing official information.
iv.) the citizen feels that the fee amount is unjustifiable.

e) The Transparency Ombudsman shall have the power to consult with public institutions and citizens, and will be able to issue rulings on the release of any official information, and to resolve any issues raised by citizens regarding this.

Sponsors, anyone?

[Bojikami]

---

Official Information Act

Author: Sen. Sebastián Luc Morales (Atlanticatia | DemLeft)
Sponsors:
An act to improve transparency and accountability within the government, by providing a framework for release of official information to citizens and organisations, when requested.

---

Definitions

• Public institutions - any public entity or civil servant listed under § 1.c.
• You, your - synonymous with 'citizen'
• Citizen - Any individual person who is considered a legal citizen of Calaverde.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are as follows,

• To make government more transparent.
• To ensure corruption is not fostered in the government.
• To enable effective civic participation by citizens.
• To promote the accountability of Senators, Ministers, the Public Service, and Government to citizens.

§ 1 - Process and Framework

a) Citizens of Calaverde are entitled to make a written request for release of official information from noted public institutions and civil servants. Citizens are also entitled to make a request on behalf of a business, non-governmental organisation, or any other private entity registered in Calaverde.
b) Official information includes any specified information that the government holds within defined limits, internal rules and regulations used by the relevant public institution, information or further explanations on a decision about you, and meeting agendas of meetings undertaken by the relevant public institutions.
c) Citizens may request information from the following public institutions, entities, and civil servants: Government ministries, Ministers of the Government, state-owned enterprises, public educational and medical institutions (such as schools, hospitals, and universities) local authorities and sub-national governmental institutions, and government departments.
d) Citizens must make an official request in writing to the relevant institution or civil servant, that includes: i.) a specific description of the information or explanation being requested; ii.) a declaration of your name, contact information, the private entity you are contacting on the behalf of if relevant, and your country of citizenship. iii.) how you want the official information released - i.e. as a copy of a document, an answer to a question, or a video file.
e) The Official Information Act request must be completed, or denied with a relevant reason, within twenty working days. Public institutions have a right to take an additional extension of not more than ten working days to complete an Official Information Act request, provided they inform the requesting citizen of this extension within twenty working days. Public institutions may contact the Office of the Transparency Ombudsman if a further extension is required, and the extension must be approved by the Ombudsman.
f) The relevant public institution is entitled to charge a fee for the release of the official information if additional hours of compensated labour are required, or if there are significant administrative costs. These costs must be clearly and individually listed, and may not be more than $100. A fee may only be charged if the relevant public institution had to spend money on releasing the request, in addition to what would normally be spent on other day-to-day operations.

§ 2 - Limits on the release of information

a) Public institutions are not required to release information that is covered by the following:

i.) the information may harm the national security of Calaverde
ii.) negative effects to the public order
iii.) the release of the information may expose trade, commercial, or security secrets
iv.) personal privacy may be compromised
v.) the information is protected by professional/legal privilege (i.e. doctor-patient confidentiality)
vi.) health and safety of the public
vii.) the information is part of an ongoing criminal investigation, legal case, or civil suit
viii.) the information is about a government decision that was made as part of a prosecution, a civil suit, or through another legal system
ix.) the release of the information requested exceed's the administrative capacity of the institution

b) Some information may be redacted from a document if it is deemed irrelevant or is covered by §2a.

§ 3 - Establishment of the Office of the Transparency Ombudsman

a) A Transparency Ombudsman will be appointed by the senate every 5 years, by a legislative vote on the matter.
b) The Office of the Transparency Ombudsman will be operated at 'arm's length' from the government, and will not be influenced by the Government, instead being a government-owned independent agency.
c) The Transparency Ombudsman will be able to employ an administrative staff to manage the Office's administrative affairs.
d) Citizens will be able to appeal to the Transparency Ombudsman if they:

i.)feel that their Official Information Act response has not fulfilled their request.
ii.) the relevant public institution did not fulfill the Official Information Act request within 20 working days.
iii.) the citizen disagrees with a reason given by a relevant public institution for not releasing official information.
iv.) the citizen feels that the fee amount is unjustifiable.

e) The Transparency Ombudsman shall have the power to consult with public institutions and citizens, and will be able to issue rulings on the release of any official information, and to resolve any issues raised by citizens regarding this.

Sponsors, anyone?

Count me in. Ernesto Valentin.

[Bojikami]

Updated, increased the wage to $4.50.

The Minimum Wage Act

---

Author(s): Bojikami (Ernesto Valentin | CP), The New Sea Territory Alvaro Guerra (WA)
Sponsors: United Marxist Nations Nicolao Epifanio Núñez (CP), United Provinces of Atlantica Jean-Luc Martin (WA), Merizoc Ah Puch Tecu (WA) Potenco Zelda Potenco (CP), Glasgia Robert MacDaibidh-Glasgios (WA)

---

Article 1 -. The purpose of the Act
The purpose of the act is to establish a minimum wage for the workers of Calaverde to ensure fair payment.

Article 2 -. Minimum Wages
Upon the passage of this act, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees wages for all hours worked at a rate of not less than $4.50 per hour.
For each hour worked of overtime, the employer owes his or her employees $0.50.

Article 3 -. The Department of Labour ((OOC Note: This section only goes into effect if there is no such agency currently existing.))
Hereby creates a department of labour to enforce the provisions set forth by this act and all future acts related to labour and the workplace. These provisions include the following:

The department shall enforce this shall make and, from time to time, revise regulations, with the assistance of the board, when requested by the secretary, which shall be deemed appropriate to carry out the purposes of this act and to safeguard the minimum wage rates thereby established. Such regulations may include, but are not limited to, regulations defining and governing executive, administrative, or professional employees and outside sales persons, learners and apprentices, their number, proportion, length of learning period, and other working conditions; handicapped workers; part-time pay; overtime standards; bonuses; allowances for board, lodging, apparel, or other facilities or services customarily furnished by employers to employees; allowances for gratuities; or allowances for such other special conditions or circumstances which may be incidental to a particular employer-employee relationship.

This department is also granted the power to investigate the wages of persons employed in any occupation in the Republic; enter and inspect the place of business or employment of any employer or employees in any occupation in Calaverde at any reasonable time, for the purpose of examining and inspecting any records of any such employer that in any way relate to wages, hours, or other conditions of employment of any such employees.

Article 4 -. Exemptions

Exemptions to this act include:

Labour on a farm (Note, this only applies if this is irregular labour on a family farm.); Domestic services; Delivery of newspapers to the consumer; In connection with the publication of any weekly, semiweekly, or daily newspaper with a circulation of less than four thousand, the major part of which circulation is within the county where published, the activities of an educational, charitable, religious or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not in fact exist or where the services are rendered to such organization gratuitously; seasonal employment, if the employee is under eighteen years of age, or if a student under twenty-four years of age, by a nonprofit health or welfare agency engaged in activities dealing with handicapped or exceptional children or by a nonprofit day or resident seasonal recreational camp for campers under the age of eighteen years, which operates for a period of less than three months in any one year, in employment by an establishment which is a public amusement or recreational establishment, organized camp, or religious or nonprofit educational conference center.

Article 5 -. Enactment Clause
This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.