Possible timeline for Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill

Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

Submissions – close 1 November

We have 13 days left to put submissions in to the Select Committee. Submissions close 5pm 1 November

Paula Bennett says here “This is a huge bill and has a lot in it. We will be at the select committee for the full time, so that the members can really go through it.”

Select committee –

Once a bill is referred to a select committee, the committee usually has 6 months to examine the bill and prepare a report for the House.

They hold public hearings to listen to some of those who made submissions. After hearing submissions they work through the issues raised, and decide what changes, if any, should be made to the bill.

The select committee’s report contains:

a reprint of the bill with recommended changes (known as amendments)

a commentary in which the committee explains its recommended changes and the issues it has considered.

Report Due: 20/3/13

Second reading – sometime between the “third sitting day after 20 March 2013” and 1 May 2013

A bill can be read a second time no sooner than the third sitting day after the select committee reports to the House. Members can then debate the main principles of a bill, and any changes recommended by the select committee in its report.

Changes not supported by every committee member are subject to a single vote at the end of the second reading debate.

Changes that are supported by every committee member are automatically included in the bill if the second reading is agreed.

If the vote is lost, that is the end of the bill. If the second reading is agreed, the bill is ready for debate by a committee of the whole House.