BILL WRITING 101

The documents below will help you navigate the different parts of a bill and what a
completed bill should look like. A bill template that delegates can type into is available at
ssymca.org. Please note: The template is a Microsoft Word document all bills must be
uploaded as MS Word files.

SENATE
NUMBER

HOUSE

BILL

Introduced by: John Quincy Adams

YMCA: Great Branch Manet
Massachusetts YMCA Youth in Government
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

An Act To: Write a clear, brief, simple statement that explains what your bill would do if it
were passed and made a law.
Be it enacted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts YMCA Youth Legislature as follows:
Section 1:

What does that mean?!

Write out the definitions that you will be using in the body of your bill.
In other words, what does a word or phrase actually mean as it pertains to
your bill.
You dont have to define every single word, (like cat or dog) BUT you do
have to define words that could be open to interpretation (like domesticated
household animals shall refer to animals that are commonly kept as pets,
such as cats, dogs, )

Section 2:

This is important PAY ATTENTION!

This is what I like to call, The John Quincy Adams (or JQA) Purpose
Statement!
This is where, in a sentence or two (at the most) why this bill is so important
that it MUST pass.

Section 3:

The devil is in the details!

This is the part of the bill where you get specific about what will happen,
when it will happen and how.
Section 3 is likely to be the longest section. You will probably need a few
subsections here.
Be prepared this is where you want to be sophisticated but not confusing.

Section 4:

Show me the money!

Here is where you have explain how your bill would be funded.

For example, does it need any funding? If not, state it. If it does, will it
come from a tax increase, will cities and towns have to pay for it, will
schools? Will people have to pay a fee?
Section 5:

The Punisher!
This is where you explain what would happen if the law was not obeyed.
For instance, would cities or individuals be subjected to fines? Could a person
lose his/her license? Could a school lose its accreditation?

Section 6:

Hurry up, then!

This is where you state when the bill would go into effect.

Other helpful pointers for writing your Bill

As with real legislation, Youth and Government bills must be formatted in a

specific way. Two properly formatted bills are attached to this guide for your
review.
The preamble (the sentence that begins with AN ACT TO) is a broad-strokes
summary of the bill; it does not go into specifics. The preamble is intended to be
read aloud and to give listeners a quick yet clear understanding of the bills
intent. For example:
AN ACT TO encourage the use of alternative energy sources.
AN ACT TO eliminate the income tax in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
AN ACT TO provide universal health insurance within the Commonwealth.
Technically, the preamble is not part of the legislation; therefore, every provision of
the bill must be stated clearly within its text.
The first section of each bill should define any of the bills terms that could be
interpreted in multiple ways or that might not be commonly used. For example, if a
bill uses an ambiguous or colloquial term such as high school student, the first
section should include a clarifying definition: High school student shall be defined
as any student enrolled in grades nine through twelve who is attending a
Massachusetts public high school.
If multiple terms require definition, each should have a separate subsection. Legal
definitions from law dictionaries or the Massachusetts General Laws (which are
published online) can often be boiled down for use in this section.
The next several sections of the bill should describe its provisions. Anything that
is going to happen as a result of the bill must be specified. Several questions should
be addressed:
What will happen if this bill is enacted?
Who will be compelled to act if the bill is enacted? What will they need to do?
Who will enforce the provisions of the law? What will be the penalties for
violators?
Will funding be required? How will the funds be raised?

The last section of a bill is the enactment clause, describing when the bill will
become effective, if passed. Dates or time periods may be specified, but a common
choice is: This bill shall go into effect immediately upon passage.

