Pioneer Generation Fund Bill

Bill No. 32/2014

Read the first time on 7th October 2014.
An Act to establish the Pioneer Generation Fund to provide financial and other support to Singapore’s Pioneers and for matters connected therewith.
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
Short title and commencement
1.  This Act may be cited as the Pioneer Generation Fund Act 2014 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
Interpretation
2.  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
“accounting officer” means a public officer appointed under section 9;
“Central Provident Fund” means the Central Provident Fund established under the Central Provident Fund Act (Cap. 36);
“disability” means disability that —
(a)is attributable to intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of those impairments;
(b)is permanent or likely to be permanent; and
(c)results in a substantial need for continuing support in daily living activities;
“Fund” means the Pioneer Generation Fund established under section 4;
“health service” means an activity performed in relation to an individual —
(a)that is intended or claimed (expressly or otherwise) by the individual or the person performing the activity —
(i)to diagnose the individual’s illness or disability;
(ii)to treat the individual’s illness or disability, or suspected illness or disability; or
(iii)to assess, record, maintain or improve the individual’s health; or
(b)that is the dispensing on prescription of a drug or medicinal preparation for use or consumption by that individual;
“healthcare provider” means any organisation providing one or more health services in the course of business;
“member”, in relation to the Pioneer Generation Appeals Panel, includes the chairperson and deputy chairperson of that Panel;
“organisation” includes any individual, company, association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporate —
(a)formed under the law of Singapore; or
(b)resident, or having an office or a place of business, in Singapore;
“Pioneer” includes an individual who is determined under section 13 to be a Pioneer;
“Pioneer Generation Appeals Panel” means the body of that name established under section 15;
“public authority” means a body established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function;
“public scheme” means any scheme that —
(a)is established by or under any written law and administered by a public authority or by the Government in any other manner; and
(b)is to provide financial relief, assistance or support to citizens of Singapore or any part of them;
“regulations” means regulations made under section 27;
“reimbursement arrangement” means an agreement in writing or a scheme, approved by the Minister charged with the responsibility for health, to the effect that the Government is liable (directly or indirectly) to pay a grant to a prescribed healthcare provider to reimburse the prescribed healthcare provider for the whole or part of the cost and expenses incurred by the prescribed healthcare provider for any relevant health service rendered or provided to a Pioneer;
“relevant health service” means a health service determined by the prescribed healthcare provider, with the approval of the Minister charged with the responsibility for health, to be a relevant health service for the purposes of this Act;
“verification application” means an application made under section 13(2) in relation to an individual seeking a determination from the Pioneer Generation Appeals Panel that the individual is a Pioneer for the purposes of this Act.
Purpose of Act
3.  The purpose of this Act is to recognise and honour the participation and sacrifice of Singapore’s Pioneers in the development of Singapore by providing to them who are now elderly and are or may be in need of financial relief, assistance or other support to meet their healthcare costs, and other costs of living in Singapore.