(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY March 29: The parliamentary Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee has approved a draft bill on organizing student unions. Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Sunday Committee Rapporteur MP Abdul- Hameed Dashti explained they approved the proposal but some stipulations must be amended. He said the revised version of the bill must state that the formation of a student union's chapter outside Kuwait should be done in accordance with the laws of the countries where the chapter will operate. He pointed out the amended bill should also prohibit accepting or collecting donations or contributions unless approval is obtained from the concerned ministry.
He added the amended bill gives members of the union the right to vote for one candidate in its elections. Meanwhile Dashti confirmed the committee approved the proposal to add Article Four to Foreigners Residency Law Number 14/1959 which bans the entry of foreigners charged with mocking religions offending Islam or the Companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the Prophet's Household (Al-Bait). He said the committee also endorsed the bill to amend some provisions of Consumer Protection Law Number 39/2014.
He explained the revised bill gives consumers the right to push ahead with the necessary proceedings before the judicial authorities through the National Committee for Consumer Protection or public interest associations. In case of delay the bill gives consumers the right to file a criminal lawsuit against anybody proven to have harmed their interests provided there are 50 plaintiffs or more.
On the other hand Dashti said the panel rejected other proposals such as granting free medical treatment to children of Kuwait women married to non-Kuwaitis amendment of the Citizenship Law and compensation for victims of accidents caused by uninsured vehicles. Furthermore the Public Utilities Committee approved the report of its finance counterpart on the proposed establishment of Kuwaiti jointstock companies for the construction of power plants. The proposal gives the Cabinet right to build power plants with more than 500 megawatts capacity in the event of the unavailability of a company to carry out this task.
Committee Rapporteur MP Saud Al-Hariji revealed they discussed the technical aspects of the proposal prior to the approval of the report which included recommendations on the type of fuel used at power stations and conditions set by the Environment Public Authority (EPA) to protect public health and the environment.
On the proposal of MP Nabil Al-Fadel regarding the ownership of farms Al-Hariji said the committee rejected the articles stipulating penalties giving up these properties and transfer of ownership. In the meantime Chairman of the Handicapped Affairs Committee MP Madi Al- Hajiri has stressed the need to pay the March salary for people with special needs. He holds the Public Authority for Handicapped Affairs (PAHA) responsible for the delay due its failure to prepare the payroll on time.
He also blamed the Finance Ministry for the delayed payment of salaries and financial aid for helpers and women in addition to the lack of budget for salaries and other financial privileges. He wondered why the Finance Ministry decided to reduce PAHA's budget for fiscal 2014/2015 stressing that people with special needs deserve material and moral support from the State. He called on the ministry to quickly pay the salaries and refrain from reducing the budget of PAHA because the needs of people with disabilities are important. He added he will call for a committee meeting soon to look into this delay and identify those responsible in order to avoid recurrence of the problem.
By: Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff
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