The Virgin T_xom Omnibus Act
Mr. T_xom, for himself and Ms. Automationeer.
Preamble: Seeing reduced interest in candidacy for public office in Firestone and a minimal need for municipal councils, this bill preserves municipalities and their police departments, while consolidating their legislative power with the County. The aim of this bill is threefold: to increase efficiency of inferior government operations, to increase competition in county and municipal elections, and to prevent the shenaniganry and corruption that stem from a lack of competition. This bill additionally loosens certain employment restrictions (primary & secondary classifications) that serve to reduce competition in statewide elections.
Section 1. Enactment
a) All but Sections 3 and 4 of this bill shall enter into immediate effect as law, once passed by the constitutionally required processes. Sections 3 and 4 of this bill shall enter into effect as law thirty (30) days following passage by the constitutionally required processes.
b) Should any portion of this bill be nullified or struck down, it shall be severed with the remainder still holding the force of law.
Section 2. Definitions
a) The “Inferior Governments Act” is defined here.
b) “An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives” is defined here.
c) The “Corrupted Government Prevention Act” is defined here.
d) The “Employment Act of 2023” is defined here.
Section 3. Amendments to Inferior Government Employment Laws
a) Section 3(b) of An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives currently states, “Each municipal mayor shall have the authority to, though not required, produce a set of fair and just rules and regulations, that shall apply to the heads of executive departments and agencies of their respective municipality. These rules and regulations can be nullified by the municipality’s council (or reasonable variant) with a super-majority vote.”
b) Section 3(b) of An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives shall be amended to state, “Each municipal mayor shall have the authority to, though not required, produce a set of fair and just rules and regulations that shall apply to the heads of executive departments and agencies of their respective municipality. The rules and any changes thereto must be made known to the department heads to which they apply at least five (5) days prior to enactment. No rule may be enforced nor punishment imposed retroactively. The County Council may nullify these rules, or parts thereof, by a simple-majority (½) vote.”
c) Section 4(d) of An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives currently states, “Both the County and its municipalities are allowed to enact Charter (or similar) amendments that control the authority of the County Executive and municipal Mayors to remove cabinet members, assuming these regulations are not less lenient than this law.”
d) Section 4(d) of An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives shall be amended to state, “The County may enact legislation that controls the authority of the County Executive and municipal Mayors to remove cabinet members, assuming these regulations are not less lenient than this law.”
e) Section 4(c) of An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives currently states, “Should a department head’s or employee’s civil court case be successful, it shall be the responsibility of the individual who issued the punishment to rectify the damage(s) done to the individual and the individual’s rapport as well as can reasonably be expected.”
f) Section 4(c) of An Act to Authorize Inferior Executives shall be amended to state, “Should a department head’s or employee’s civil court case be successful, it shall be the responsibility of the individual who issued the punishment to rectify the damage(s) done to the individual and the individual’s rapport as well as can reasonably be expected. This shall include court-ordered reinstatement whenever possible, and the District Court may order such action to be executed by a third-party other than the Defendant when necessary (i.e. when the defendant is no longer employed in a role where they may affect reinstatement).”
g) Section 3(iii) of the Corrupted Government Prevention Act currently states, “City of Redwood, City of Arborfield, and District of Prominence Councilpersons,”. Section 3(iii) of the Corrupted Government Prevention Act shall be nullified.
h) Section 4(d) of the Corrupted Government Prevention Act currently states, “Mayors shall not be eligible to hold office within the Stapleton County Council.” Section 4(d) of the Corrupted Government Prevention Act shall be nullified.
