Senate endorses several bills in last ordinary session meeting

AMMAN — The Senate on Wednesday endorsed the draft amendments to the Jordan Press Association (JPA) Law along with several other bills.

The Lower House endorsed the bill one week ago, introducing changes to provisions on the JPA council elections and membership requirements.

In its last meeting in the 17th Parliament’s ordinary session, the Senate endorsed the draft law that grants the association the right to invest its assets and establish clubs and centres to support the profession and its members.

The Senate did not change the MPs’ version of the bill, recommending that the government submit another draft amendment to add the deputy JPA president to the organisational structure of the association council.

The Upper House also endorsed the amended Water Authority of Jordan Law, which sets stricter penalties for those who abuse water networks or dig illegal wells and pollute reservoirs.

In the same session, the Senate endorsed the Lower House’s changes to the draft anti-terrorism law, which maintains the death penalty for certain crimes tagged as terror acts.

Among other amendments, the bill stipulates that those who commit terrorist crimes that result in the death of innocent people, partial or total damage of facilities and buildings, and entail the use of explosives, poisonous, chemical, biochemical or radioactive materials, face the death sentence.

But violations of a milder nature are punishable by five years to life imprisonment, according to the draft law.

Furthermore, the Senate endorsed the draft military courts law, which limits the formation of these courts to include military judges only, in line with international standards.

The current ordinary session concludes on May 3 under a Royal Decree issued by His Majesty King Abdullah last week to prorogue Parliament. Another decree is expected to be issued soon to summon Parliament for an extraordinary session.