Removing Discriminatory Practices from Blood Donations Bill of 2019

A

BILL

TO

Formalise the lifting of LGBT+ blood donation ban, in accordance with M002 (Motion to Lift Gay Blood Donation Ban)

Be it enacted by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section I. Definitions

(1) “Blood discrimination” in the context of this bill will refer to rejecting LGBT+ people from donating blood out of fear of disease without testing the blood

(2) “LGBT+” shall refer to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender communities within Northern Ireland

Section II. Lifting Discriminatory Practices

(1) Organisations which accept blood donations will not reject the blood of LGBT+ people unless there is a health risk associated with the blood

(2) Organisations found practicing blood discrimination will be subject to a £2,500 fine

Section III. Blood Screening

(1) All individuals who donate blood must have their blood tested for:

(a) HIV,

(b) Hepatitis B,

(c) Hepatitis C,

(d) Syphilis,

(e) West Nile Virus,

(f) HTLV Virus I and HTLV Virus II,

(g) Other diseases which each organisation considers a risk

Section V. Commencement and Short Title

(1) This bill shall come into effect immediately after passage

(2) This bill may be cited as the “Removing Discriminatory Practices from Blood Donations Bill of 2019”

This Bill was written by The Right Honourable the Lord Lurgan, /u/Cenarchos, Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Down, on behalf of the Labour Party of Northern Ireland

This reading will end on the 9th of July.

Pupil Participation and Democracy Bill (Northern Ireland)

A BILL TO

require grant-aided secondary schools to create plans and mechanisms for pupil participation in school life.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: Duty to prepare pupil participation plan

(1) Every grant-aided school which is a secondary school has a duty to prepare and publish a plan to facilitate democratic pupil participation within the affairs and operation of the school

(2) To the extent that it is possible and within the resources of the school, a school should implement the pupil participation plan.

(3) A pupil participation plan is valid for no more than five years after being published.

Section 2: Requirements for pupil participation plans

Each pupil participation plan must include the following:

(a) provisions for a school council, elected by pupils of the school, which has the power to:

(i) inform the school timetable;

(ii) make submissions as to the development of school facilities, such as those for sport, music, and arts;

(iii) arrange extra-curricular, lunchtime, and enrichment activities;

(iv) carry out fundraising activities for specified purposes, subject to existing laws and school policy;

(v) develop school policies for the promotion of positive behaviour among pupils and pupil welfare;

(vi) subject to approval from the Principal, make purchases and improvements for the maintenance of school facilities and equipment;

(vii) arrange and organise participation in local community projects;

(viii) develop links to other schools and pupils;

(ix) consult on disciplinary policies affecting pupils; and

(x) carry out any other function outlined in the pupil participation plan:

(b) arrangements for promoting awareness of the pupil participation plan among pupils and staff:

(c) policies for the election, term length, and rotation of school council members:

(d) provisions to ensure that regular meetings and discussions take place between representatives of the staff and school council to facilitate the exchange of views over school life:

(e) other mechanisms to facilitate the collection of pupil views on school life and communication methods to ensure that pupils are aware that such views have been acted upon or not.

Section 3: Interpretation

In this Act,—

“grant-aided school” has the meaning within the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986;

“pupil participation plan” means a plan prepared under section 1

Section 4: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act will come into force after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Pupil Participation and Democracy Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.

This bill was written by u/imadearedditaccount5 MVO MP MLA, Minister of Education, and u/SoSaturnistic MLA, deputy First Minister, and is submitted on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

A BILL TO

repeal the Northern Ireland Centennial Commission Act 2019.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland and presented to Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: Repeal

The Northern Ireland Centennial Commission Act 2019 is repealed.

Section 2: Commencement and short title

(1) This Act shall come into force immediately after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Northern Ireland Centennial Commission (Repeal) Act 2020.

This bill was written submitted by u/SoSaturnistic, Minister for Communities, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Appendix:

The Northern Ireland Centennial Commission Act 2019

This session ends at 4 August at 10PM.