There are a few rules for bill writing, and a few pet peeves that those of us who
read scores of bills every year beg you to avoid. The rules are simple:
Bills must be written objectively and in the third person. Bills may not be
longer than two pages.
Numbers, dates and ages must be spelled-out according to the guidelines.
Each bill must have at least five sections.
When writing in the future tense, shall must be used instead of will.
The pet peeves are harder to avoid:
Do not put filler in the bill just because you need to have five sections.
Sentences such as, this bill shall require no funding, have no place in
legislation. If you need another section or two, think about how you could
make the bill more nuanced.
Justify your bill in your speeches, not in the bills text.
Include sections about funding and enforcement if they are needed.
There is no spare money floating around the Commonwealths budget. Do
not fund your legislation by saying, This bill shall be funded from the
Massachusetts General Fund.
Always refer to Massachusetts as a Commonwealth, not a State.
Be brief! When a bill goes onto its second page, the likelihood of it being fully
read and understood decreases dramatically.

SAMPLE BILL
Introduced by: Captain Crunch
YMCA: Central MA - Greendale
Massachusetts YMCA Youth in Government

In the Year Two Thousand and Eleven

AN ACT TO: Grant minors the right of confidentiality with Eligible Reporters.
Be it enacted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts YMCA Youth Legislature as follows:
Section 1: For the purpose of this bill, the following definitions shall apply:
Subsection A: Eligible reporter shall be defined as a person who is able to report
suspected abuse cases including, but not limited to, cases of physical and sexual
abuse, self-harm and self-abuse, suicidal behaviors, neglect, or malnourishment.
Eligible reporters include, but are not limited to, school teachers, educational
administrators, any person in the medical field, government employees, or
counselors.
Subsection B: Minor shall be defined as a person under the age of eighteen.
Section 2: The purpose of this bill is to allow minors the safety and assurance of
confidentiality with trusted eligible reporters. With maturity comes the ability to make
rational decisions regarding ones best interests. Seeking help from trusted adults should
be granted to every minor without the fear of government involvement.
Section 3: Upon passage of this bill, the Massachusetts General Laws shall be amended as
follows:
Subsection A: Chapter 119: Section 51A and all sections of the Massachusetts
General Laws that read mandated reporter shall be amended to read eligible
reporter.
Subsection B: Any minor between fifteen years of age and eighteen years of age
shall have the right to confidentiality with any eligible reporter. Minors shall be able
to openly speak to an eligible reporter whom they trust. That reporter is not
mandated nor obligated to report any suspected abuse, self-harm, or neglect unless
the reporter feels that the minors life or the life of any other person or animals life
is in clear danger or if the minor asks for the abuse to be reported.
Section 4: The following procedures for eligible reporters shall go into place upon passage
of this bill.

Subsection A: If an eligible reporter suspects abuse, self-harm, or neglect, and

wish to report it, the eligible reporter must first speak to the minor in question and
tell them they plan on reporting the claim, before they can file a report.
Subsection B: If procedures and laws are followed and complied with by the eligible
reporter and harm is inflicted on a minor, the eligible reporter is not held responsible
for legal charges.
Section 5: Any person who does not follow these laws shall be fined a fee of the amounts
for no less than five-hundred dollars and no more than five-thousand dollars. The amount
paid shall be determined by a judge in the court of law. Then have to stand before the
board of which they are employed for any further legal action and review.
Section 6: This bill shall be funded by the Department of Public Safety and the following
are the regulations to be used by the department in order to fund it:
Subsection A: The Department of Public Safety must ensure that all public vicinities
that employ eligible reporters are aware of the law. The department shall be in
charge of determining the budget money to ensure that all public vicinities that
employ eligible reporters are aware of the law.
Subsection B: After the passage of this bill, the Department of Public Safety shall
finance the enforcement of this law. The first year after the passage of this bill, the
department shall spend a minimum of .50% of their yearly budget to enforce this
law. The second year after the passage of this bill, the department shall spend a
minimum of .25% of its yearly budget to enforce this law. The third year after the
passage of this bill, the department shall spend a minimum of .1% of its yearly
budget to enforce this law. Upon the completion of three years, the Department of
Public Safety shall be in charge of determining the budget money to enforce this law.
Section 7: This bill shall be enacted directly upon passage.