chapter A-23.1

An Act respecting the National Assembly

Preamble.

WHEREAS the people of Québec have a deep attachment to democratic principles of government;

Whereas the National Assembly is, through the elected representatives who compose it, the supreme and legitimate organ by which those principles are expressed and applied;

Whereas it behooves this Assembly, as the guardian of the historical and inalienable rights and powers of the people of Québec, to defend it against any attempt to despoil it of its rights and powers or to derogate from them;

Whereas it is befitting, therefore, that the perdurance, the sovereignty and the independence of the National Assembly be affirmed, and that its proceedings be protected against all interference,

HER MAJESTY, with the advice and consent of the National Assembly of Québec, enacts as follows:

CHAPTER I 
ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION

DIVISION I 
COMPOSITION, TERM AND POWERS

Composition of the National Assembly.

1. The National Assembly is composed of the Members elected for each of the electoral divisions established in accordance with the Election Act (chapter E-3.3) and whose names have been transmitted to the Secretary General by the chief electoral officer in accordance with section 380 of the said Act.

1982, c. 62, s. 1; 1984, c. 51, s. 526; 1989, c. 1, s. 582.

Parliament.

2. The National Assembly and the Lieutenant-Governor form the Parliament of Québec. The Parliament of Québec assumes all the powers conferred on the Legislature of Québec.

Powers.

No provision of this Act restricts the scope or exercise of those powers.

1982, c. 62, s. 2.

Legislative powers.

3. The Parliament has the exercise of the legislative power.

1982, c. 62, s. 3.

Power of supervision.

4. The Assembly has the power of supervision over all the acts of the Government and of its departments and agencies.

1982, c. 62, s. 4.

Lieutenant-Governor.

5. The Assembly is convoked, prorogued and dissolved by the Lieutenant-Governor.

1982, c. 62, s. 5.

6. A Legislature starts upon the receipt by the Secretary General, after a general election, of the list of the candidates declared elected transmitted by the Chief Electoral Officer pursuant to section 380 of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3).

A Legislature ends on 29 August of the fourth calendar year following the year that includes the most recent general election polling day.

However, if the publication provided for in the first paragraph of section 129.1 of the Election Act has been made, the Legislature ends instead on 27 February, or 28 February in the case of a leap year, of the fifth calendar year following the year that includes the most recent general election polling day.

Only the Lieutenant-Governor may dissolve the National Assembly before the expiry of a Legislature.

1982, c. 62, s. 6; 1984, c. 51, s. 527; 2013, c. 13, s. 9.

Sittings.

7. The Assembly sits in the territory of Ville de Québec; it may also sit at any other place in Québec.

1982, c. 62, s. 7; 1996, c. 2, s. 75.

Quorum.

8. The quorum of the Assembly or of a committee of the whole House is one-sixth of the Members, including the President.

Quorum.

However, when a committee of the Assembly is sitting, the quorum of the Assembly or of the committee of the whole House is one-tenth of the Members, including the President.

1982, c. 62, s. 8.

Rules of procedure.

9. The rules of procedure of the Assembly are established by the Assembly, and it alone has authority to see that they are observed.

1982, c. 62, s. 9.

DIVISION II 
THE COMMITTEES

Committees.

10. The National Assembly may appoint committees, composed of Members of the Assembly, to examine any matter within the jurisdiction assigned to them by the Assembly, and to carry out any mandate given to them by the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 10.

Committee on the Assembly.

11. The Assembly must appoint a committee on the Assembly to examine any matter referred to it by the Assembly.

Functions.

The committee shall also carry out any other function vested in it by this Act.

1982, c. 62, s. 11.

Subcommittees.

12. A committee may form subcommittees composed of Members of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 12.

Sittings.

13. A committee or a subcommittee may sit even when the Assembly is not in session.

1982, c. 62, s. 13.

Sittings.

14. A committee or a subcommittee may sit anywhere in Québec, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 14.

DIVISION III 
THE MEMBERS

Oath.

15. No Member may sit in the Assembly before making the oath provided in Schedule I.

1982, c. 62, s. 15; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

Resignation.

16. A Member may resign his seat verbally at a sitting of the Assembly.

Resignation.

He may also resign in a writing countersigned by two other Members and sent to the President or the Secretary General of the Assembly.

Information of Assembly.

If a Member resigns in writing, the President must so inform the Assembly at its next sitting.

1982, c. 62, s. 16.

17. The seat of a Member of the Assembly becomes vacant if he

 (1) dies;

 (2) resigns;

 (3) becomes a candidate at a federal election or a provincial election in another province;

 (4) is appointed to the Senate;

 (5) is convicted of treason;

 (6) is convicted of corrupt electoral or referendum practices;

 (7) (subparagraph repealed);

 (8) is sentenced to imprisonment for an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment for over two years;

 (9) is in a situation that makes him disqualified within the meaning of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3), except the situation contemplated in subparagraph 4 of the second paragraph of section 235 of that Act.

A Member's seat also becomes vacant in the cases provided for in section 134 and in the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-23.1).

1982, c. 62, s. 17; 1984, c. 51, s. 528; 1989, c. 1, s. 583; 1990, c. 4, s. 66; 1997, c. 8, s. 21; 2010, c. 30, s. 115.

Nullity of election.

18. If the seat of a Member of the Assembly becomes vacant at a time when the election held in the electoral division of the Member is contested or could still be contested within the legal limit of time, any subsequent election held in the electoral division during the same Legislature becomes null if, as a result of the contestation, the court declares elected a person other than the person proclaimed elected at the contested election or at a subsequent election.

