Voluntary Organisations Bill tops Parliament's agenda

Members of Parliament are due to start debating the Voluntary Organisations Bill when they return to the House of Representatives this evening after the Christmas recess.

The Bill, published some weeks ago, is aimed at regulating voluntary organisations and establishes the office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, a Council for Voluntary Organisations and a Voluntary Organisations Fund.

It defines "voluntary", "social purpose" and "non-profit-making" in terms of voluntary organisations.

The Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations will be responsible for the enrolment of voluntary organisations, monitor and, if necessary, coordinate their activities, provide them with information to help them in their activities and advise the government. The commissioner will also investigate complaints on voluntary organisations and take action accordingly.

Voluntary organisations would be invited to enrol with the commissioner and would henceforth be able to make public collections without the need for further authorisation. They may also receive grants, sponsorships and other financial aid from the government and benefit from exemptions, privileges or other entitlements given by the government.

The proposed Council for the Voluntary Sector will assist the commissioner and provide a platform from which to develop cooperation between the various organisations and the government.

The Voluntary Organisations Fund will be a foundation that will assist and support enrolled voluntary organisations through education, management support and financial grants. It will be administered by the council.

Prior to starting the debate on the Voluntary Organisations Bill, the House is today expected to give a first reading to a Bill amending various laws and a Bill to amend the Housing (Decontrol) Ordinance.

Five other Bills are also on the agenda of the House. According to the Objects and Reasons, the purpose of the Civil Code (amendment No. 2) Bill is "to regulate legal persons, their registration and their administration as well as outline the relevant legal norms and to regulate foundations and associations in detail".

Debate on the Administrative Justice Bill had started before the Christmas recess and had run into sharp disagreement as to whether it should be a review tribunal or the ordinary courts that should review administrative acts of the public administration. The main purpose of the Bill, however, is to streamline the operations of the various administrative tribunals and gradually group them into one administrative tribunal.

A Bill to implement budget measures is also before the House, along with two Bills to amend the Constitution - one dealing with Gozo and the electoral process, about which agreement between the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party was reached before Christmas, and the other on the entrenchment of the Office of the Ombudsman, about which there is no disagreement.

Also on the agenda is the continuation of a discussion on a report issued by the Secretariat for the Self-Employed.