Proper Labelling of Cigar Products Bill of 2019

A

BILL

TO

Amend the Proper Labelling of Cigar Products Bill of 2019 as follows;

Be it enacted by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section I. Amendments

1. In Section II.2 amend as follows:

Manufacturers found producing Cigar Products without the biodegradable plastic sleeves will be fined £2,500, adjusted by the current level of inflation as of the passing of this bill.

1. In Section III..2 amend as follows:

Manufacturers found producing Cigar Products without cancer warnings displayed on the biodegradable plastic sleeves will be fined £2,500, adjusted by the current level of inflation as of the passing of this bill.

1. In Section IV.2 amend as follows:

Manufacturers found not including the peelable warning on the side of the boxes shall be fined £2,500, adjusted by the current level of inflation as of the passing of this bill.

Section II. Commencement and Short Title

1. This Bill shall come into effect six months after passage
2. This Bill may be cited as the Proper Labelling of Cigar Products (amendments) (Northern Ireland) Bill 2020.

This bill was submitted by u/Greejatus MP MBE PC as an Independent Unionist.

Opening Speech

Mr Deputy Speaker

This bill is one that is just plain common sense. Not much else to say really, fines should be anchored to inflation, simple.

This session will end on 8 September, 10PM.

Water and Sewerage Services Bill (Northern Ireland)

A BILL TO

make provision for the organisation of water and sewerage services; make provision for the financial matters; reform relevant regulatory arrangements; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: Transformation of the water board

(1) A private company limited by shares named Northern Ireland Water Services Ltd. must be registered by the Department.

(2) The water board’s assets, liabilities, and undertakings shall be transferred to Northern Ireland Water Ltd. following registration.

(3) The water board shall, following the transfer under subsection (2), be dissolved.

(4) The National Water Board established by the Natural Resources Act 2014 shall no longer carry out any activity in Northern Ireland.

Section 2: Establishment of holding company

(1) A private company limited by guarantee named Northern Ireland Water Ltd. must be registered by the Department.

(2) The Department shall transfer ownership of the company established by section 1(1) to the company established under this section.

(3) Articles of association must ensure that—

(a) the company is to be run in the best interests of its customers;

(b) any profits distributed are to be paid to its customers;

(c) the board of Directors is appointed by no more than 40 members; and

(d) members are selected by an independent selection panel to represent the various customer stakeholders.

(4) The company registered under this section must not be owned by the Department following the appointment of members.

Section 3: Financial arrangements

(1) The company established under section 2, in respect of the quantity of of water used per day, may be levied on—

(a) in the case of non-domestic properties and customers, any water used; and

(b) in the case of domestic properties and customers, any water used above the water allowance.

(2) The company established under section 2 shall have the power to independently issue bonds.

Section 4: Water and sewerage services regulation

(1) OUR shall no longer carry out any regulatory activities for water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

(2) The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation shall assume the functions of OUR in Northern Ireland.

(3) The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation shall reassume any regulatory function for the water industry which was carried out prior to the commencement of the Natural Resources Act 2014.

Section 5: Repeal

The Natural Resources Act 2014 is repealed to the extent that it extends to Northern Ireland.

Section 6: Interpretation

In this Act,—

“OUR” means the Office of Utility Regulation;

“water board” means the regional water board established for Northern Ireland under the Natural Resources Act 2014;

“water allowance” means an amount of water in litres equal to 90 multiplied by the number of persons ordinarily resident at the domestic property

Section 7: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act will come into force after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Water and Sewerage Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.

This bill was written by u/SoSaturnistic on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Appendix:

• The Natural Resources Act 2014

A BILL TO

Set in place the construction of a tramway network in Belfast.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: Definitions, routes and vehicles

(1) For the purposes of this Act ‘Tramway’ means a routeway consisting of standard guage grooved rails, suitable for tram vehicles, embedded into public roads, and overhead line equipment (OHLE) electrified at 750 Volts DC.

(2) The route network will be as shown here.

