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Law Reform Commission Act 2008

SAMOA

LAW REFORM COMMISSION ACT 2008

Arrangement of Provisions

1. Short title and commencement
2. Interpretation
3. Act to bind the Government
4. Purpose of the Act
5. Establishment of the Commission
6. Functions of the Commission
7. Powers of the Commission
8. Procedure of the Commission
9. Responsibilities of Commission and the Prime Minister
10. Executive Director
11. Staff of the Commission
12. Law Reform Commission Advisory Board
13. Appointment of Commissioners and consultants
14. Appointment of Judicial Officers as Commissioner
15. Protection from civil actions
16. Regulations
17. Repeal
    

LAW REFORM COMMISSION ACT

2008 No. 8

ANACT to establish the Samoa Law Reform Commission for the review and development of the laws of Samoa.

[Assent and commencement date: 25 March 2008]

BEIT ENACTED by the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in Parliament assembled as follows:

1. Short title and commencement – (1) This Act may be cited as the Law Reform Commission Act 2008.
(2) This Act comes into force upon the assent of the Head of State.

2. Interpretation – In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

“Advisory Board” means the Law Reform Commission Advisory Board established by section 12;

“Commission” means the Samoa Law Reform Commission established by section 5;

“Cabinet” means the Cabinet established under Article 32 of the Constitution;

“public servant” means any person employed under the Public Service Act 2004;

“Public Service” means the Public Service as defined in Article 83 of the Constitution.

3. Act to bind the Government – This Act binds the Government.

4. Purpose of the Act – The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the review, reform and development of the laws of Samoa in order to:

(a) promote Samoan custom and traditions; and

(b) enhance the social, cultural, economic and commercial development of Samoa; and

(c) ensure that the laws of Samoa are kept in a modern state which meets the needs of Government and the community.

5. Establishment of the Commission – (1) The Samoa Law Reform Commission is established.
(2) The Commission is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and is capable of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and personal property, of entering into contracts, of suing and being sued, and of doing and suffering all such other acts and things as bodies corporate may do and suffer.

6. Functions of the Commission – The functions of the Commission are:

(a) to recommend to the Attorney General suggested programmes for the reform of the laws of Samoa;

(b) in accordance with references made to it by the Prime Minister, Cabinet or the Attorney General (whether at the Commission’s suggestion or otherwise), to research and analyse areas of law considered to be in need of reform and report its recommendations for reform to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General;

(c) to advise government Ministries and agencies on the manner or content of reviews of the law conducted by those Ministries and agencies; and

(d) to consult with and advise the public (and any specific sectors of the community) about its work.

7. Powers of the Commission – (1) The Commission has all such powers as are necessary or expedient to enable it to carry out its functions.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Commission has the following powers:

(a) to conduct or sponsor such studies and research as it thinks expedient for the preparation of reports and associated documents relating to a matter referred to it under this Act;

(b) to consult any government Ministry or agency concerning the review of any aspect of the law and to request and receive from any government Ministry or agency such information relating to any review as is appropriate;

(c) to publicise its work, to conduct public hearings, to seek comments from the public on its proposals, and to consult with any person or groups of persons;

(d) to hire or otherwise obtain the services of suitably qualified persons to assist with its work;

(e) to delegate, in writing, to a member or members of staff any specific function of the Commission.

8. Procedure of the Commission – Subject to this Act, the Commission may regulate its procedure in such manner as it thinks fit.

9. Responsibilities of Commission and Prime Minister – (1) The Commission shall carry out the following:

(a) prepare and provide to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, at least once a year, a forward plan of the Commission’s work;

(b) provide to the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the Attorney General reports prepared by it in response to terms of reference approved by the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the Attorney General, and arrange for their publication if approved by the Prime Minister, Cabinet or the Attorney General;

(c) provide an annual report to the Prime Minister on the Commission’s operations and expenditure.
(2) Where the Commission provides to the Prime Minister a report, the Prime Minister shall lay a copy of the report before the Legislative Assembly as soon as practicable after receipt of the report.
(3) The Prime Minister, Cabinet and the Attorney General may at any time require the Commission to examine any aspect of the laws of Samoa and the Commission shall review the law accordingly and report to the Prime Minister with its recommendations.
(4) The Attorney General may give the Commission directions about the order in which it is to deal with references made to it under this section.
(5) The Controller and Auditor General must audit the accounts of the Commission annually.

10. Executive Director – (1) The Executive Director is the administrative head of the Commission and shall supervise and direct the work of the Commission.
(2) The Executive Director must be a person who:

(a) holds a recognised law degree; and

(b) has at least 5 years’ experience as a barrister or solicitor, or in other legal work (including suitable academic positions); and

(c) meets any further skill and character requirements required by the Attorney General.
(3) The Executive Director is a public servant and is appointed and holds office in accordance with the provisions and procedures applying to public servants.
(4) Despite subsection (3), no appointment of the Executive Director is effective until it is approved by the Attorney General as meeting the requirements of subsection (2).

11. Staff of the Commission – All staff of the Commission are to be appointed and employed in accordance with the laws and practices applying to public servants.

