Legislators yesterday agreed to restart the preliminary review of two controversial bills that would allow Chinese students to study in Taiwan.
The two parties agreed that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would resubmit revised versions of the draft amendments to the University Act (大學法) and the Vocational School Act (專科學校法) next week, KMT Legislator Lin Yi-shih (林益世) said.
The new amendments will then be reviewed by the Education and Culture Committee on May 10.
The original versions of the bills, which would have paved the way for local universities and colleges to recruit Chinese students, were first reviewed by the Education and Culture Committee on April 21.
The review turned into a fierce brawl, and lawmakers fought again on April 26 when the committee met to confirm the proceedings of the April 21 meeting.
KMT lawmakers said the bills had cleared the committee on April 21, but Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators opposed to the bills disagreed.
In a meeting to help bridge their differences on Friday, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) called on legislators to make concessions on the issue.
He proposed that the two parties either recognize the validity of the first review and engage in further negotiations on the issue before referring it to the full legislature or allow the committee to hold another session to review the bills again.
The DPP promised that it would follow procedural rules and refrain from resorting to violence.
Also yesterday, the legislature approved an amendment to the Civil Law (民法) that relaxed regulations on name changes, allowing individuals to one change of surname without parental consent once they reach the age of 20. Current law requires adults to obtain approval from their parents.
Also approved was an amendment to the Fire Service Act (消防法) that would require a greater number of older buildings to meet stricter fire safety standards.
KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇), who introduced the amendment, said that some residential buildings, hotels and retirement homes not subject to the act would have to install alarms that alert local fire brigades in case of fire.
An amendment to the Management of Fireworks Act (爆竹煙火管理條例) that increases penalties for illegal fireworks production also cleared the legislative floor. After the amendment takes effect, illegal manufacturers will face three to 10 years behind bars and fines ranging from NT$2 million (US$63,463) to NT$10 million in the event of fatalities.
The legislature also approved an amendment to the Civil Matters Involving Foreign Elements Law (涉外民事法律適用法), marking the first time the act has been through a major revision since it was enacted in 1953. Under the amendment, the laws of the country where transnational couples live or the laws of the country in which they are citizens are applicable to civil lawsuits involving such couples.
Currently, civil suits regarding the effectiveness of a marriage, common property of the marriage, or divorce are resolved in accordance with laws of the husband’s country.
Additional reporting by CNA
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