This Bill aims to simplify the process for disclosing criminal history information about people.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 14 July 2020
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
This Bill aims to simplify the process for disclosing criminal history information about people.
It proposes changes to whether and how certain offences are disclosed. An example of this is offences committed when a person was under 18.
It also proposes new appeal processes for which convictions are disclosed.
It would also make changes to protection of vulnerable groups (PVG) checks.
The Bill would mean that anyone who wants to work with children, young people or vulnerable adults would have to be a member of the PVG scheme. It would be against the law for employers and individuals not to do this.
People and employers applying for disclosures and criminal record checks can find the processes complicated. This Bill aims to simplify these processes.
The Scottish Government wants to find the right balance between protecting the public and allowing people to move on from offending.
Disclosure (Scotland) Bill as introduced (1MB, pdf) posted 31 July 2019
Explanatory Notes (605KB, pdf) posted 31 July 2019
Policy Memorandum (930KB, pdf) posted 31 July 2019
Financial Memorandum (586KB, pdf) posted 31 July 2019
Delegated Powers Memorandum (610KB, pdf) posted 02 August 2019
Statements on legislative competence (85KB, pdf) posted 31 July 2019
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
The Bill was introduced on 12 June 2019
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Education and Skills Committee. The lead committee considers and reports on the Bill.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The deadline for sharing your views on this Bill has passed.
Read the responses
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 16 January 2020 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 16 January 2020
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
Documents with the amendments considered at this meeting on 4 March 2020:
First Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (320KB, pdf) posted 03 March 2020
First Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (320KB, pdf) posted 03 March 2020
Documents with the amendments considered at this meeting on 11 March 2020:
Second Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (265KB, pdf) posted 09 March 2020
Second Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (282KB, pdf) posted 09 March 2020
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
Revised Explanatory Notes (443KB, pdf) posted 03 June 2020
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (143KB, pdf) posted 28 April 2020
Sometimes an amendment at Stage 2 makes substantial changes to a bill. If this happens, the Accompanying Documents need to be updated to explain what these changes are.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 11 March 2020
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments that will be considered at the meeting that held on 10 June 2020:
First Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (154KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2020
First Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (179KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2020
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 63 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 66 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
Research on the Bill
Disclosure (Scotland) Bill: SPICe briefing on the discussion of the Bill
Disclosure (Scotland) Bill as passed (947KB, pdf) posted 11 June 2020
Printing Changes
Printing changes are changes to the text of a Bill. They will not change the legal effect of the Bill.
Disclosure (Scotland) Bill printing changes after the Bill as passed (49KB, pdf) posted 21 July 2020
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 10 June 2020
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts come into force straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act come into force on different dates.
This Bill was passed on 10 June 2020 and became an Act on 14 July 2020.