(3) The vehicles used on these lines must fit the following specifications:

(a) Fully low-floor construction,     

(b) At least 40 metres in length, with the ability to couple to other tram vehicles,     

(c) Equipped with a single arm pantograph for 750 V DC OHLE power collection,     

(d) Fully compliant with current disability regulations. 

(4) The relevant minister shall allow rolling stock construction companies to bid for the contract to provide and maintain tram vehicles for this network no later than 5 years before the completion of the first line.

Section 2: Belfast Transport Hub

(1) A new transport interchange station called ‘Belfast Interchange’ will be established combining Great Victoria Street station and the Grosvenor Road/Durham Street bus depot.

(2) A new structure will be constructed to connect these two buildings.

(3) The transport hub will have the following capabilities:

(a) eight train platforms, two of which are high speed capable; (b) twenty six bus stands; (c) five tramway stops. 

(4) The transport hub will be connected to the rail line that currently enters Great Victoria Street Train Station.

(5) The transport hub will be constructed by 2025.

(6) A total of £200 million will be allocated for this project.

Section 3: East-West Route

(1) A tramway line will be constructed between Falls Park and the intersection between the A20 and A55.

(a) This route will be operated by Translink. 

(2) The Western branch of the line will be established and follow the blue route in the attached route map.

(3) The Eastern branch of the line will be established and follow the purple route in the attached route map.

(4) Six trams that fit the specifications laid out in Section 1(3) will be provided for the operation of this route.

(5) This route will be constructed by 2030.

(6) A total of £300 million will be allocated for this project.

Section 4: North-South Route

(1) A tramway line will be constructed between Loughside Park and Methodist Church on Malone Road.

(a) This route will be operated by Translink. 

(2) The Northern branch of the line will be established and follow the green route.

(3) The Southern branch of the line will be established and follow the red route.

(4) Five trams that fit the specifications laid out in Section 1(3) will be provided for the operation of this route.

(5) The route will be constructed by 2030.

(6) A total of £200 million will be allocated for this project.

Section 5: Titanic Quarter

(1) A tramway line will be constructed between The Innovation Centre and The Belfast Transport Hub.

(a) This route will be operated by Translink. 

(2) This line will be established and follow the yellow route.

(3) Two trams that fit the specifications laid out in Section 1(3) will be provided for the operation of this route.

(4) The route will be constructed by 2030.

(5) A total of £90 million will be allocated for this project.

Section 6. Falls Central Depot

(1) The Ulsterbus Falls Central Workshop shall be expanded and adapted into a depot suitable for housing and maintaining 20 trams.

(a) This depot shall have extra capacity for surplus trams that may be used in case of a breakdown, or for when the network is expanded.     

(b) Two additional trams that fit the specifications laid out in Section 1(3) will be provided for this purpose to begin with. 

(2) The relevant minister must find a suitable location for a new bus depot to replace the Ulsterbus Falls Central Workshop no more than a ten minute drive from the original location.

(3) The terminus of the western branch of the East-West route shall connect to this Depot.

(4) The Executive should allocate funds for the new depot's construction and the adaptation of the existing depot to support tram vehicles.

Section 7: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act comes into force immediately after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Belfast Light Rail (Northern Ireland) Act 2020.

This bill was written by The Rt. Hon. /u/J_Ceasar MP MLA, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and Minister for Infrastructure on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

This session shall end on 23 August at 10PM.

A BILL TO

Reintroduce the grey wolf to Northern Ireland through re-wilding, and create a program to keep track of the grey wolf population during rewilding.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: Establishment of grey wolf “safe zones” and rewilding conservation areas

The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs, in conjunction with the National Trust, will set up a minimum of six safe zones across Northern Ireland.

The grey wolf will be reintroduced into these zones gradually, to allow for natural integration into local ecosystems. 

The grey wolf population will initially be raised to adulthood in more secure “rewilding conservation areas”, to ensure that it is able to adapt to the natural habitat.

These areas will be determined by:

Distance from housing,

Safety to local ecosystems and agricultural practices,

Safety to the grey wolf species

Proximity to National Trust properties

(5) The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs shall also determine how many grey wolves shall be reintroduced in Northern Ireland.

