Laws

Politicians seam to always argue about the outcome of laws.  There is always disagreement on how to solve problems.  Laws are often written to address a current issue or concern which becomes an unnecessary burden when the issue has passed.

I support constitutional amendments of the form below be added to legislative duties of the legislature.

Purpose and Duration of Laws.

All bills will contain a description of the purpose of the bill.  The purpose shall be linked with other provisions of this constitution and include metrics for determining whether the bill has accomplished its purpose.  

Seven and fourteen years after a bill becomes law the Secretary of State will evaluate whether the bill has accomplished its purpose using the metrics included in the bill.  Also, consequences counter to the welfare of the state or the people of the state shall be considered in evaluating whether the law serves its purpose and benefits the state or its people.  A public comment period of not less than thirty days will be available for all residence of the state to suggest positive and negative results of the law.  If the law has been found to not accomplish its goals or be excessively burdensome, it will be terminated one year after the determination.  The legislature will be notified of the determination within one week of the determination.

No law shall be in effect more than forty-nine years.  Existing laws prior to the passage of this amendment will be terminated in equal proportions over the forty-nine years after the adoption of this amendment.  The Secretary of State will publish a list of such laws to be terminated each year before the first day of January and the laws will terminate on the succeeding first day of January.  The legislature would then have a year to pass a replacement bill if they deem it useful.  This provision supersedes other statements concerning when a law shall continue in force.