1982, c. 62, s. 18.

DIVISION IV 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSEMBLY

President and vice-presidents.

19. At the beginning of its first sitting after a general election, the National Assembly shall elect a President and, subsequently, a first, a second and a third Vice-President from among its Members.

Vice-presidents.

The first Vice-President and the second Vice-President shall be elected from among the Members forming the Government and the third Vice-President from among the Members forming the Official Opposition.

1982, c. 62, s. 19; 1999, c. 1, s. 1.

Replacement.

20. If the President is absent or unable to act, or at his request, one of the Vice-Presidents shall replace him and exercise his parliamentary duties.

1982, c. 62, s. 20.

Interim President.

21. If the President and the Vice-Presidents are absent or unable to act, the Secretary General shall notify the Assembly, and it shall designate a Member as interim President for his parliamentary duties.

1982, c. 62, s. 21.

Vacancy in the office of President.

22. If the office of President becomes vacant, the Secretary General shall inform the Assembly, and no business may be transacted until a new President is elected.

1982, c. 62, s. 22.

Duties.

23. In addition to his duties under this Act, the President shall carry out the duties conferred on him by the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 23.

Continuance in office.

24. On the dissolution of the Assembly, the President and the Vice-Presidents remain in office until they are replaced or reappointed by the new Assembly.

Applicable provisions.

In such a case, they continue to receive the indemnity provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of section 7 of the Act respecting the conditions of employment and the pension plan of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-52.1).

1982, c. 62, s. 24; 2006, c. 10, s. 1.

DIVISION V 
PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANTS

Appointment.

25. The Government may appoint one or several Members as parliamentary assistants to assist a minister in the discharge of his duties. A parliamentary assistant may reply to questions addressed to the minister or take note of them on his behalf.

Number.

In no case, however, may the number of parliamentary assistants exceed twenty.

1982, c. 62, s. 25.

DIVISION VI 
THE SECRETARY GENERAL

Appointment.

26. The National Assembly, on a motion of the Prime Minister, shall appoint a Secretary General and one or more associate secretaries general.

1982, c. 62, s. 26.

Replacement.

27. If the Secretary General is absent or unable to act, or in case of vacancy of the office of Secretary General, the President shall designate one of the associate secretaries general to replace the Secretary General during his absence or inability to act or during the vacancy of the office.

1982, c. 62, s. 27; 1984, c. 47, s. 8; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

Duties.

28. In addition to his duties under this Act, the Secretary General shall carry out the duties conferred on him by the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 28.

CHAPTER II 
LEGISLATIVE ACTS

Adoption and assent.

29. The National Assembly passes the legislative Acts and the Lieutenant-Governor gives assent to them.

1982, c. 62, s. 29.

Bill by Members.

30. Any Member may present a bill.

Bill by Ministers.

However, only a minister may present a bill having as its object the commitment of public funds, the creation of a charge on the taxpayers, the remission of a debt owing to the Province or the alienation of property owned by the Province.

1982, c. 62, s. 30.

Introductory formula.

31. Every legislative bill must have the following introductory formula:

“The Parliament of Québec enacts as follows: ”.

1982, c. 62, s. 31.

Date of assent.

32. Upon the giving of assent to an Act, the Secretary General shall enter the date of assent therein. The entry forms part of the Act.

1982, c. 62, s. 32.

Custody of original Acts.

33. The Secretary General has custody of the originals of the Acts.

Loss or destruction.

In case of the loss or destruction of an original, the Secretary General may substitute for it a certified true copy; thereafter, that copy serves as the original.

1982, c. 62, s. 33.

True copy.

34. The Secretary General shall affix his seal to every copy of an Act that he certifies true.

1982, c. 62, s. 34.

Copy certified true.

35. After an Act has been assented to, the Secretary General shall send the Québec Official Publisher a copy certified true to the original enacted by Parliament.

1982, c. 62, s. 35; 2009, c. 3, s. 2.

Annual compilation.

36. Every year, the Québec Official Publisher shall publish a compilation of the statutes assented to during the preceding year.

1982, c. 62, s. 36.

37. The Office of the Assembly shall by by-law establish the conditions and modalities of printing, publication and distribution of the legislative Acts, the copies of the annual compilation of the statutes, the bills, and the other parliamentary documents.

The Secretary General shall provide printed copies of the Acts, free of charge, to the Lieutenant-Governor, government departments and public bodies, according to the rules established by the Office.

For the purposes of this section, a public body is a body to which the National Assembly, the Government or a minister appoints the majority of the members, to which, by law, the personnel is appointed in accordance with the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1), or whose capital forms part of the domain of the State.

1982, c. 62, s. 37; 2010, c. 30, s. 116.

Copies of annual compilation.

38. The Secretary General shall deliver a copy of the annual compilation of the statutes to the Lieutenant-Governor, and to the Registrar of Québec.

1982, c. 62, s. 38.

True copies.

39. The Secretary General, or the person designated by him for that purpose, shall supply certified true copies of any Act to any person who applies therefor, upon payment of the cost fixed by the by-law of the Office of the Assembly. The designation has effect from its publication in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

Sums collected.

Sums received under this section are paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

1982, c. 62, s. 39; 1986, c. 71, s. 2.

Authenticity.

