Home Office: Frontier Act

[Mirtok 2853]

The Frontier Act

- 1806 -

 

 

Introduction:
In this new land, the Empire has managed to assert control over a wide range of territory, bringing forth the age of Providence to the untamed wilds. The initial landing site of our colonists found great fortune and opportunity which has since grown into our nation's capital. As well, the rest of the Empire is teeming with development suitable land and an abundance of natural resources ready for exploitation.

 

The Frontier Act seeks to fast track the Empire's progress with regards to the growth and development of our fledgling communities while also generating new sources of income for our nation's treasury. In addition, this act aims to enrich the Orenian economy through ample job opportunity and industrial advancements. Finally, in these ever uncertain times, we must be able to meet any challenge levied against the Empire through the production and mobilization of military assets such as weapons, armor, and artillery- all of which requires a great deal of raw resources that lay unclaimed beneath our feet.

 

Act Summation:
The Empire will offer leases on primary resources (nodes) to legal entities (cities, municipalities, reservations, etc.) and significant estate holders (peers and private citizens). These interested parties will be expected to provide the development costs upfront as well as incur an annual excise for each primary resource/industry present within their territorial division (tile). These leases will grant exclusivity to the leaseholder(s) so long as they maintain good standing in terms of the respective excise tax for the duration of the lease.

 

Section I
Eligible Parties:
All cities, towns, reservations, peer estates or Crown granted private estates within a territorial division are eligible to purchase lease agreements for primary resources within that division. When more than one legal entity or estate holder occupies the same territorial division as another, they shall have the right to enter into a lease agreement so long as they meet all criteria outlined in this act.

 

Entering a Lease Agreement:
Eligible parties may purchase exclusivity rights- and by association enter into a lease agreement- for a primary resource within the same territorial division that they reside. Eligible parties may enter into a lease agreement in one of two situations. Either directly from the Crown during the initial development of the primary resource or through the original leaseholder(s) of a primary resource in a joint partnership.

 

1. From the Crown: The initial development of a primary resource will require the lease agreement to be purchased by the eligible party(s) from the Crown. Multiple eligible parties may enter into a partnership and split the development downpayment. In order to enter into a lease from the Crown, the eligible party(s) must produce the upfront development downpayment of 2,500 Imperial marks to be paid in full. When entering into a lease agreement lacking current leaseholders for an already developed primary resource, the Crown shall determine the downpayment costs at its own discretion.
    
2. From a leaseholder: Lease agreements on primary resources that have already been developed will usually be purchased from the current leaseholder(s). Eligible parties are afforded the right to enter into a previously established lease agreement on a primary resource. These additional leasees must pay each original leaseholder a sum that would account for an equal partnership with respect to the development downpayment(s). As well, these additional leasees must adhere to the previously established lease terms affecting the original leaseholders.

 

Excise Taxes
For each primary resource that has been developed in a territorial division, a leaseholder will be expected to contribute an additional 25 Imperial mark excise tax on top of their current taxation obligations.

 

Lease Reaffirmation
Leases may be reaffirmed with the Crown prior to the expiration date by the leasee at no additional cost for a standard 30 year agreement. If a lease is allowed to expire before reaffirmation, the previous leaseholder(s) must provide backdated excise taxes from the expiration date up to until the lease is officially reaffirmed. New leasees unaffiliated with the original lease are subject to the Crowns discretion with respect to fees owed as mentioned above.

 

Public Record
All current lease agreements will be recorded by the Home Office and made available to the public. Any amendments or other changes to lease agreements will be maintained by the Home Office. Leaseholders are primarily responsible for ensuring that the publicly provided information is up to date and accurate to the greatest extent possible. The Home Office will be responsible for supplying the following data points for public consumption.

 

1. Leaseholders
2. Lease issuance and expiration date
3. Resource location
4. Resource type
5. Additional lease terms

 

Section II
Lease Details/Terms

1. Legitimacy: All lease agreements must include oversight by the Crown, even when dealing with eligible parties. A lease shall be considered null unless exclusively authorised by the Crown and recorded for public record.
    
2. Lease Expenses: The leasee is responsible for providing initial development down payments or dues owed prior to the acceptance of the lease. Each leasee will be obligated to pay an additional 25 Imperial marks in excise tax starting the week following the acceptance of a lease agreement by the Crown.
    
3. Duration: Lease agreements will remain legally binding for the period of 30 years. Leasees may exit their agreements after paying 100 Imperial Marks for each remaining year on their lease. Delinquency in payments may result in estate or asset seizure, indentured service, and/or imprisonment.
    
4. Improvement Authority: The Crown retains ultimate authority in selecting the primary resources for development and exploitation. At all times, the Crown can exercise their right to access primary resources at its discretion. Examples being the Imperial State Army or other official government agents requiring a resource for whatever situation- war time, public works, collective wellbeing, etc. Failure to submit to official access may result in lease termination and a fine of 5,000 Imperial marks.
    
5. Exclusivity Rights: Leasees shall have exclusivity rights over a primary resource and may determine how said resource is exploited. This can come in the form of restricting access to foreign and domestic civilians, issuing harvesting warrants/contracts, imposing output taxes, or directly exploiting the resource and selling it themselves. Leasees may not deprive official government agents access as detailed above.
    
6. Leaseholder Additional Terms: The original leaseholders may establish the exclusivity and exploitation specifics of a developed primary resource. All additional terms must be declared to the Crown and made public in order to be valid. Leasees may amend these additional terms as needed with simple majority between leaseholders- declaring any changes to the Crown and recording them for public record. New leasees must adhere to any previously established terms when entering into an existing lease agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penned by The Home Secretary Drasus DeNurem

 

Introduced by Lord Speaker Alren DeNurem

 

 

Cosponsored by Vice Chancellor Ledicort d'Azor
 

 

Issued and proclaimed,
Joseph II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Adria, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.