12. Law Reform Commission Advisory Board – (1) The Commission is to be assisted by an Advisory Board.
(2) At the direction of the Prime Minister or the Attorney General, the Executive Director shall convene at least 4 meetings of the Advisory Board each year.
(3) The Advisory Board is composed as follows:

(a) members, appointed by virtue of their offices, namely—

(i) the Attorney General;

(ii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet;

(iii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration;

(iv) the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance;

(v) the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development;

(vi) the Commissioner of Police;

(vii) the President of the Samoa Law Society or nominee from time to time;

(viii) the President of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., or nominee from time to time;

(ix) the President of the National Council of Churches, or nominee from time to time; and

(x) the President of the Public Service Association, or nominee from time to time.

(b) four members appointed by the Head of State, on the advice of the Prime Minister (after consultation with the Minister responsible for community development), who are able to represent community interests by reason of their—

(i) active representation of non-governmental organisations;

(ii) understanding of an interest in the work of the Commission; and

(iii) ability to contribute to the work of the Commission.
(4) A member appointed under subsection (3) (b):

(a) is appointed for a term of up to 3 years and is eligible for reappointment;

(b) may resign his or her appointment by notice in writing to the Head of State; and

(c) may be removed from his or her appointment by the Prime Minister on the grounds of disability, bankruptcy, neglect of duty, or misconduct.
(5) The members of the Advisory Board may be paid such fees and allowances in accordance with Cabinet policy.

13. Appointment of Commissioners and consultants–(1) In accordance with subsection (2), the Commission may appoint Commissioners or consultants to manage and undertake law reform projects that are referred to the Commission by the Prime Minster, Cabinet or the Attorney General under this Act.
(2)Any appointment made under subsection (1) must.

(a) be approved by—

(i) the Advisory Board, if it is an appointment as Commissioner; or

(ii) the Attorney General, if it is an appointment as consultant;

(b) be in accordance with procedures applying under any law or any regulations made under this Act (which, if made, shall prevail over any other law in the event of any inconsistency).
(3) If a law reform project is undertaken for the Commission by a Commissioner appointed under this section:

(a) the Report of the Commissioner must be prepared and given to the Commission in the name of the Commissioner;

(b) the work of the Commissioner must be undertaken in accordance with any requirements or terms of reference imposed by the Prime Minister, Cabinet or the Attorney General;

(c) the Commissioner shall give due regard to any views expressed by the Advisory Board as to process or the outcomes that are desired for the project.
(4) Where the Commission is assisted by a consultant appointed under this section, the consultant shall undertake such work and activities as are directed by the Executive Director to facilitate the review and reform of any specific area of the law as directed by the Prime Minister, Cabinet or the Attorney General.

14. Appointment of Judicial Officers as a Commissioner – (1) A judicial officer may, with the approval of the Chief Justice, be appointed as a Commissioner for any law reform project undertaken by the Commission.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), if a judicial officer is appointed as a Commissioner, that appointment shall not affect the Judge’s tenure of the judicial office or the Judge’s rank, title, status, precedence, salary, annual or other allowances or other rights or privileges as a Judge (including those in relation to superannuation) and, for all purposes, the Judge’s services as Commissioner is to be taken to be service as a Judge.
(3) A judicial officer who is appointed as a Commissioner is entitled to receive allowances and reimbursement of expenses as are approved by the Prime Minister.

15. Protection from civil actions – (1) An action or other proceedings for damages does not lie against the Commission (or any member, staff, employee, Commissioner or consultant of or engaged by the Commission) in relation to anything done, or not done in good faith in the performance, or purported performance, of any of the Commission’s functions or powers.
(2) An action or other proceedings for damages does not lie against the Commissioner or any officer or employee of the Commission in relation to anything done, or not done, in good faith by the Commissioner, officer or employee, as the case may be, in the performance, or purported performance, of his or her duties under this Act.

16. Regulations – The Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, may make regulations prescribing matters:

(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

17. Repeal – The Samoa Law Reform Commission Act 2002 is repealed.

REVISION NOTES 2008 – 2015

This is the official version of this Act as at 31 December 2015.

This Act has been revised by the Legislative Drafting Division in 2008 – 2015 respectively under the authority of the Attorney General given under the Revision and Publication of Laws Act 2008.

The following general revisions have been made:

(a) Amendments have been made to conform to modern drafting styles and to use modern language as applied in the laws of Samoa.
(b) Amendments have been made to up-date references to offices, officers and statutes.
(c) Insertion of the commencement date
(d) Other minor editing has been done in accordance with the lawful powers of the Attorney General.

• (i) “Every” and “any” changed to “a”
• (ii) “shall be” changed to “is” and “shall be deemed” changed to “is taken”
• (iii) “shall have” changed to “has”
• (iv) “shall be guilty” changed to “commits”
• (v) “notwithstanding” changed to despite”
• (vi) “pursuant to” changed to “under”
• (vii) “it shall be lawful” changed to “may”
• (viii) “it shall be the duty” changed to shall”
• (ix) Numbers in words changed to figures
• (x) “hereby” and “from time to time” (or “at any time” or “at all times”) removed
• (xi) “under the hand of” changed to “signed by”.
  

The following amendments were made to this Act by the Audit Act 2013 No 22 (commenced on 27 January 2014):

Section 9 – new subsection (5) inserted.

This Act is administered by
The Office of the Samoa Law Reform Commission.