40. A copy of an Act certified true by the Secretary General, or the person designated for that purpose, or the text of an Act published by the Québec Official Publisher is authentic and is proof of its existence and contents.

1982, c. 62, s. 40; 1986, c. 71, s. 3.

Private bill.

41. Every person who makes a request to the National Assembly for the passage of a private bill must pay to the Assembly the fees prescribed by regulation.

1982, c. 62, s. 41; 1989, c. 22, s. 1.

CHAPTER III 
INDEPENDENCE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

DIVISION I 
RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

Power over proceedings.

42. The Assembly has the power to protect its proceedings against all interference.

1982, c. 62, s. 42.

Independence of Members.

43. Every Member is vested with full independence for the carrying out of his duties.

1982, c. 62, s. 43.

Immunity.

44. No Member may be prosecuted, arrested or imprisoned by reason of anything said or done or any document tabled by him in the carrying out of his parliamentary duties in the Assembly or in any committee or subcommittee.

1982, c. 62, s. 44.

Court proceedings.

45. No Member may be bound to appear to answer a charge of contempt of court nor arrested or held for contempt of court while the Assembly or a committee or subcommittee in whose work he is taking part is sitting, or during the two preceding or two following days.

1982, c. 62, s. 45.

Court proceedings.

46. A Member is exempt from appearing as a witness in court or before any body or person empowered to summon witnesses while the Assembly or a committee or subcommittee in whose work he is taking part is sitting, and during the two preceding and two following days.

1982, c. 62, s. 46.

Assembly personnel.

47. The President of the Assembly may exempt a member of the personnel of the Assembly from appearing as a witness in court, or before any body or person empowered to summon witnesses where he considers his presence required for the proper functioning of the Assembly and its services.

1982, c. 62, s. 47.

Immunity.

48. No person may be prosecuted for publishing or distributing an unedited report or official summary of the debates of the Assembly or of a committee or subcommittee, or for distributing, unedited, such debates or any document that has been submitted to them.

1982, c. 62, s. 48.

Malicious intent.

49. No person may be found guilty for publishing or distributing an abstract of the debates of the Assembly or of a committee or subcommittee, of a report or of an official summary of the debates, or of a document that has been submitted to them, or for giving an account of them, unless it is proved that he acted with malicious intent.

1982, c. 62, s. 49.

Admissible evidence.

50. A copy of a written or audio-visual document contemplated in section 48 or 49 certified true by the Secretary General of the Assembly is admissible as evidence.

1982, c. 62, s. 50.

Power to summon.

51. The Assembly or a committee may summon and compel the appearance before it of any person, either to answer questions put to him or to produce such papers and things as it may deem necessary for its acts, inquiries or proceedings.

1982, c. 62, s. 51.

Oath.

52. The President or any Member of the Assembly or the chairman or any member of a committee or subcommittee may require a person appearing before it to make the oath provided in Schedule II.

1982, c. 62, s. 52; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

Immunity.

53. In no case may a person's testimony before the Assembly or a committee or subcommittee be held against him in a court of law, unless he is being prosecuted for perjury.

1982, c. 62, s. 53.

Immunity.

54. No action may be instituted by reason of an official act performed in good faith by a person in the exercise of duties assigned to him under this Act or in carrying out an order of the Assembly or a committee or subcommittee.

1982, c. 62, s. 54.

Breach of privileges:

55. No person may breach the privileges of the Assembly. The following acts, in particular, constitute breaches of the privileges of the Assembly:

 (1) refusing to comply with an order of the Assembly, a committee or a subcommittee;

 (2) giving false or incomplete testimony before the Assembly, a committee or a subcommittee;

 (3) presenting a false document to the Assembly, a committee or a subcommittee with intent to deceive;

 (4) forging, falsifying or altering, with intent to deceive, any document of the Assembly, a committee or a subcommittee or any document tabled or presented before it;

 (5) creating a disturbance liable to disrupt the course of parliamentary proceedings;

 (6) using or threatening to use force or using undue pressure to have a sitting cancelled or suspended;

 (7) assaulting, interfering with, bullying or threatening Members of the Assembly in the carrying out of their parliamentary duties or members of the personnel of the Assembly in the carrying out of their parliamentary duties;

 (8) defaming a Member of the Assembly or using abusive language about him;

 (9) bribing or attempting to bribe a Member of the Assembly or a member of the personnel of the Assembly;

 (10) attempting to influence the vote, opinion, judgment or action of a Member by means of deceit, threats or undue pressure;

 (11) suborning or attempting to suborn or threatening a person in regard to any evidence to be given by him before the Assembly, a committee or a subcommittee;

 (12) instituting an action with malicious intent against a Member;

 (13) performing an act contrary to the parliamentary immunity conferred on a Member.

1982, c. 62, s. 55.

Assistance of peace officer.

56. The person responsible for carrying out a warrant of the Assembly, a committee or a subcommittee may demand the assistance of a peace officer or any other person.

Refusal.

Refusal to give assistance when demanded constitutes a breach of the privileges of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 56.

DIVISION II  Repealed, 2010, c. 30, s. 117.
2010, c. 30, s. 117.

57. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 57; 1988, c. 84, s. 544; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

58. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 58; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

59. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 59; 1999, c. 40, s. 25; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

60. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 60; 1999, c. 40, s. 25; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

DIVISION III  Repealed, 2010, c. 30, s. 117.
2010, c. 30, s. 117.

61. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 61; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

62. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 62; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

63. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 63; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

64. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 64; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

65. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 65; 1999, c. 40, s. 25; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

66. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 66; 1983, c. 55, s. 161; 1999, c. 40, s. 25; 2000, c. 8, s. 242; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

67. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 67; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

68. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 68; 1986, c. 61, s. 66; 1988, c. 21, s. 66; 1997, c. 43, s. 38; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

69. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 69; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

70. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 70; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

71. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 71; 2002, c. 6, s. 84; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

72. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 72; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

73. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 73; 1986, c. 3, s. 1; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

DIVISION IV  Repealed, 2010, c. 30, s. 117.
2010, c. 30, s. 117.

74. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 74; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

75. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 75; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

76. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 76; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

77. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 77; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

78. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 78; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

79. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 79; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

80. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 80; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

81. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 81; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

DIVISION V  Heading repealed, 2010, c. 30, s. 117.
2010, c. 30, s. 117.

82. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 82; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

83. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 83; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

84. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 84; 2010, c. 30, s. 117.

Breach of privileges.

85. The bringing of a complaint before the Assembly by a Member against another Member without a serious reason constitutes a breach of the privileges of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 85.

DIVISION VI 
DEFENCE COSTS, JUDICIAL COSTS, EXPENSES FOR COUNSEL AND INDEMNIFICATION
1998, c. 11, s. 1.

85.1. A Member or a former Member is entitled, subject to sections 85.2 to 85.4, to the payment of the defence costs and judicial costs arising out of proceedings brought against the Member or former Member by a third person for any act or omission in the performance of the Member's or former Member's duties of office.

The Member or former Member is also entitled to the payment of expenses incurred for counsel where the Member or former Member is summoned to appear at an inquiry, a preliminary inquiry or judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings in connection with the Member's or former Member's duties of office.

In each case submitted to it, the Office of the National Assembly may, after obtaining the advice of the jurisconsult appointed under the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-23.1), fix the maximum amount to be paid under the first and second paragraphs.

1998, c. 11, s. 1; 2010, c. 30, s. 118.

Criminal proceedings.

85.2. In the case of criminal proceedings, the defence costs and judicial costs shall be paid only if the case was withdrawn or dismissed or if the Member or former Member was acquitted by a judgment that has become res judicata, or was discharged.

1998, c. 11, s. 1.

Penal offence.

85.3. Where a Member or former Member is found guilty of a penal offence in a judgment that has become res judicata, no costs or expenses may be paid and the Assembly shall recover any costs or expenses paid except where the Office, after obtaining the advice of the jurisconsult, is of the opinion that the Member or former Member had reasonable grounds for believing that the conduct in question was in conformity with the law. In the latter case, the Assembly shall assume the payment of any pecuniary penalty.

1998, c. 11, s. 1.

Civil suit.

85.4. Where, in judgment in a civil suit that has become res judicata, a Member or former Member is held liable for damage by reason of an act or omission in the performance of the Member's or former Member's duties of office, no costs or expenses may be paid and the Assembly shall recover any costs or expenses paid if the Office, after obtaining the advice of the jurisconsult, is of the opinion that the Member or former Member acted in bad faith.

Pecuniary penalty.

The Assembly shall, however, assume the payment of any pecuniary penalty arising out of a judgment in a civil suit, except where the Office, after obtaining the advice of the jurisconsult, is of the opinion that a gross fault was committed by the Member or former Member or that the judgment should be appealed by the Member or former Member.

1998, c. 11, s. 1.

CHAPTER IV 
ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSEMBLY

DIVISION I 
THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Establishment.

86. An Office of the National Assembly is hereby established.

1982, c. 62, s. 86.

Composition.

87. The President of the Assembly is the chairman of the Office. The Office is also composed of nine other Members.

1982, c. 62, s. 87; 1999, c. 3, s. 1.

Designation.

88. The members of the Office other than the chairman are designated by the Members of each party in the following manner:

 (1) five from the Government party;

 (2) four from the party of the Official Opposition or, where there are several opposition parties, three from the Official Opposition party and one from the party among the remaining opposition parties having obtained the greatest number of seats or, in case of equality of seats, from that having obtained the greatest number of valid votes.

1982, c. 62, s. 88; 1999, c. 3, s. 2.

Substitutes.

89. Each of the designating parties shall also designate the same number of Members as substitute members of the Office; each of them may act in the place of a member who is absent or unable to act.

1982, c. 62, s. 89.

Communication to the President.

90. Within fifteen days from the beginning of a session, each party shall communicate to the President of the Assembly the names of the members and substitute members it has designated.

1982, c. 62, s. 90.

Adoption of the list.

91. The President shall submit the list of the designated Members to the Assembly. The Assembly shall adopt or reject the list as a whole.

1982, c. 62, s. 91.

Designation by the chairman.

92. If a party fails to designate its representatives or if the composition of the Assembly does not allow the application of sections 88 and 89, the chairman shall himself designate the Members to complete the composition of the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 92.

Continuance in office.

93. When the Assembly is prorogued, the members of the Office remain in office until they are replaced or designated again.

1982, c. 62, s. 93.

Dissolution.

94. On the dissolution of the Assembly, the President and the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly shall perform the duties of the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 94.

Vice-Presidents.

95. The Vice-Presidents of the Assembly may take part, without the right to vote, in the proceedings of the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 95.

Replacement.

96. If the President is absent, or at the President's request, the Vice-President designated by the President shall act as chairman. Only the first Vice-President or the second Vice-President may be designated for that purpose.

