Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694571763178.pdf (Antigua and Barbuda)
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA SOCIAL PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 20201 NO.

OF 2021 No.

of 2021 2 Social Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 Social Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 3 No.

of 2021 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA SOCIAL PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021 ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES CLAUSES 1.

2.
2.

Short title .................................................................................................................................. 4 Interpretation ............................................................................................................................ 4 3.

Amendment of section 5 – Establishment of the Board ........................................................... 4 4.
Amendment of section 6 – Constitution of the Board .............................................................. 4 5.

Amendment of section 39 – Composition of the Commission ................................................. 4 6.

Amendment of section 44 - Meetings ...................................................................................... 5 7.

Amendment of section 54 – Specific eligibility criteria ........................................................... 5 No.
of 2021 4 Social Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA SOCIAL PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021 NO.

OF 2021 AN ACT to amend the Social Protection Act 2020, No.

22 of 2020 and for other connected purposes.

ENACTED by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda as follows: 1.

Short title This Act may be cited as the Social Protection (Amendment) Act 2021.

2.

Interpretation In this Act, “principal Act” means the Social Protection Act 2020, No.

22 of 2020.

3.
22 of 2020.

3.

Amendment of section 5 – Establishment of the Board Section 5 of the principal Act is amended by repealing the word “seven” and replacing this with the word “ten”.

4.

Amendment of section 6 – Constitution of the Board Section 6 (1) of the principal Act is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (g) a new paragraph as follows – “(h) three ordinary members appointed by the Minister” 5.
Amendment of section 39 – Composition of the Commission Section 39 of the principal Act is amended as follows – (a) by repealing subsection (1) and replacing it as follows: “(1) The Commission shall comprise 10 commissioners who shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as the Minister may specify.” (b) by repealing subsection (3) and replacing it as follows: “(3) The Commission consists of: (a) the Director (b) a member from Barbuda; Social Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 5 No.
of 2021 (c) a member nominated by the Minister with responsibility for health; (d) a member nominated by the Minister with responsibility for finance; (e) a member nominated by the Minister with responsibility for education; (f) a member nominated by the Minister with responsibility for labour; (g) four members nominated by the Minister” 6.
Amendment of section 44 - Meetings Section 44 (6) of the principal Act is amended by repealing the words “5 commissioners” and replacing these with the words “7 commissioners”.

7.

Amendment of section 54 – Specific eligibility criteria Section 54(2) of the principal Act is amended by repealing the word “National”.

Passed by the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate this day of 2021 this day of , 2021 Speaker President Clerk to the House of Representatives Clerk to the Senate No.
of 2021 6 Social Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM The objective of this amendment is to allow for an increase in the membership of persons appointed to the Social Protection Board and the Social Protection Commission and for the making of consequential and other minor amendments to the Act.

Clause 1 and 2: Short title and Interpretation: Upon passing, this Bill will be referred to as the Social Protection (Amendment) Act 2021.
It is an amendment to the Social Protection Act 2020, No.

22/2020 Clause 3: Amendment of section 5 of the principal Act dealing with the Establishment of the Board.

The overall membership of the Board is increased from seven to ten members.

Clause 4: Amendment of section 6 – Constitution of the Board, the law now makes provision for three (3) ordinary members to be added to the Board.

Clause 5: Amendment of section 39- Composition of the Commission.
Previously, the Commission comprised seven members, this has been increased to ten members.

The additional 3 members are to be appointed by the Minister.

Clause 6: Amendment of section 44 – Meetings.

The Quorum for meetings now set at 5 commissioners has been increased to 7 commissioners as a result of the increased membership.

Clause 7: Amendment of section 54 – Specific eligibility criteria.
The Act refers to the establishment of a social protection Commission and not a National Social Protection Commission.

Hence the word “National” which appears in the name of the Commission in this section is now deleted.

Minister with responsibility for National Security Hon.

Dean Jonas, Printed for HoR Sitting: 28.01.2021 S4:S1