Muscat: On Tuesday, the Shura Council forwarded the draft legislation concerning 'State Dues Collection' and the draft law addressing 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities' to the State Council for further examination. These proposals were presented by the government for consideration.
Furthermore, the Shura Council endorsed the initiative for a draft law aimed at combating tobacco and its derivatives.
The session began with an opening statement from Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of the Shura Council, who extended his congratulations to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan.
In his remarks, he expressed hopes that His Majesty would enjoy many more Ramadans, wishing him abundant blessings, good health, happiness, and longevity. He also conveyed his best wishes for prosperity and blessings to the Omani populace and the broader Islamic community.
During his address, he urged the esteemed Council members to present insights and proposals that align with national goals, thereby fostering a unified approach to leverage available resources for the common good.
Draft Legislation on the Collection of State Dues
Ahmed Saeed Al-Sharqi, Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee and the session's rapporteur, subsequently presented the committee's findings on the proposed legislation concerning the Collection of State Dues, which had been referred to the Council.
In his presentation, he elaborated on the committee's thorough review of the proposed legislation, highlighting that nearly three decades have passed since the establishment of the current system for collecting taxes, fees, and other dues owed to state administrative units, as mandated by Royal Decree (23/49).
The proposed legislation comprises 79 articles organized into five chapters and was meticulously examined by the committee, which engaged various specialists from government agencies to gain a well-rounded understanding.
Additionally, a joint meeting with the Legislative and Legal Committee was convened, resulting in a consensus on a revised version of most articles.
In-depth discussions took place regarding several provisions of the proposed legislation. Ahmed Saeed Al-Sharqi addressed numerous technical points raised by the esteemed members of the Council and provided rationales for the amendments endorsed by the committee.
Moreover, Dr. Talal Saeed Al-Muharibi, rapporteur of the Legislative and Legal Committee, addressed members' inquiries regarding the penalties section, offering clarifications on the suggested changes.
Subsequently, the draft legislation received approval and was forwarded to the State Council to finalize the legislative process, as stipulated in Article (49) of the Oman Council Law. This article specifies that “Draft laws are sent from the Council of Ministers to the Shura Council, which is required to make a decision on the draft by either approving or amending it within a maximum of three months from the referral date; thereafter, it is presented to the State Council, which must make a decision by approving or amending it within no more than forty-five days from the referral date.”
Draft Law on ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities’
During the session, Mansoor Zahir Al-Hajri, Chairman of the Health and Social Committee and the session’s rapporteur, delivered the committee’s report concerning the draft law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In its review, the committee conducted a series of meetings and consultations with various civil society organizations, including the Omani Down Syndrome Association, the Al-Noor Association for the Blind, the Omani Association for Persons with Disabilities, and the Omani Association for Persons with Hearing Disabilities, to gather their perspectives on the draft law.
The committee also engaged with officials from the Ministry of Social Development to explore the rationale and objectives behind the proposal.
Additionally, Dr. Ahmed Ali Al-Saadi, Chairman and rapporteur of the Legislative and Legal Committee for the draft law, shared the committee’s insights on the penal provisions of the draft law and addressed the comments made by the esteemed members.
Following these discussions, the draft law was approved in its finalized form and sent to the State Council in accordance with the legislative process outlined by the Oman Council Law.
Proposal for the Draft Law on Tobacco Control and Its Derivatives
The session also saw the endorsement of the proposal for the draft law aimed at controlling tobacco and its derivatives.
The Health and Social Committee had previously undertaken comprehensive research on this proposal, engaging with various relevant stakeholders, while the Legislative and Legal Committee assessed its legal framework and alignment with existing laws in the Sultanate of Oman.
Mansoor bin Zahir Al-Hajri, the committee's chairman and the session's rapporteur for the draft law, presented the committee's findings to the distinguished members, outlining the rationale, goals, and societal implications of the proposal.
He emphasized that the proposal aligns with other relevant regulations in the region that govern this sector. Following this, the proposal was approved and forwarded to the State Council to complete the legislative process for its enactment in accordance with the Oman Council Law.
It is important to highlight that this proposal seeks to implement regulatory measures to limit the proliferation of tobacco and its derivatives, thereby safeguarding the community from the harmful effects associated with this issue.
The initiative to propose such a draft law aligns with the legislative responsibilities of the Shura Council, as outlined in Article (48) of the Oman Council Law, which allows the Oman Council to propose draft laws and submit them to the government for evaluation, with a return to the Council within a maximum timeframe of one year. Upon approval, the procedures specified in Article (47) of the law will be followed.
These decisions were made during the sixth regular session of the second ordinary conjuncture (2024–2025) of the tenth term (2023–2027), presided over by Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of the Shura Council, and attended by the Council members.
The Council is scheduled to hold its Seventh Regular Sitting on Wednesday, which will focus on discussing the statement from the Minister of Education.