Replacement.

If the President is unable to act or the office of President is vacant, the first Vice-President shall act as chairman during such inability or vacancy.

Replacement.

However, if the first Vice-President also is unable to act or the office of first Vice-President also is or also becomes vacant, the second Vice-President shall replace the first Vice-President in the circumstances described in the second paragraph.

1982, c. 62, s. 96; 1998, c. 54, s. 1; 1999, c. 3, s. 3; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

Quorum.

97. Five members, including the chairman, constitute a quorum of the Office. In the event of a tie-vote, the chairman has a casting vote.

1982, c. 62, s. 97; 1999, c. 3, s. 4.

Secretary.

98. The Secretary General of the Assembly is the secretary of the Office. If the Secretary General is absent or unable to act, the Office shall designate an associate secretary general to replace him.

1982, c. 62, s. 98.

Rules of procedure.

99. The Office shall establish its rules of procedure.

1982, c. 62, s. 99.

Functions.

100. The Office shall have managerial and regulatory functions, in accordance with this Act.

Functions.

It shall have such other functions as the Assembly may assign to it.

1982, c. 62, s. 100.

Opinion.

101. The Office shall give its opinion on any matter referred to it by the President.

1982, c. 62, s. 101.

Regulations.

102. The Office shall establish, by regulation, the terms and conditions, scales and modalities of reimbursement to the members, except members of the Conseil exécutif, members of the staff of the National Assembly and the persons contemplated in the first paragraph of section 124.2, of expenses incurred in carrying out official assignments requested by the President of the Assembly.

Delegation of powers.

The Office may, according to the modalities, on the terms and conditions and for the time it determines, delegate to the person it designates the power to determine the amount of the expenses that may be reimbursed according to the fixed scale.

1982, c. 62, s. 102; 1984, c. 27, s. 33.

Regulations.

103. The Office shall, by regulation, establish the conditions, scales and modalities of payment of an attendance allowance to its members and to the members of and participants in a committee or subcommittee of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 103; 1984, c. 27, s. 34.

Regulations.

104. The Office shall, by regulation, establish the conditions, scales and modalities of payment to Members of, in particular,

 (1) transportation allowances and travel expenses;

 (2) the cost of renting premises in the electoral division of each Member to receive his electors as well as any other cost provided for by the Office in the regulations to ensure the proper administration of the Member's offices;

 (3) allowances for the remuneration of their personnel and for payment of professional services;

 (4) expenses for lodgings, in the territory of Ville de Québec or in the immediate vicinity, of any Member domiciled outside the territory formed by that of Ville de Québec or an electoral division adjacent to the territory of that city;

 (5) the cost of purchase or lease of property or services for communications.

Transfers.

The Office may, by regulation, in the cases, on the conditions and to the extent it determines, allow a Member to whom the first paragraph of section 124.1 applies to make transfers from the sums granted by the Office under subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the first paragraph to the sums granted under the first paragraph of section 104.2.

Allowances and repayment of expenses.

The Office may, by regulation, in the cases, on the conditions and to the extent it determines, pay the allowances or repay the expenses and other costs provided for in this section for a period, fixed in the regulation, between the day on which the seat of a Member becomes vacant or the Assembly is dissolved and the thirtieth day, or the sixtieth day as regards persons referred to in the first paragraph of section 124.1, after the day on which a poll is held to fill the vacancy or a poll is held following the dissolution of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 104; 1984, c. 27, s. 35; 1985, c. 19, s. 1; 1986, c. 3, s. 2; 1989, c. 22, s. 2; 1996, c. 2, s. 76; 1997, c. 13, s. 1; 1999, c. 40, s. 25; 2004, c. 19, s. 1; 2006, c. 10, s. 2.

Additional allowances.

104.1. The Office may, by regulation, provide for one or several categories of Members and establish the conditions, scales and modalities of payment to such Members of additional allowances for the same purposes as those paid under section 104.

1989, c. 22, s. 3.

Administration of offices.

104.2. The Office shall, by regulation, establish the conditions, scales and modalities of payment of the expenses connected with the administration of the offices of the persons contemplated in the first paragraph of section 124.1.

Transfers.

The Office may, by regulation, in the cases, on the conditions and to the extent it determines, allow those persons to make transfers from the sums granted by the Office under the first paragraph to the sums granted under subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the first paragraph of section 104.

1989, c. 22, s. 3; 2004, c. 19, s. 2.

Conditions, rates and terms.

104.3. The Office shall fix, by regulation, the conditions, rates and terms governing the payment of any amount pursuant to sections 85.1 to 85.4.

1998, c. 11, s. 2.

Payment of indemnities and expenses.

105. The Office shall fix the intervals for the payment of indemnities and expense allowances provided in the Act respecting the conditions of employment and the pension plan of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-52.1).

1982, c. 62, s. 105.

Group insurance.

106. The Minister of Finance shall pay, for each Member participating in the plan, such portion of the premium of a group life insurance and disability insurance plan or of any other insurance plan as the Office may determine.

1982, c. 62, s. 106.

Regulations.

107. The Office shall, by regulation, determine the rules according to which the personnel and the financial resources are to be allocated to any committee or subcommittee of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 107.

108. The Office shall, by regulation, determine the moneys that may be received from the Assembly, for research and support purposes, by the political parties represented in the Assembly following the last general election and by independent Members, and the terms and conditions of payment thereof.

