National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards Measure 2009

1 The Commissioner

(1) There is to be a National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards (in this Measure referred to as “the Commissioner”).

(2) The Commissioner is to be appointed by the Assembly.

(3) A person is not eligible to be appointed as the Commissioner if that person—

(a) is an Assembly Member,

(b) has been an Assembly Member at any time during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect,

(c) is a member of staff of the Assembly,

(d) has been a member of the staff of the Assembly at any time during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect,

(e) is a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government, or

(f) has been a member of the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government at any time during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect.

(4) The Commissioner is to be appointed for a term of 6 years.

(5) A person who has held office as the Commissioner may not be appointed for a further term (whether consecutive or not).

(6) A person who has been appointed as the Commissioner may at any time—

(a) resign by notice given to the Assembly, or

(b) be removed from office by the Assembly.

(7) A person may not be removed from office as the Commissioner under subsection (6)(b) unless—

(a) the Assembly so resolves, and

(b) if the resolution is passed on a vote, the number of votes cast in favour of the resolution is not less than two thirds of the total number of votes cast.

(8) The appointment of a person as Commissioner ceases if that person—

(a) becomes a candidate to be an Assembly Member for an Assembly constituency or an Assembly electoral region,

(b) is appointed as, or designated to exercise the functions of, the Counsel General under section 49 of the Act, or

(c) is appointed to be a member of the staff of the Assembly or of the Welsh Assembly Government.