Part IILegislative Powers
Scrutiny and stages of Bills
13Stages 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 Judicial Committee decide that any provision of the Bill would not be within the legislative competence of the Assembly;
b
a reference made in relation to a provision of the Bill under section 11 has been withdrawn following a request for withdrawal under section 12;
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.