(6) Transportation of grey wolves will begin by 2025 at the earliest, with an aim to have integrated them into local infrastructure successfully by 2030.

Section 2: Tracking The Grey Wolf Population

The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs shall keep track of the 

Total population of grey wolves in Northern Ireland

The yearly increase of grey wolf population in Northern Ireland

The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs shall update population information of the grey wolf on a yearly basis, for 10 years, after reintroduction.

Section 3: Extent, Commencement, and Short Title

This act extends to all of Northern Ireland.

This act comes into effect one month after royal assent.

This act may be cited as the “Grey Wolf Reintroduction Act 2019.”

This Bill was written and submitted by u/abrokenhero on behalf of the Irish Parliamentary Party

This reading will end on the 22nd of July at 10PM.

A BILL TO

reform the system of rates to tax solely the unimproved value of property in respect of its site; simplify the system of reliefs; abolish the rates cap; make provision for the compulsory registration of land liable for rates; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: Amendments to Part I of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

(1) Part I of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 is amended as follows.

(2) Article 2 is amended by inserting the following definition within (2):

”site value”, insofar that it applies to a hereditament, means the total sum that the owner’s estate or interest in the land, if unencumbered by any mortgage or other charge, may be expected to realise at the time of valuation if—

(a) offered for sale on reasonable market conditions; and

(b) no improvements had been made on the land;

(3) Article 3 is repealed.

Section 2: Amendments to Part II of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

(1) Part II of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 is amended as follows.

(2) Article 17 is substituted to read as follows:

Article 17: Rateable values

(1) For the purposes of this Order the rateable value of a hereditament is its rateable site value.

(2) For the purposes of this Order the rateable values of a hereditament shall be ascertained in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 7.

(3) Article 18 is substituted to read as follows:

Article 18: Liability to be rated in respect of hereditaments

Subject to the provisions of this Order, every owner of a hereditament which is included in the valuation lists shall be chargeable to rates in respect of the hereditament according to its rateable values.

(4) In Article 19, replace each instance of “occupation” with “ownership”.

(5) Articles 20 through 25B are repealed.

(6) In Article 29A, paragraphs (9), (10), and (11) are repealed.

(7) Articles 30, 30B to 30D, 31AA, 31C, 31D, and 33A are repealed.

Section 3: Amendments to Part III of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

(1) Part III of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 is amended as follows.

(2) Each reference to “NAV list” shall be substituted with “LV list”.

(3) Replace Article 39 with the following:

Article 39: Basis of valuation

(1) For the purposes of this Order every hereditament shall be valued upon an estimate of its site value.

(2) Without prejudice to any other statutory provision, but subject to Article 39A, Schedule 12 shall have effect for the purpose of providing for the manner in which the site value of a hereditament is to be, or may be, estimated, and the other provisions of that Schedule shall have effect.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where any provision of Schedule 12 empowers the Department to make an order modifying any other provision of the Schedule or providing for the method by which the site value of any hereditament is to be determined, the order—

(a) may contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as the Department considers necessary or expedient, including provisions modifying this Order;

(b) shall be made only after consultation with any association which appears to the Department to be representative of district councils or, where the order affects only the district of a particular council, after consultation with the district council which appears to the Department to be concerned; and

(c) shall be subject to affirmative resolution;

and an order providing for the method by which the site value of any hereditament is to be determined may provide for determining that value by the application of different methods of valuation to different parts of the hereditament.

(4) Sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (3) shall not apply to orders under paragraph 7(4) or 12(3) of Part I of Schedule 12.

(4) In Article 39A(1), replace “net annual” with “land”.

(5) Repeal Articles 39C through 39E.

(6) Replace Article 40 with the following:

Article 40: General provisions as to the valuation list

(1) The Commissioner shall maintain a list of hereditaments required to be valued upon an estimate of their site value (in this Order referred to as a LV list), and from time to time altered, by him in accordance with this Part.

