Legislative Bill Writing Essentials

Kelsey Barnett, the New York State youth governor, provides a detailed guide on writing a legislative bill. The video covers the standardized format, including font and size, and explains each section of the bill: title, summary provisions, justification, fiscal implications, and effective date. The importance of complete sentences and research is emphasized, along with tips on using past bill books for inspiration.

What is the required font and size for writing a legislative bill?

• Calibri, size 11

• Times New Roman, size 10

• Arial, size 12

• Courier New, size 10

What should the title of a legislative bill include?

• A brief statement of the issue

• A detailed explanation of the bill

• A list of all sections

• A summary of the fiscal implications

In which section do you define terms that may not be commonly known?

• Fiscal Implications

• Justification Section

• Effective Date

• Summary Provisions

Where should you include the original law in your bill?

• In the summary provisions

• In the justification section

• In the title

• In the fiscal implications

What is the main purpose of the justification section?

• To provide a detailed budget

• To list the fiscal implications

• To present arguments and research supporting the bill

• To define terms

How many paragraphs should the justification section ideally contain?

• Seven or eight

• One or two

• Five or six

• Three or four

Why are fiscal implications important in a legislative bill?

• They help decide the bill's effective date

• They determine the bill's title

• They define the terms used in the bill

• They influence support for or against the bill

What should be included in the fiscal implications section?

• The bill's title

• The effective date

• Current state budgets and projected savings

• Definitions of terms

What is typically the easiest part of writing a legislative bill?

• Justification section

• Summary provisions

• Effective date

• Fiscal implications

What is a common effective date for a bill to go into effect?

• Immediately after passage

• One year after passage

• Five years after passage

• Ten years after passage