I want to get a new law passed in my town, where do I begin?

Question

Im only 17 and I dont feel like anyone would listen to me! I dont know who to contact and i dont know wat to say

I know its crazy but im only 17 and i juss had a baby. Ive been to many public places since and it always happens thats when my son uses the bathroom, so i go to the womans room and NO CHANGING TABLE!!! it drives me insane. Id like for every public business to offer changing tables. where do i start who do i talk to? wat do i say?

Answer 1

Contact your local town representative.

Answer 2

OK, If your talking like a town by-law it isn't all that hard. BUT it will take work as well as time. FIRST get in touch with your town clerk/ He/she can tell you how many signatures your going to need. What your going to have to do is gather enough signatures to get this NEW By-law put on a town meeting warrant. You will have to be very clear on EXACTLY what you want with this town law. THIS will have to be reveiwed by the town attorney to verify that it can legally become a law. SO it will work better for you if you already have the support of the town selectmen/women. Once you gather enough signatures then and only then can a trown or special town meeting be called. BE PREPARED to get up in front of the town and speak/defend why you want this by-law. If you don't have the right support then expect that you will have to fight for your cause. GOOD LUCK.
OK I just read your addtional info. Sounds good to me, BUT you might get more support if you ADD that ANY present business has a set time to install these changing tables. LIKE in two years or by the end of two years at license renewal time. For NEW Businesses then it will be immediate.

Answer 3

Town counsel. Or whatever your town's governing body may be. You can approach the counselman for your district or a counselman at-large to help you or, if you're getting no response there, you can investigate various options for getting an initiative or referendum put on the ballot for the next election.

It's going to take a bit of digging to find out what the right procedure is, and so you may have to visit the town's website (if the town's governing documents are posted thereon) or the town government offices to take a look at the town's governing documents (charter, by-laws, etc.).

Most towns are organized similar to a corporation. So everything you need to know about getting a law passed is going to be contained in 1) the state law authorizing the creation of towns, 2) the town charter/by-laws, or 3) town ordinances/resolutions.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

Go to your town clerk and find out. Methods can vary by town.

That being said, you are likely to have a hard time with this. Requiring all businesses to install changing tables is not necessarily going to be received well by your town's Chamber of Commerce, and if they organize to fight it, the odds of it happening are pretty remote, as local CoC carries some weight in town politics.

Perhaps before trying to write a law, maybe put a petition together and go to your local Chamber of Commerce. They have a vested interest in listening to potential customers. You won't get everyone on board, but it'll bring attention to the issue.

Answer 5

Go to the next meeting of the City Council and present your case to them.

Answer 6

Petitions, ussally, you need so many sigintures from peopel in the community, which will forec to town council to vote on it, hold meetings, and the such.

Answer 7

Talk to your city counsil member. They may be able to bring it up before the city council or give you information on how to start a petition.

Answer 8

Can you post some details about the law you want to pass?

Answer 9

On Yahoo answers.

Answer 10

town meeting, city meeting. usually they do those kinda things