Key elements of feed-in rates and CLEAN contracts include cost-based, standardized contracts that are long term, which allows developers to secure project financing. Incentives for local ownership, hiring of local workers, and use of locally made products can help ensure that these approaches help grow the local economy.

"Community benefit agreements, and policies, are a reaction to economic development practices that have left communities behind, workers impoverished, and the environment degraded. Too often public contracts have gone to employers paying low wages and doing poor quality work, with little thought to the environment and community impact. In the long run, we all pay for this low-road approach. The Cuyahoga County Community Benefit & Opportunity Initiative, introduced by Cuyahoga County Council in December 2014, is a comprehensive policy designed to maximize value of the county’s taxpayer dollars. The initiative will strengthen the local economy by: Creating more local jobs and ensuring workers in those jobs receive living wages. Ensuring our workforce reflects the great diversity of our community Creating opportunity for disadvantaged workers, targeting residents from the county’s poorest neighborhoods. Building career pathways out of poverty through on-the-job training opportunities and support for pre-apprenticeship programs. Ensuring high-quality, energy-efficient building, with cost-effective sustainable technology, which will reduce costs to taxpayers in the long run. It will also ensure the county considers health the impact of public projects over the long haul. The upshot is: More local jobs with higher wages Less poverty and stronger neighborhoods A more diverse and productive workforce Long-term economic and environmental sustainability"

Resolution No. R2012-0041: A Resolution supporting and collaborating with Emerald Cities Cleveland/Cuyahoga County to create a clean energy economy in Cuyahoga County by developing community workforce opportunities, enhancing environmentally sustainable practices and assisting Cuyahoga County and its political subdivisions to meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge to make municipal buildings and facilities 20% more energy efficient by 2020.

The mayor and members of the city council should be elected by ranked choice voting.

The model law contains a raked choice voting ballot, includes tabulation, explains the offices, and covers rulemaking authority.

Live-near-your-work policies can benefit all stakeholders: shorter commute times and lowered housing costs save time and money for employees; improved employee morale, productivity, and retention reduce turnover and training costs for employers; communities can see better air quality, less urban sprawl and decreased traffic congestion.

This model resolution urges a county's sheriff or a city's chief of police to sign-up for monthly updates from the state DOJ with the names of armed individuals that are prohibited from possessing firearms. The state DOJ maintains an online database of individuals who purchased firearms legally, but who subsequently lost the right to own or possess a firearm. The sheriff or chief of police is urged to investigate each individual on the list and retrieve illegally held firearms. This model was written specifically for local governments in California.

This article outlines a piece of model legislation, known as the Public Participation Act that would afford citizens and group a uniform standard of protection against SLAPPs enacted at the federal level. SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) are meritless lawsuits used by opponents of citizens and groups who speak out on issues as a means to stifle that party's ability to speak publicly. This model bill extends a federal right to absolute immunity for those who petition the government against any civil claim. It also provides uniform procedural protections against SLAPPs including the ability of the defendant: to remove the case to Federal court, to move for early dismissal of a frivolous suit of a protected activity, and if dismissed, to recover the fees, costs, and damages incurred in defending against the SLAPP. For the plaintiff, these costs would be non-tax-deductible and non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. In addition, this article provides some context for the emerging, speech-stifling SLAPP lawsuit phenomenon.

This model law requires a person who wants to own, possess, purchase, or otherwise acquire a firearm to have a firearm owners' safety certificate. To be eligible for the certificate, applicants must complete a firearm safety training course, pass a safety course exam, receive live firing instruction, and complete a self-handling demonstration. The law includes a safe storage provision that requires firearms to be stored unloaded and locked. Included in this provision, is a requirement that gun owners report the loss or theft of a firearm to law enforcement. This model applies to local governments in Illinois. This document also includes a section that outlines common legal challenges to gun control laws.

The attached Model Campus Safe Zones Resolution language was developed for K-12 school districts that are contemplating adopting protections for their immigrant students. We recommend that any resolution contain language to address these critical issues: Limiting the sharing of student and family information with federal immigration Authorities, Restricting immigration agents' access to campuses, Prohibiting campus security from collaborating with federal immigration authorities, Providing resources and information for immigrant students and their families. The model resolution provides sample language for these issues. We encourage you to use this language as a template and to adopt as many pieces to fit the needs of your school district. We also encourage you to add additional points beyond what is in this resolution and to share your creative and innovative ideas with us.