BILL WRITING GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Give your Bill a title- This Introduces the bill and catches the attention of other legislators. A tax-cutting bill, for example, was named the "American Dream Restoration Act," and who would vote to leave a child behind? Words that bring an emotional response often get more support.
Title:
Identify the sponsors (authors) of the legislation.
Sponsor(s):
Other members of the committee:
Explain the purpose (goals) of your bill
***Example: H.R. 1 No Child Left Behind Act of 2002
***Purpose - The purpose and intent of this title are to ensure that all children have a fair and equal opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.
The Purpose for YOUR new law:
Identify eligibility terms for the recipient(s) of the services outlined in your bill. If your bill provides funds or services to a particular group, describe who will be eligible to receive those funds or services. This can include individuals, schools, industries, etc.
Example: Person who makes less than $14,000 per year will be eligible to receive…
Explain the extent and duration of services provided by this bill
Will your bill be for a specific amount of time (tax bills often are) or until something else occurs (such as until imported oil accounts for less than ½ oil consumption in US) or into perpetuity?
Benefits-This section is where you add the details of how you hope to achieve your purpose. Think about who is going to enforce the law or who will have oversight of the law and penalties to be placed on those who do not comply.
Example: Purpose is to encourage students to graduate from high school. Students old enough to drop out of school, but younger than 21 will be allowed to complete high school courses via computer classes. Students eligible for this program will be provided a computer and internet access for one year. The students will be required to complete six courses per semester until they complete their high school course requirements. If a student fails to successfully complete the coursework, the student will be required to attend day or night classes until the coursework is successfully completed or the student must return the computer undamaged and pay back the school system for internet access. Penalty to not return the computer will be the same as theft. Penalty for not repaying the internet access will be the same as penalty for non-payment of any other funds owed to another entity. Students who successfully complete the program will be allowed to keep the computer, but the internet access at the expense of the school system will be discontinued.
Benefits
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Fiscal Impact
1) How will you pay for your bill?
2) If you would raise taxes to pay for the bill, do you think the American people would be willing to pay additional taxes to pay for this bill?
3) If you would cut current programs to pay for this bill, which program(s) would you cut? What consequences do you foresee of cutting that/those program(s)?
4) Do you believe your bill will fit into a currently budgeted program? If so, which one and how?
Give your Bill a title- This Introduces the bill and catches the attention of other legislators. A tax-cutting bill, for example, was named the "American Dream Restoration Act," and who would vote to leave a child behind? Words that bring an emotional response often get more support.
Title:
Identify the sponsors (authors) of the legislation.
Sponsor(s):
Other members of the committee:
Explain the purpose (goals) of your bill
***Example: H.R. 1 No Child Left Behind Act of 2002
***Purpose - The purpose and intent of this title are to ensure that all children have a fair and equal opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.
The Purpose for YOUR new law:
Identify eligibility terms for the recipient(s) of the services outlined in your bill. If your bill provides funds or services to a particular group, describe who will be eligible to receive those funds or services. This can include individuals, schools, industries, etc.
Example: Person who makes less than $14,000 per year will be eligible to receive…
Explain the extent and duration of services provided by this bill
Will your bill be for a specific amount of time (tax bills often are) or until something else occurs (such as until imported oil accounts for less than ½ oil consumption in US) or into perpetuity?
Benefits-This section is where you add the details of how you hope to achieve your purpose. Think about who is going to enforce the law or who will have oversight of the law and penalties to be placed on those who do not comply.
Example: Purpose is to encourage students to graduate from high school. Students old enough to drop out of school, but younger than 21 will be allowed to complete high school courses via computer classes. Students eligible for this program will be provided a computer and internet access for one year. The students will be required to complete six courses per semester until they complete their high school course requirements. If a student fails to successfully complete the coursework, the student will be required to attend day or night classes until the coursework is successfully completed or the student must return the computer undamaged and pay back the school system for internet access. Penalty to not return the computer will be the same as theft. Penalty for not repaying the internet access will be the same as penalty for non-payment of any other funds owed to another entity. Students who successfully complete the program will be allowed to keep the computer, but the internet access at the expense of the school system will be discontinued.
Benefits
*
*
*
*
Fiscal Impact
1) How will you pay for your bill?
2) If you would raise taxes to pay for the bill, do you think the American people would be willing to pay additional taxes to pay for this bill?
3) If you would cut current programs to pay for this bill, which program(s) would you cut? What consequences do you foresee of cutting that/those program(s)?
4) Do you believe your bill will fit into a currently budgeted program? If so, which one and how?