Private Bills

(1) Every Bill, not being a Government measure, intended to affect or benefit some particular person, association or corporate body (in this Standing Order called a “Private Bill”) shall contain a clause saving the rights of Her Majesty the Queen, Her Heirs and Successors, all bodies politic and corporate, and all others except such as are mentioned in the Bill and those claiming by, from, or under, them, and may be introduced into the House under the provisions of this Standing provided that the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Order shall not apply to measures to incorporate churches, and from the commencement of this proviso, churches shall be incorporated as companies limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. CAP. 250. (2) Any Bill, not being a Government measure, which in the opinion of the Speaker appears to affect directly private rights or property may be introduced into the House as a Private Bill under the provisions of this Standing Order. (3) A Private Bill shall be introduced by a Member, only– (a) on petition from the promoters stating the objects of and reasons for the Bill; and (b) after notice of the Bill has been given– (i) by not less than three successive publications of the Bill in the Gazette; and (ii) by three successive publications in a newspaper circulating in the Country of a notice containing a statement of the objects of and the reasons for the Bill. 90 Belize Constitution (4) The Petition shall be presented by being lodged with the Clerk, and shall be read at the first ordinary sitting of the House after it is so lodged, and thereupon the Speaker shall put the question that the promoters be allowed to proceed. (5) Subject to paragraph (6) of this Standing Order, when leave to proceed has been granted, the promoters shall, within the next ensuing three months after such leave has been granted, lodge with the Clerk of the House– (a) two copies of the Bill; (b) a certificate under the hand of the Accountant General certifying that the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars (or such less sum as the Clerk may in writing approve), to meet the expenses of printing, has been deposited with the Accountant General; (c) a bond duly executed by two sufficient persons obliging them to pay on demand to the Clerk any excess over the deposited sum, required for such expenses. (6) The Clerk shall cause the Bill lodged with him to be printed as early as possible, and, at the first ordinary sitting of the House after the printing is completed, the Speaker, if he is satisfied that the notices required by paragraph (3) of this Standing Order have been given, shall put the question that the Bill be read a first time, upon which no discussion shall be allowed. After the Bill is read a first time, it shall stand upon the Order Paper for the second reading at the next ordinary sitting (7) Upon the day ordered for second reading, the Speaker shall, unless the House otherwise orders, put the question that the Bill be read a second time. Belize Constitution 91 (8) After the Bill has been read a second time, it shall stand referred to a Special Select Committee to be chosen by the Speaker. The Speaker shall appoint the Chairman of the (a) Every Special Select Committee on such a Bill shall require proof of the facts and other allegations set forth in the Bill as showing that it is expedient that the Bill should be passed, and may take such oral or other evidence as it may think requisite; and thereafter, if the Select Committee finds that the said facts and allegations are not proved, it shall report to the House accordingly, and thereupon no further proceedings shall be taken with reference to the Bill unless the House makes a special order to the contrary. (b) If the Special Select Committee finds that the said facts and allegations have been proved, the Committee shall consider the several clauses of the Bill and may strike out clauses, add new clauses, and make any other amendments which it shall deem necessary, and in respect of such new clauses and other amendments shall describe their purport in a Special Report to the House. No new clauses or amendments shall be allowed in such a Bill which are foreign to the objects of and reasons for the Bill or which are beyond its scope. (10) No person, other than a Member of the House, shall be heard in opposition to any Private Bill, unless he has previously lodged a petition with the Clerk showing the nature of his objections to the Bill, and stating whether his objections extend to the whole or some part of the preamble (if any), or to the 92 Belize Constitution clauses of the said Bill, and praying that he may be heard by himself or his Counsel against the Bill. (11) Subject to the provisions of this Standing Order, all petitions against a Bill, where such petitions contain a prayer that the petitioners be heard by themselves or Counsel, shall stand referred to the Special Select Committee, and the Committee shall hear all such opposers who appear to have a locus standi. (12) When it is intended to examine any witnesses before the Special Select Committee, the provisions of paragraphs (11) and (12) of Standing Order 79 (Procedure in Select Committees) shall apply. (13) The Special Select Committee shall examine the Bill and make such amendments thereto as it thinks proper, and shall report to the House that it has examined the Bill, and (if the fact be so) made amendments thereto, and shall make to the House such recommendations, if any, as it thinks fit. (14) After the report of the Special Select Committee has been presented to and adopted by the House in accordance with Standing Order No. 57 the Speaker shall put the question, without amendment or debate, that the Bill be read a third time. (15) As soon as practicable after any Private Bill is passed, rejected, dropped or abandoned, the Clerk of the House shall make out an account showing, according to the scale prescribed or approved by the Minister, the expenses of printing, and shall transmit the same, signed by him, to the Accountant General who thereupon shall, if the amount of the account is less than two hundred and fifty dollars, transfer such amount from the deposited sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to the general revenue of this Country, and pay the balance to the depositors, their executors or administrators. Belize Constitution 93 (16) If the account for the expenses of printing exceeds two hundred and fifty dollars the Accountant General shall transfer the whole of the deposited sum to the credit of the general revenue of this Country, and the Attorney General shall, in the event of the promoters failing to pay the Accountant General the balance after being requested so to do, take proceedings to enforce payment of such balance.