diff --git a/framework/servlet_helpers.py b/framework/servlet_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68eb0c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/servlet_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+# Copyright 2016 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
+# Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+# license that can be found in the LICENSE file or at
+# https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
+
+"""Helper functions used by the Monorail servlet base class."""
+from __future__ import print_function
+from __future__ import division
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import calendar
+import datetime
+import logging
+import urllib
+
+from framework import framework_bizobj
+from framework import framework_helpers
+from framework import permissions
+from framework import template_helpers
+from framework import urls
+from framework import xsrf
+
+_ZERO = datetime.timedelta(0)
+
+class _UTCTimeZone(datetime.tzinfo):
+    """UTC"""
+    def utcoffset(self, _dt):
+        return _ZERO
+    def tzname(self, _dt):
+        return "UTC"
+    def dst(self, _dt):
+        return _ZERO
+
+_UTC = _UTCTimeZone()
+
+
+def GetBannerTime(timestamp):
+  """Converts a timestamp into EZT-ready data so it can appear in the banner.
+
+  Args:
+    timestamp: timestamp expressed in the following format:
+         [year,month,day,hour,minute,second]
+         e.g. [2009,3,20,21,45,50] represents March 20 2009 9:45:50 PM
+
+  Returns:
+    EZT-ready data used to display the time inside the banner message.
+  """
+  if timestamp is None:
+    return None
+
+  ts = datetime.datetime(*timestamp, tzinfo=_UTC)
+  return calendar.timegm(ts.timetuple())
+
+
+def AssertBasePermissionForUser(user, user_view):
+  """Verify user permissions and state.
+
+  Args:
+    user: user_pb2.User protocol buffer for the user
+    user_view: framework.views.UserView for the user
+  """
+  if permissions.IsBanned(user, user_view):
+    raise permissions.BannedUserException(
+        'You have been banned from using this site')
+
+
+def AssertBasePermission(mr):
+  """Make sure that the logged in user can view the requested page.
+
+  Args:
+    mr: common information parsed from the HTTP request.
+
+  Returns:
+    Nothing
+
+  Raises:
+    BannedUserException: If the user is banned.
+    PermissionException: If the user does not have permisssion to view.
+  """
+  AssertBasePermissionForUser(mr.auth.user_pb, mr.auth.user_view)
+
+  if mr.project_name and not CheckPerm(mr, permissions.VIEW):
+    logging.info('your perms are %r', mr.perms)
+    raise permissions.PermissionException(
+        'User is not allowed to view this project')
+
+
+def CheckPerm(mr, perm, art=None, granted_perms=None):
+  """Convenience method that makes permission checks easier.
+
+  Args:
+    mr: common information parsed from the HTTP request.
+    perm: A permission constant, defined in module framework.permissions
+    art: Optional artifact pb
+    granted_perms: optional set of perms granted specifically in that artifact.
+
+  Returns:
+    A boolean, whether the request can be satisfied, given the permission.
+  """
+  return mr.perms.CanUsePerm(
+      perm, mr.auth.effective_ids, mr.project,
+      permissions.GetRestrictions(art), granted_perms=granted_perms)
+
+
+def CheckPermForProject(mr, perm, project, art=None):
+  """Convenience method that makes permission checks for projects easier.
+
+  Args:
+    mr: common information parsed from the HTTP request.
+    perm: A permission constant, defined in module framework.permissions
+    project: The project to enforce permissions for.
+    art: Optional artifact pb
+
+  Returns:
+    A boolean, whether the request can be satisfied, given the permission.
+  """
+  perms = permissions.GetPermissions(
+      mr.auth.user_pb, mr.auth.effective_ids, project)
+  return perms.CanUsePerm(
+      perm, mr.auth.effective_ids, project, permissions.GetRestrictions(art))
+
+
+def ComputeIssueEntryURL(mr, config):
+  """Compute the URL to use for the "New issue" subtab.
+
+  Args:
+    mr: commonly used info parsed from the request.
+    config: ProjectIssueConfig for the current project.
+
+  Returns:
+    A URL string to use.  It will be simply "entry" in the non-customized
+    case. Otherewise it will be a fully qualified URL that includes some
+    query string parameters.
+  """
+  if not config.custom_issue_entry_url:
+    return '/p/%s/issues/entry' % (mr.project_name)
+
+  base_url = config.custom_issue_entry_url
+  sep = '&' if '?' in base_url else '?'
+  token = xsrf.GenerateToken(
+    mr.auth.user_id, '/p/%s%s%s' % (mr.project_name, urls.ISSUE_ENTRY, '.do'))
+  role_name = framework_helpers.GetRoleName(mr.auth.effective_ids, mr.project)
+
+  continue_url = urllib.quote(framework_helpers.FormatAbsoluteURL(
+      mr, urls.ISSUE_ENTRY + '.do'))
+
+  return '%s%stoken=%s&role=%s&continue=%s' % (
+      base_url, sep, urllib.quote(token),
+      urllib.quote(role_name or ''), continue_url)
+
+
+def IssueListURL(mr, config, query_string=None):
+  """Make an issue list URL for non-members or members."""
+  url = '/p/%s%s' % (mr.project_name, urls.ISSUE_LIST)
+  if query_string:
+    url += '?' + query_string
+  elif framework_bizobj.UserIsInProject(mr.project, mr.auth.effective_ids):
+    if config and config.member_default_query:
+      url += '?q=' + urllib.quote_plus(config.member_default_query)
+  return url