Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Act 2026

21 Senedd Commissioner for Standards: eligibility

(1) The National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards Measure 2009 (nawm 4) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 1(3) (persons not eligible to be appointed as Commissioner)—

(a) in paragraph (b) omit “during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect”;

(b) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) is a member, or has been a member at any time, of—

(i) the House of Commons,

(ii) the House of Lords,

(iii) the Scottish Parliament,

(iv) the Northern Ireland Assembly,

(bb) holds or has held at any time the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area in Wales or England,

(bc) is a member, or has been a member at any time, of the council of a county or county borough in Wales,

(bd) is a member, or has been a member at any time during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect, of the council of a community in Wales,”;

(c) in paragraph (e) omit “or”;

(d) after paragraph (f) insert—

“(g) is engaged by a Member of the Senedd under a contract of service or a contract for services in connection with the carrying out of the member’s functions,

(h) has been engaged by a Member of the Senedd, under a contract of service or a contract for services in connection with the carrying out of the member’s functions at any time during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect,

(i) is engaged by a registered political party under a contract of service or a contract for services, or

(j) has been engaged by a registered political party under a contract of service or a contract for services at any time during the period of 2 years prior to the date when the appointment is to take effect.”

(3) In section 1(8) (ceasing to be appointed as Commissioner)—

(a) before paragraph (b) insert—

“(aa) becomes a member of—

(i) the House of Commons,

(ii) the House of Lords,

(iii) the Scottish Parliament,

(iv) the Northern Ireland Assembly, or

(v) the council of a county, county borough or community in Wales,

(ab) becomes a police and crime commissioner for a police area in Wales or England,”;

(b) in paragraph (b), omit “or” in the second place it occurs;

(c) after paragraph (c) insert—

“(d) is engaged by a Member of the Senedd under a contract of service or a contract for services in connection with the carrying out of the member’s functions, or

(e) is engaged by a registered political party under a contract of service or a contract for services.”

(4) After section 1(8) (ceasing to be appointed as Commissioner) insert—

“(9) In this section, “registered political party means a party registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41).”