AS AMENDED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Legal Supplement Part C to the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette, Vol. 43, No. 17, 30th January, 2004

Transcription

1 AS AMENDED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Legal Supplement Part C to the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette, Vol. 43, No. 17, 30th January, 2004 No. 4 of 2004 Second Session Eighth Parliament Republic of Trinidad and Tobago HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BILL AN ACT to amend the Public Assistance Act, Chap. 32:03 PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, PORT-OF-SPAIN REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 2004

2 THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL, 2004 Explanatory Note (These notes form no part of the Bill but are intended only to indicate its general purport) The Bill seeks to amend the Public Assistance Act, Chap. 32:03 to extend the scope of persons who may be eligible for disability assistance, to increase the amount of the disability assistance grant and to validate certain things thereunder. Clause 1 contains the short title of the Act. Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the Act. 2 Clause 3(a) would amend section 11A(1)(b) of the Public Assistance Act, Chap. 32:03, by deleting the existing provision and substituting a new provision which would stipulate that an applicant for the disability grant must be a citizen or resident of Trinidad and Tobago and must have been continuously resident in this country for a period of three years preceding his claim, provided that he has not been absent from Trinidad and Tobago for an aggregate period exceeding six months. Clause 3(a) would amend section 11A(1)(c) by deleting the word forty and substituting the word eighteen which seeks to widen the scope of persons, who may benefit from the disability grant to include persons between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five years. Clause 3(a) would amend section 11A(1)(d) whereby an applicant would be required to be certified by a Medical Officer as being so disabled that he is unable to earn a livelihood. Clause 3(b) seeks to amend section 11A(3) of the Public Assistance Act, Chap. 32:03, by increasing the disability assistance grant from six hundred dollars per month to six hundred and fifty dollars, with effect from 1st December, Clause 3(c) would amend section 11A by inserting a new subsection (5) to grant the Minister a discretion to approve claims where the applicant has been continuously resident in Trinidad and Tobago for more than twelve months but less than three years. Clause 4 seeks to validate the increased payments of disability assistance in the amount of six hundred and fifty dollars made to persons on or after 1st December, 2003.

3 3 BILL AN ACT to amend the Public Assistance Act, Chap. 32:03 [, 2004] ENACTED by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago as follows: 1. This Act may be cited as the Public Assistance (Amendment and Validation) Act, Enactment Short title

4 4 Commencement Chap. 32:03 amended 2. This Act is deemed to have come into operation on 1st December, Section 11A of the Public Assistance Act is amended (a) in subsection (1) (i) by deleting paragraph (b) and substituting the following paragraph: (b) he (i) is a citizen or resident of Trinidad and Tobago as defined in Chap. 18:01 the Immigration Act; and (ii) has been continuously resident in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of three years preceding the claim for disability assistance, except that he has not been absent from Trinidad and Tobago for a period exceeding six months in the aggregate; ; (ii) in paragraph (c) by deleting the word forty and substituting the word eighteen ; and (iii) in paragraph (d) by deleting the full stop and inserting the words and has been certified by a Medical Officer as being so disabled. ;

5 5 (b) in subsection (3) by deleting the words six hundred and substituting the words six hundred and fifty ; and (c) by inserting after subsection (4) the following subsection: (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1) (b)(ii), the Minister may approve a claim for disability assistance where the applicant has been continuously resident in Trinidad and Tobago for more than twelve months but less than three years.. 4. The increase in disability assistance in excess of six hundred dollars paid by the Board to persons on or after 1st December, 2003, is hereby validated. Validation Passed in the House of Representatives this, day of Clerk of the House I confirm the above. Speaker Passed in the Senate this day of, I confirm the above. Clerk of the Senate President of the Senate

6 No. 4 of 2004 SECOND SESSION EIGHTH PARLIAMENT REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BILL AN ACT to amend the Public Assistance Act, Chap. 32:03 Received and read the First time... Second time... Third time...