The Member who is the leader of the Government party and the Member who is the leader of the Official Opposition party may transfer the moneys required for the remuneration of the regular personnel hired to assist the party for research and support purposes to the budget granted, under subparagraph 3 of the first paragraph of section 104, to the offices referred to in section 124.1. The personnel hired to assist the party for such purposes forms part of the personnel of the offices so designated in the same manner as the other members of the personnel of those offices.

In the case of another party to which the first paragraph applies, the Member who is the leader of that party or the authorized Member may transfer the moneys required for the remuneration of the regular personnel hired to assist the party for research and support purposes to the budget granted to the Member under subparagraph 3 of the first paragraph of section 104. The personnel hired to assist the party for such purposes forms part of the personnel of that Member in the same manner as the other members of his personnel.

Independent Members may transfer the moneys required for the remuneration of regular personnel hired to assist them for research and support purposes to the budget granted to them under subparagraph 3 of the first paragraph of section 104. The personnel hired to assist independent Members for such purposes forms part of their personnel in the same manner as the other members of their personnel.

1982, c. 62, s. 108; 1985, c. 19, s. 2; 1986, c. 3, s. 3; 1989, c. 22, s. 4; 1994, c. 39, s. 1; 1999, c. 3, s. 5; 2012, c. 24, s. 1.

Research and support.

108.1. The Office shall, by regulation, determine the moneys that may be received from the Assembly, for the purposes of research and support, by a Member sitting as an independent Member on 15 June 1993 who is not a member of a political party represented in the Assembly, and the terms and conditions of payment thereof.

Effect.

This section shall cease to have effect on 24 July 1994.

1992, c. 7, s. 1; 1993, c. 20, s. 1.

Tabling of rules and regulations.

109. The President shall table in the Assembly the rules and regulations adopted by the Office within fifteen days of their adoption if the Assembly is in session or, if it is not sitting, within fifteen days of the opening of the next session or resumption.

1982, c. 62, s. 109.

DIVISION II 
MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY

Management of the Assembly.

110. Subject to this Act, the Assembly shall continue to be managed within the scope of the Acts, regulations and rules applicable.

Derogation.

The Office may, however, by regulation, derogate from the applicable Acts, regulations and rules by specifically indicating the provisions derogated from and the provisions that are to apply in their place and stead.

1982, c. 62, s. 110.

Regulations.

110.1. Subject to this Act and for the purposes of this division, the Office may make any regulation it deems necessary for the management of the Assembly.

1984, c. 47, s. 9.

Provisions applicable.

110.2. Subject to the second paragraph of section 110, Chapter III, Chapter IV with the exception of section 44, the second and fourth paragraphs of section 45, sections 46 and 53 and the third paragraph of section 57 and section 73 of the Public Administration Act (chapter A-6.01) apply to the National Assembly.

2000, c. 8, s. 103; 2011, c. 19, s. 28.

Regulations.

111. The Office may, by regulation, prescribe the rules governing the expenditures of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 111.

112. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 112; 2000, c. 15, s. 95.

Staff.

113. The Office shall fix the maximum number of staff needed by the Assembly to administer its services and shall determine the apportionment of the staff.

Organization plan.

The Office shall adopt the administrative organization plan of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 113; 1984, c. 47, s. 10.

Premises and equipment.

114. The organization and use of the premises as well as the use of the equipment of the Assembly and its services must be approved by the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 114.

DIVISION III 
SERVICES OF THE ASSEMBLY

Administration of services.

115. The President of the Assembly shall direct and administer the services of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 115.

Security.

116. The President is responsible for the security of the buildings or premises occupied by the Members and the members of the personnel of the Assembly; he shall also provide protection for persons and property in the premises.

Advisory committee.

For that purpose, the President may establish an advisory committee to assist him with the examination and implementation of security and protective measures; the members of the committee are entitled, where such is the case, to the fees and other allowances determined by the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 116; 1984, c. 47, s. 11.

Replacement.

117. If the President is absent, or at the President's request, the Vice-President designated by the President shall act as President. Only the first Vice-President or the second Vice-President may be designated for that purpose.

Replacement.

If the President is unable to act or the office of President is vacant, the first Vice-President shall act as President during such inability or vacancy.

Replacement.

However, if the first Vice-President also is unable to act or the office of first Vice-President also is or also becomes vacant, the second Vice-President shall replace the first Vice-President in the circumstances described in the second paragraph.

1982, c. 62, s. 117; 1998, c. 54, s. 2; 1999, c. 3, s. 6; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

Delegation.

118. The President may delegate some of the President's administrative responsibilities to the first or the second Vice-President who shall, within the limits of the delegation, have the same powers and duties as the President.

1982, c. 62, s. 118; 1999, c. 3, s. 6.

Secretary General.

119. Under the responsibility of the President, the Secretary General of the Assembly has the supervision of the members of the personnel of the Assembly; he shall administer its day-to-day business and exercise the other functions assigned to him by the Office.

Orders.

The orders of the Secretary General must be carried out in the same manner as those of the President.

1982, c. 62, s. 119.

Personnel.

120. Every member of the personnel of the Assembly, except a casual employee, is a member of the personnel of the civil service, whether appointed under the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1) or by derogation by virtue of the second paragraph of section 110, unless, in the latter case, the Office excludes him therefrom.

Powers of the Secretary General.

The Secretary General has, in respect of the personnel of the Assembly, the powers vested in a deputy minister by the Public Service Act.

1982, c. 62, s. 120; 1983, c. 55, s. 161.