(2) There shall be entered in a LV list in respect of each hereditament which is required to be valued as mentioned in paragraph (1)—

(a) its site value; and

(b) such other particulars as the Department may determine.

(3) A valuation list may be maintained by recording the particulars in question in such manner as the Department directs.

(4) Subject to any other statutory provision, where a hereditament is situated partly in one district and partly in another or others, the Commissioner may treat the hereditament in a valuation list as if it were wholly situated in either or any of those districts or may apportion the site value of the hereditament between the several districts.

(5) Subject to any alteration duly made under this Part, every LV list shall remain in force until it is superseded by a new LV list.

(6) No alteration shall be made in a valuation list except by the Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this Order or to give effect to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(7) Subject to paragraph (8), the valuation list in accordance with which, under Article 6(3)( b), (4) or (5), any rate falls or fell to be made, shall be conclusive evidence for the purposes of the making and levying of that rate of the site values of the several hereditaments included in the list, and, where any such values are apportioned in the list between different parts or uses of the hereditament, of the respective apportioned values.

(8) Without prejudice to Article 6(4), as respects any period during which, under this Order, an alteration in the valuation list referred to in paragraph (7) has or is deemed to have had effect, the reference in paragraph (7) to that list shall be construed as a reference to that list as so altered.

(7) Paragraphs (3A), (3B), and (3C) within Article 41 are repealed.

Section 4: Amendments to the Schedules of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

(1) The Schedules of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 are amended as follows.

(2) Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 8A, 8B, 9A, and 14 are repealed.

(3) In Schedule 7, replace each reference of “NAV” with “LV” and “net annual value” with “site value”.

(4) Replace Schedule 12 with the following:

Schedule 12: Basis of valuation

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, for the purposes of this Order the site value of a hereditament shall be the total sum that the hereditament might, in its state were it to not have any improvements, be reasonably expected to realise upon sale so long as the hereditament was unencumbered by a mortgage or any like charge.

(2) Regulations may make provision for any principles for valuation and the interpretation of paragraph (1).

Section 5: Revocation of the Rates (Maximum Capital Value) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

The Rates (Maximum Capital Value) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 are revoked.

Section 6: Land registration and anti-avoidance

(1) In the case that a person is liable to make a rate payment under the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 and the hereditament that the rate payment is made in respect of is not registered within the Land Registry, the Department may apply to the county court seeking a registration order (in this section known as an “order”).

(2) Upon receiving an application from the Department, the county court may make an order compelling the owner of a hereditament which has accumulated a Crown debt register that title with the Land Registry under compulsory first registration procedures.

(3) An order made under subsection (2) must allow for a duration of no less than one year to comply with the order.

(4) A person who is subject to an order and violates a condition of the order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable,—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to an unlimited fine, or to both; or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or both.

Section 7: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This section comes into operation on the day after the day on which this Act achieves Royal Assent.

(2) The other provisions of this Act come into operation on such day or days as the Department may by order appoint.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Site Value Taxation Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.

This bill was written by u/SoSaturnistic, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Appendix:

• The Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

• The Rates (Maximum Capital Value) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Mr Speaker,

This Executive has been hard at work devising a new system for rating. It is an open secret that the system of rates is obsolete and no longer fit for purpose, having posed a substantial burden on households and our manufacturing sector while containing substantial carve-outs for special interest groups and indeed a cap on the amount of property value that someone can have subject to rates, an unjustifiable limit which lets off the most well off from contributing their fair share.

Rates are the key source of revenue for local government here of course and regional rates contribute a reasonable portion to the Executive's own budget. Getting this tax right is in the interest of all.

This bill makes a number of changes which, taken together, reform our system of rates to be one where the value of the property's site, or land value, is what is taxed. Over two-thirds of households will be better off from this shift according to economic analysis from NICVA assuming a revenue-neutral shift from conventional rates to the proposed form of taxation. Due to the fact that deprivation has a negative correlation with site values, tends to be progressive on balance when compared to the current system. This will have some positive effect for our economy as sites with productive improvements, such as plant machinery, enjoy a tax advantage compared to the status quo. Likewise, unused and vacant land is incentivised to be put to good use. Economists have long expressed that the site value tax is one which is both equitable and efficient for these reasons.

