Part I The Scottish Parliament
Legislation
36 Stages of Bills.
1
Standing orders shall include provision—
a
for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for members to vote on its general principles,
b
for the consideration of, and an opportunity for members to vote on, the details of a Bill, and
c
for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected.
2
Subsection (1) does not prevent standing orders making provision to enable the Parliament to expedite proceedings in relation to a particular Bill.
3
Standing orders may make provision different from that required by subsection (1) for the procedure applicable to Bills of any of the following kinds—
a
Bills which restate the law,
b
Bills which repeal spent enactments,
c
private Bills.
4
Standing orders shall provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its passing if (and only if)—
a
the F1Supreme Court decides that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the legislative competence of the Parliament,
F3aa
the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(b) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter,
b
F7... or
c
an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 35.
F24A
Standing orders shall provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its rejection if (and only if), on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(a), the Supreme Court decides that no provision that is subject to the reference relates to a protected subject-matter.
5
Standing orders shall, in particular, ensure that F6—
a
any Bill amended on reconsideration in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (4)(a) F8... or (c), and
b
any Bill reconsidered in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (4)(aa) or (4A),
is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.