C1 Part II Legislative Powers

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Scrutiny and stages of Bills

13 Stages of Bills.

1

Standing orders shall include provision—

a

for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for members to vote on its general principles;

b

for the consideration of, and an opportunity for members to vote on, the details of a Bill; and

c

for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected but not amended.

2

Standing orders may, in relation to different types of Bill, modify provisions made in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) or (b).

3

Standing orders—

a

shall include provision for establishing such a committee as is mentioned in paragraph 11 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement;

b

may include provision for the details of a Bill to be considered by the committee in such circumstances as may be specified in the orders.

4

Standing orders shall include provision—

a

requiring the Presiding Officer to send a copy of each Bill, as soon as reasonably practicable after introduction, to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and

b

enabling the Assembly to ask the Commission, where the Assembly thinks fit, to advise whether a Bill is compatible with human rights (including the Convention rights).

5

Standing orders shall provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its passing if (and only if)—

a

the F1Supreme Court decides that any provision of the Bill would not be within the legislative competence of the Assembly;

F2b

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

c

a decision is made in relation to the Bill under section 14(4) or (5); or

d

a motion under section 15(1) is passed by either House of Parliament.

6

Standing orders shall, in particular, ensure that any Bill amended on reconsideration is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected but not amended.

7

References in subsection (5) and other provisions of this Act to the passing of a Bill shall, in the case of a Bill which has been amended on reconsideration, be read as references to the approval of the Bill.