Associate secretaries general.

121. The Assembly may vest in the associate secretaries general, in their deeds of appointment, the rank and privileges of an assistant deputy minister.

Associate secretaries general.

The associate secretaries general are members of the personnel of the civil service.

1982, c. 62, s. 121.

Duties of personnel.

122. The respective duties of the members of the personnel of the Assembly not expressly defined by law or by the Office are determined by the President.

1982, c. 62, s. 122.

Signature.

123. No deed, document or writing binds the Assembly or may be attributed to the President unless it is signed by him, by the Secretary General or by another officer, and only, in this last case, to the extent determined by regulation of the Office.

Automatic device.

The Office may, however, upon the conditions it fixes, allow the required signature to be affixed by means of an automatic device to such documents as it determines.

Facsimile.

The Office may also allow a facsimile of the signature to be engraved, lithographed or printed on such documents as it determines. In such a case, the facsimile has the same force as the signature itself if the document is countersigned by a person authorized by the President.

Authenticity.

Any copy of a document forming part of the records of the services of the Assembly and certified true by a person authorized to sign the document under the first paragraph is authentic and has the same force as the original.

1982, c. 62, s. 123.

Custody of the records.

123.1. The Secretary General shall have custody of the records of the Assembly. He may, however, entrust their care to any members of the personnel of the Assembly he may designate.

1984, c. 27, s. 36.

Agreements.

124. The President may, with the approval of the Office, enter into any agreement with a department, an agency or a person to facilitate the carrying out of this Act.

1982, c. 62, s. 124.

DIVISION III.1 
OFFICE STAFF AND MEMBER'S STAFF
1983, c. 55, s. 136.

124.1. The Leader of the Official Opposition, a Member to whom subparagraph 6 of the first paragraph of section 7 of the Act respecting the conditions of employment and the pension plan of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-52.1) applies, the President and the Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly, the Government House Leader, the Official Opposition House Leader and the House Leader of a party contemplated in paragraph 6 of section 7 of the said Act, and the Chief Government Whip, the Chief Official Opposition Whip and the Whip of a party contemplated in subparagraph 6 of the first paragraph of section 7 of the said Act, may appoint their respective executive secretaries and the other persons required for the orderly administration of their respective offices.

Members other than those contemplated in the first paragraph or in sections 11.5 and 11.6 of the Executive Power Act (chapter E-18) may appoint such persons as are required to assist them in carrying out their duties.

1983, c. 55, s. 136; 2012, c. 24, s. 2.

Recruitment and remuneration.

124.2. The standards and scales according to which the executive secretary and the other members of the office staff are recruited, appointed and remunerated, as well as their other conditions of employment, are fixed by regulation of the Office of the National Assembly.

Member's staff.

This section applies to the members of the staff of a Member.

1983, c. 55, s. 136.

124.3. The Office of the National Assembly shall, by a unanimous decision, after consultation with the Ethics Commissioner appointed under the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-23.1), adopt rules of ethics applicable to the office staff of the House officers of the National Assembly and the staff of the Members referred to in section 124.1. The Office shall publish the rules on the website of the National Assembly.

2010, c. 30, s. 119.

DIVISION IV 
BUDGETARY AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Budget estimates.

125. The President shall prepare the budget estimates for the Assembly every year. He shall, for that purpose, consult the Office.

Supplementary budget estimates.

Where, during a year, the President foresees that he will be required to exceed the budget estimates, he must prepare supplementary budget estimates and, for that purpose, consult the Office.

Approval.

Furthermore, the budget estimates and, as the case may be, the supplementary budget estimates must be approved by the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 125; 1989, c. 22, s. 5.

Sums required.

126. The sums required for the carrying out of this Act shall be taken out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

1982, c. 62, s. 126; 1989, c. 22, s. 6.

127. (Replaced).

1982, c. 62, s. 127; 1983, c. 55, s. 137; 1984, c. 27, s. 37; 1989, c. 22, s. 6.

DIVISION V 
LIBRARY OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Library.

128. The Assembly shall put a library, called the “Library of the National Assembly”, at the disposal of its Members and the members of its personnel.

1982, c. 62, s. 128.

Personnel.

129. The head of the Library, his assistants and the other employees of the Library are members of the personnel of the Assembly.

1982, c. 62, s. 129.

130. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 130; 1984, c. 27, s. 38.

Updating and transfer.

131. The head of the Library may update unusable or obsolete documents, transpose them to other data systems or treat them in any other manner approved by the Office.

1982, c. 62, s. 131.

132. The Québec Official Publisher, the departments and the government agencies governed by the Auditor General Act (chapter V-5.01), including bodies referred to in section 6 of that Act, public or private institutions under agreement governed by the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2), the regional council established by the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5), and the inquiry commissions and study committees set up by the Government shall transmit two copies of the documents they publish to the head of the Library.

1982, c. 62, s. 132; 2010, c. 30, s. 120; 2013, c. 16, s. 89.

CHAPTER V 
PENAL PROVISIONS

Offence and penalty.

133. Any person other than a Member who performs any act or makes any omission contemplated in sections 55 and 56 is guilty of an offence and liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.

1982, c. 62, s. 133; 1990, c. 4, s. 67.

134. A Member who commits an act or omission described in section 55, 56 or 85 is guilty of an offence and liable to one or more of the following sanctions, as determined by the Assembly:

 (1) a reprimand;

 (2) a penalty, specifying the amount;

 (3) the reimbursement of any unlawful profit;

 (4) the reimbursement of the indemnities, allowances or other sums received as a Member while the offence continued;

 (5) the loss of his or her seat.

