Writing A Bill

Criteria For Selection of the Best Bill 2009 Program

The following are the areas that go into consideration for the Best Bill Award. They are considered in the order listed, all bills to be considered must meet each one of them. A committee of Advisors will make the selection at Augusta Sessions.

Each of the 9 committees on Friday evening will be asked to make a recommendation for a bill they would like considered to be the 2009 Best Bill Award winner.

PROPER SUBMISSION OF A BILL

All bills must be submitted online at our Bill Submission Page.

CONTENT

Is the subject of the Bill one that has a major importance to most people in Maine...or only a few?

Does it contain all the needed parts so the bill can be used as a model in the future does it contain:,

• Fiscal Statement……..........How much will this bill cost, or how much income will be generated for the State ?
• Statement of Fact….............Information about your bill, not the argument for the bill.
• Bill Summary........................This section will be a brief 2 or 3 line section that will be summary of the purpose of the bill.
• References or Sources…. Where did you get the information used in your bill?

CLARITY

Does the bill meet the “Straight Face” test?

Bills must follow a couple of general principals to be considered for submission to the Augusta Session.

a) Is this bill an original idea? (Bills having been submitted in previous Youth in Government programs will not be accepted unless there have been additions or deletions from the original bill)

b) Would you submit this bill to the actual legislature? (Would you be willing to stand before the actual legislature and defend this bill, and take the time of the actual legislature to hear this bill?)

Is the bill’s intent easy to understand?

As written, could the bill be enforced with little other interpretation?

Are there conflicting points in the bill?

DEBATABILITY

Is the Bill legitimately debatable or simply likely to be objected to because of its controversial aspects?

ORIGINALITY/UNIQUENESS

Is it a new concept to a problem?

Is it one that seems simply to echo public outcry?

Did sponsor come up with new ideas as a solution?