New laws proposed in HOA

Legislators introduced or debated 10 pieces of legislation, including amendments and new bills, during today’s House of Assembly sitting.

In a move members said would help expand the territory’s economy, the category of fish farming was added to the Pioneer Services Act. Businesses granted pioneer services status by Cabinet are given tax and duty incentives in exchange for providing a critical service or building up a new industry in the territory.

For the second sitting in a row, Premier Ralph O’Neal asked to have the Dormant Accounts Act deferred to another sitting. As in the April sitting, Mr. O’Neal said that the president of the Bankers Association requested that the HOA defer the act.

Members introduced, but did not discuss, amendments to the Elections Act, Road Act, Courts of Justice Fees Act and Commissioners for Oaths and Public Notaries Act. They also introduced a new law: the Service Commissions Act.

Members spent much of the afternoon in committee debating an amendment to the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act.

See the June 9, 2011 edition for full coverage.