The maxim “ignorance of the law is no excuse” is derived from an age when laws were much simpler than today’s sophisticated legal codes. Assume you are working as a staff person for a state legislator who tells you she intends to introduce a bill to

“clearly define when a person’s ‘mistake of the law’ should be excused.” She asks you to do some research and prepare a memorandum of points that such a bill should include to enable her to discuss her proposal with a legislative committee.

What are some of the key points that you would recommend?