Jordan Times
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Lower House Legal Committee introduces amendment to Financial Disclosure Law
AMMAN (Petra) — The Lower House Legal Committee began deliberations on the Financial Disclosure Law, introducing an amendment on Monday that stipulates Lower House speakers and deputies be included among those officials required to disclose their financial status.Article 2 of the temporary law, endorsed in the absence of Parliament, stipulates that prime ministers, ministers, commissioners, directors of public and military corporations, mayors, senior officials at state agencies and members of government tender committees are required to disclose their financial situation to a special unit at the Justice Ministry before they assume their posts.
During the first January two years after filing their first financial declaration, officials still in office are required to present an updated declaration.
The law also stipulates that officials in the disclosure category must report their financial status to the unit upon resigning their office or being removed from their post.
Meanwhile, the House Administrative Committee endorsed the temporary amended Military Pension Law.
Also on Monday, Senate President Zeid Rifai chaired a meeting of the joint Legal and Financial Committee to discuss the Property Acquisition Law.
The panel decided that some provisions of the law are unconstitutional and recommended a review of the original law, which was enacted in 1987, to ensure that required property acquisition procedures are streamlined and swift.
The Legal Committee also looked into the 2001 temporary Higher Media Council Law and its amendments enacted in 2003.
The committee made changes to the law, taking into consideration amendments suggested by the Lower House National Steering Committee.
The committee recommended discarding the 2003 law, and instead incorporating it into the 2001 legislation.
Meanwhile, Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali briefed deputies on the results of the House's participation in the recent Arab parliamentary meeting in Damascus.
Majali also held talks with a delegation from the Romanian-Jordanian Parliamentary Friendship Committee, during which he discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the parliamentarians in the two countries.