Section 4. Amendments to the Inferior Governments Act
a) Section 10(d) of the Inferior Governments Act currently states, “Where permitted by county or municipal law, municipalities shall maintain the ability to establish legislation that governs matters in their jurisdiction. Municipalities shall hold the ability to establish criminal offenses, traffic offenses, or any sort of citable infractions, as long as such offenses do not conflict with county or state law. No municipality may establish any tort and such already established shall be declared null and void.” Section 10(d) of the Inferior Governments Act shall be nullified.
b) Section 10(b) of the Inferior Governments Act currently states, “A municipality shall obtain a government, led by a Mayor, and shall consist of a Council of elected councilpersons. The County Charter shall make (further) provisions regarding municipal governments, including for the municipalities to establish their own Charters. Municipal Charters shall require the consent of the County Council, by whatever means declared within the County Charter, before entering law."
c) Section 10(b) of the Inferior Governments Act shall be amended to state, “A municipality shall obtain a government, led by a Mayor, and shall consist of other offices or entities as prescribed by County law. The County Charter shall make further provisions regarding municipal governments, including the creation of Municipal Charters and empowering the Mayor to create executive offices and departments that may enforce the law.”
d) Section 11(a) of the Inferior Governments Act currently states, “A municipality may establish its own police force through municipal legislation. Such police force may be regulated by Mayoral Decree so long as such does not conflict with municipal or superior legislation.”
e) Section 11(a) of the Inferior Governments Act shall be amended to state, “The County may establish municipal police forces through County legislation. Such police forces shall exist under the domain of the Mayor and municipal government, and may be regulated by Mayoral Decree so long as such does not conflict with superior legislation.”
f) Chapter 60, Chapter 70, and Chapter 80 of the Firestone Criminal Code, and all sections contained therein, shall be nullified.
Section 5. Abolishing Municipal Councils
a) The District Council of the District of Prominence, the City Council of the City of Redwood, and the City Council of the City of Arborfield shall be abolished. No municipality may have a Legislative Branch or enact law, nor may any municipality amend the Criminal Code or establish criminal or traffic offences. Municipal mayors may enact mayoral decrees to govern the operations of their municipal government, and may enforce State and County laws when permitted to do so.
b) The Mayor of each municipality shall be an ex officio non-voting member of the Stapleton County Council, for as long as they hold office as Mayor. Mayors may propose legislation within the Council, and shall share equal privileges to councilmembers to speak and debate in council sessions. However, they may not vote on any laws, motions, or proposals, nor shall they count towards any quorum or majority. No municipal mayor may simultaneously hold office as a voting member of the County Council.
c) The County may permit mayors to appoint executive officers and department heads without requiring confirmation of the County Council, and to create offices and programs by mayoral decree, as long as these do not conflict with superior legislation. The appointment of any chief of a municipal police department shall require the advice and consent of the County Council, in a process that shall be defined further in the County Charter.
d) The County government shall draft and enact a new County Charter, or shall amend the existing Charter, to comply with the new structures and procedures created or permitted by this Act. The new Charter or Charter amendment(s) must be passed within thirty (30) days following the enactment of this Act.
e) The provisions of each municipal charter, and any municipal laws that do not establish or amend criminal offences, shall remain in effect until the County enacts new charters for each municipality and new legislation to govern municipal police departments. The existing Chiefs of municipal police departments do not require re-confirmation by the County Council, nor should their structures be significantly changed when codified in County law.
f) Notwithstanding the delayed enactment of sections 3 and 4 of this bill, municipal councils are forbidden from passing any new legislation or taking any official legislative action, nor may any municipal council elections be held.
Section 6. Miscellaneous Amendments
a) Section 10(iv) of the Employment Act of 2023 shall be amended by striking “Senator” and inserting “President pro tempore of the Senate” in its place.
b) Section 10(v) of the Employment Act of 2023 shall be amended by striking “Representative, including the”.
c) Section 11(b)(iii) of the Employment Act of 2023 shall be amended to state, “Representative or Senator, with the exception of the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore;”.
d) All of Section 13(a)(iii) shall be struck, and inserted in its place shall be, “regarding a primary office only, such citizen is Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, or County Executive, in which rendering their employment in such office as two (2) secondary offices instead of one (1) primary office.”