Legislative reports: Alberta.

• Author: Reynolds, Robert

The Fall Sitting of the First Session of the Twenty-Fifth Legislature adjourned on November 29, 2001, after 11 sitting days. At the conclusion of the sitting, 13 Government Bills and 3 Private Members' Bills received Royal Assent, leaving no Government Bills on the Order Paper.

During the Fall Sitting, the Assembly approved supplementary estimates totaling $436,910,000 which included transfers and non-budgetary disbursements.

Bill 16, School Amendment Act, 2001, Bill 18, Health Professions Amendment Act, 2001 and Bill 21, Electronic Transactions Act, were carried over from the spring sitting and passed during the Fall Sitting.

Some of the Bills introduced and passed during the fall sitting include:

* Bill 25, Victims Restitution and Compensation Payment Act, 2001, institutes a process that allows victims to recover their property or obtain court-ordered restitution for losses suffered as a result of illegal activities;

* Bill 26, Trustee Amendment Act, 2001, amends the Trustee Act to replace the statutory list of allowable investments with the prudent investor standard;

* Bill 27, Provincial Court Amendment Act, 2001, provides a mechanism to allow Provincial Court judges who have reached the retirement age of 70, subject to certain criteria, to be eligible to be reappointed for one-year terms up to the age of 75 in addition to making minor amendments relating to civil proceedings in Alberta's Provincial Court.

* Bill 28, Agricultural Operation Practices Amendment Act, 2001. This Bill establishes science-based technical standards and procedures to approve, monitor, enforce, and site all new and expanding confined feeding operations previously referred to as intensive livestock operations.

Private Members' Public Bills

Three Private Members' Bills received Royal Assent during the Fall Sitting:

* Bill 207 -- Alberta Personal Income Tax (Tools Credit) Amendment Act, 2001 sponsored by Rob Lougheed, (Clover Bar Fort Saskatchewan) enables apprentices and tradespeople to deduct the cost of their tools used in employment where the cost of the tools exceeds $500 to a maximum amount of $5000 and comes into force on Proclamation.

* Bill 208 -- Official Song Act sponsored by Wayne Cao, (Calgary Fort) creates an all- party committee with a mandate to select an official song for Alberta.

* Bill 209 -- Highway Traffic (Bicycle Safety Helmet) Amendment Act, 2001 sponsored by Yvonne Fritz, (Calgary Cross) requires persons under the age of 18 years to wear...