A sanction is applicable as soon as the Assembly imposes it.

1982, c. 62, s. 134; 2010, c. 30, s. 121.

135. (Replaced).

1982, c. 62, s. 135; 2010, c. 30, s. 121.

136. (Replaced).

1982, c. 62, s. 136; 2010, c. 30, s. 121.

137. The Assembly is fully competent to judge any offence provided for in section 134 and to apply the penalties prescribed therein.

1982, c. 62, s. 137; 2010, c. 30, s. 122.

Homologation.

138. Where the Assembly condemns a Member to pay or reimburse an amount for an offence against this Act, it may, in default of payment, have its decision homologated by the Superior Court or the Court of Québec, according to the amount involved.

Executory decision.

The decision thereby becomes executory as a judgment of that court in its civil law jurisdiction.

1982, c. 62, s. 138; 1988, c. 21, s. 66.

Sums collected.

139. Every sum received under this chapter is paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

1982, c. 62, s. 139.

CHAPTER VI 
TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

140. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 140; 1989, c. 22, s. 7.

141. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 141; 1989, c. 22, s. 7.

Standing Orders.

142. The Standing Orders of the National Assembly of Québec, any sessional order, and any resolution, decision or order of the commissioners appointed under sections 41 and 82 of the Legislature Act (chapter L-1) and the regulations, orders or orders in council adopted under sections 116, 118 and 119 of the said Act remain in force to the extent that they are consistent with this Act or the Act respecting the Ministère des Communications (chapter M-24), as the case may be, until they are repealed or replaced.

1982, c. 62, s. 142.

Reference to the Act.

143. In any Act, order in council, order, contract or any other document, a reference to a provision of the Legislature Act (chapter L-1), except the provisions of that Act that are not replaced by this Act, is a reference to the equivalent provision of this Act or to the equivalent provision of the Act respecting the Ministère des Communications (chapter M-24) enacted under this Act.

1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1999, c. 3, s. 7.

144. (Omitted).

1982, c. 62, s. 144.

145. (Amendment integrated into c. E-3.1, s. 10).

1982, c. 62, s. 145.

146. (Amendment integrated into c. F-3.1, s. 92).

1982, c. 62, s. 146.

147. (Amendment integrated into c. F-3.1, s. 118).

1982, c. 62, s. 147.

148. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 1).

1982, c. 62, s. 148.

149. (Omitted).

1982, c. 62, s. 149.

150. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, heading of Division II).

1982, c. 62, s. 150.

151. (Omitted).

1982, c. 62, s. 151.

152. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 5).

1982, c. 62, s. 152.

153. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 9).

1982, c. 62, s. 153.

154. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 11).

1982, c. 62, s. 154.

155. (Omitted).

1982, c. 62, s. 155.

156. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 60).

1982, c. 62, s. 156.

157. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 61).

1982, c. 62, s. 157.

158. (Amendment integrated into c. I-16, s. 62).

1982, c. 62, s. 158.

159. (Amendment integrated into c. J-2, s. 5).

1982, c. 62, s. 159.

160. (Amendment integrated into c. L-1, s. 85).

1982, c. 62, s. 160.

161. (Amendment integrated into c. L-1, s. 86).

1982, c. 62, s. 161.

162. (Amendment integrated into c. L-1, s. 89).

1982, c. 62, s. 162.

163. (Amendment integrated into c. M-24, heading of chapter I, of chapter II, and ss. 15-19).

1982, c. 62, s. 163.

164. (Amendment integrated into c. S-4, s. 6).

1982, c. 62, s. 164.

165. (Amendment integrated into c. S-20, s. 23).

1982, c. 62, s. 165.

166. (Amendment integrated into c. T-16, s. 133).

1982, c. 62, s. 166.

167. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 167; 1989, c. 22, s. 7.

168. (This section ceased to have effect on 18 December 1987).

1982, c. 62, s. 168; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

169. (Repealed).

1982, c. 62, s. 169; 1989, c. 22, s. 7.

170. (Omitted).

1982, c. 62, s. 170.

SCHEDULE  I

(Section 15)

OATH OF A MEMBER

I, (name of the Member), declare under oath that I will be loyal to the people of Québec and that I will perform the duties of Member honestly and justly in conformity with the constitution of Québec.

1982, c. 62, Schedule I; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

SCHEDULE  II

(Section 52)

DECLARATION UNDER OATH

I, (name of the witness), declare under oath that the testimony that I will give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

1982, c. 62, Schedule II; 1999, c. 40, s. 25.

REPEAL SCHEDULES

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), chapter 62 of the statutes of 1982, in force on 1 January 1983, is repealed, except sections 144 and 170, effective from the coming into force of chapter A-23.1 of the Revised Statutes.

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), sections 33 to 36, 38, 40 to 140, the second paragraph of section 141, sections 147, 159, 164, the first paragraph of section 167 and Schedule II of chapter 62 of the statutes of 1982, in force on 1 July 1983, are repealed effective from the coming into force of the updating to 1 July 1983 of chapter A-23.1 of the Revised Statutes.

In accordance with section 9 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), sections 37 and 39 of chapter 62 of the statutes of 1982, in force on 1 March 1990, are repealed effective from the coming into force of the updating to 1 March 1990 of chapter A-23.1 of the Revised Statutes.