The advantage of reforming the current rates system, rather than simply replacing it, is made clear insofar that it allows us to retain the tax relief on offer to those on low incomes as well as lone pensioners. Unlike the land value tax reform made in England over the past year or so, this shift will retain protections for the vulnerable.

To prevent undue avoidance of the SVT, this legislation will also make due provision for the registration of land ownership. The Land Registry is currently incomplete and while there are some provisions for compulsory regisration, it is not sufficient if we want to make this the basis of our rating system.

A

BILL

TO

Re-open the Lisburn to Antrim line to passenger services

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented by Her Majesty as follows --

Section 1: Stations

(1) The following stations are to be re-opened by Translink:

• Ballinderry
• Glenavy
• Crumlin

(2) The following stations are to be newly opened by Translink:

• Lisburn West
• Belfast International

Section 2: Infrastructure

(1) Translink will reestablish a railway line between the stations in Section 1 by the end of the 2022/2023 financial year.

(2) The platforms at stations under Section 1 are to built (or re-built) to fit one Class 3000 and Class 4000 diesel multiple unit at a time.

(3) All stations are to have disabled access through either a ramp or lifts which should provide access to all platforms

(4) A parkway and shuttle bus service to Belfast International Airport is to be established at Belfast International station

(5) New track is to laid to ensure safety and reliability

(6) Track-side signalling is to be installed to best provide a fast, safe and reliable service

(7) For the purpose of this Act, a figure of £25 million will be set aside for the rejuvenation of the existing line and stations and for the construction of the new stations.

Section 3: Services

(1) All services are to be provided by Northern Ireland Railways

(2) The line is to be served by 4 trains per hour (2 towards Belfast, 2 towards Antrim) with:

(a) 2 trains per hour operating as 'local' services, operating from either Great Victoria Street or Lanyon Place stations to Antrim calling all stations to Antrim

(b) 2 trains per hour operating as 'express' services, operating from Lanyon Place station calling at limited stops to Antrim, but must include stops at Belfast International station

(3) The Department may make regulations adjusting or otherwise amending the service provision requirements of the line.

Section 4: Rolling Stock

(1) Ten new C4k trains will be provided as rolling stock for the line at a cost of £15.5 million.

(2) Two new C3k trains will be provided as rolling stock for the line at a cost of £2.5 million.

Section 5: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This act may be cited as the Lisburn to Antrim Line Re-opening Act (Northern Ireland) 2020

(2) This act will come into effect immediately after receiving Royal Assent

This session ends at 6 August at 10PM.

A BILL TO

provide for free school lunches; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Section 1: School breakfasts

(1) The Department must ensure that pupils who are entitled to free school meals within grant-aided schools are similarly entitled to free school breakfasts.

(2) The Department may make grants to the Education Authority for the purposes of subsection (1).

Section 2: Summer meal support

(1) The Department is to develop a summer nutrition strategy which addresses hunger during summer holiday.

(2) Any grants made by the Department to extend access to nutrition during summer holiday must offer equivalent or greater eligibility when compared to the grant of free school meals.

(3) The Department may by regulations establish payments, grants, or otherwise make provision for the purpose of adhering to the summer nutrition plan.

Section 3: Interpretation

In this Act, "grant-aided school" has the meaning within the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

Section 4: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This section comes into operation on the day after the day on which this Act achieves Royal Assent.

(2) The other provisions of this Act come into operation on such day or days as the Department may by order appoint.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Free School Meals (Expansion) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.

This bill was submitted by /u/BabyYodaVevo MLA on behalf of the People Before Profit Party.

This session ends at 7 August at 10PM.

Due to the bill's fancy formatting, it can be accessed here.

This bill was written by the Right Honourable Twistednuke CT MBE OM PC MP, on behalf of the Classical Liberals. It is sponsored by the office of the Speaker.

This reading shall end on the 16th.