[7 October 2015]
The Legislative Committee Act 2015
An ACT to create a legislative committee for the purposes of scrutiny and editing of draft legislation.
BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Burgesses in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. SHORT TITLE
This act may be cited for all purposes as “The Legislative Committee Act.”
2. FORMATION OF A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
A. The Chancery shall establish a new legislative committee group, in which all Lords and Burgesses of Parliament shall be entitled to be added.
B. The Lord Chancellor may, at his discretion, add individuals to the legislative committee group who do not have a seat in Parliament for a time period to be determined by the Lord Chancellor.
3. PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
The legislative committee shall be an optional process for the Government and private members to present draft legislation to the members of Parliament for their comments and suggestions to assist the authors of legislation in perfecting and refining draft legislation before it is officially presented to Parliament.
4. LORDS AND BURGESSES TO SIT JOINTLY
The Lords and Burgesses of Parliament shall sit together on the legislative committee and not divide, even if they shall sit in separate houses in Parliament.
5. USE OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE NOT REQUIRED OR RESTRICTIVE
A. This act shall in no way prohibit the Government or any private member from introducing legislation before Parliament without first having introduced it before the legislative committee.
B. Draft legislation presented before the committee may only be edited with the consent of the primary author of the legislation, even if a majority of the members of the committee believe that a change should be made.
C. The length of time that draft legislation may remain in the committee for consideration is left to the discretion of the primary author of the legislation.
6. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DURING PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION
A. The legislative committee may meet during periods of prorogation or dissolution of Parliament, but no bill from the committee may be introduced before Parliament until such time as Parliament has been lawfully assembled.
B. Draft legislation that is still in the consideration of the legislative committee when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved is not affected by prorogation or dissolution, and may still be considered in the legislative committee while Parliament is not in session.
7. COMMENCEMENT
This legislation and all the provisions therein shall come into force upon receiving the Royal Assent.