BILL NO Ministerial Spending and Accountability Act

Transcription

1 2nd SESSION, 62nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY Province of Prince Edward Island 54 ELIZABETH II, 2005 BILL NO. 109 Ministerial Spending and Accountability Act Ron MacKinley MLA PRIVATE MEMBER S BILL BERYL BUJOSEVICH Queen s Printer Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

2 For House Use Only Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly AMENDMENTS ASSEMBLY / SESSION / YEAR 62nd General / 2nd / 2005 BILL NUMBER: 109 PAGE No. of PAGES TITLE: MINISTERIAL SPENDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT # SECTION AMENDMENT DATE NOTED CERTIFIED CORRECT: CLERK LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL CHAIRMAN, IN COMMITTEE

3 BILL NO Ministerial Spending and Accountability Act BE IT ENACTED by the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island as follows: 1. In this Act, (a) Auditor General means the Auditor General appointed under section 3 of the Audit Act R.S.P.E.I Cap. A-24; (b) Clerk means the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly; (c) expense incurred on government business means an expense that is directly required in order to carry out the activities relating to government business being carried out by a member of the Executive Council. 2. A member of the Executive Council is eligible to incur expenses on a government credit card if it is an expense incurred on government business. 3. (1) Every member of the Executive Council who incurs expenses on a government credit card shall, within 60 days of receiving the credit card statement showing the expenses, submit a true copy of the statement to (a) the Legislative Assembly, if it is sitting; or (b) the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, if the Legislative Assembly is not sitting. Definitions Auditor General Clerk expense incurred on government business Expenses on government credit card Submission of copy of credit card statement (2) Where a credit card statement is submitted to the Clerk pursuant to clause (1)(b), the Clerk shall cause the statement to be published in the Royal Gazette as soon as possible. 4. No member of the Executive Council shall use a government credit card for personal items or for expenses not incurred on government business. 5. Any questions regarding the appropriateness of the expenses incurred by Members of the Executive Council shall be filed with the Clerk, who shall (a) refer the questions to the Auditor General; and (b) forward the appropriate credit card statement to the Auditor General. Publication Prohibition Questions 6. (1) The Auditor General has the authority to order a Member of the Executive Council to repay any expenses incurred on a government Order to repay expenses 1

4 2 Bill No. 109 Ministerial Spending and Accountability Act 2005 credit card that the Auditor General considers to be inappropriate or contrary to this Act. Report (2) The Auditor General shall table a report within 10 days of the opening of any Session, respecting an order made under subsection (1). 2

5 2005 Ministerial Spending and Accountability Act Bill No EXPLANATORY NOTES SECTION 1 is the definition section. SECTION 2 provides for members of the Executive Council to incur expenses on a government credit card. SECTION 3 requires a copy of a credit card statement to be submitted to the Legislative Assembly or to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly; and for the statement to be published in the Royal Gazette. SECTION 4 prohibits the use of a government credit card for personal items or non-government business. SECTION 5 provides for questions to be filed with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, who then forwards the questions and credit card statement to the Auditor General. SECTION 6 gives the Auditor General the power to order the repayment of any expenses charged on a government credit card and requires the submission of a report on such orders to the Legislative Assembly. 3

6 BILL NO. 109 Ministerial Spending and Accountability Act STAGE: DATE: 1st Reading: April 7, nd Reading: To Committee: Reported: 3rd Reading and Pass: Assent: Ron. MacKinley MLA PRIVATE MEMBER S BILL nd SESSION, 62nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY