MPs are set for a busy session in the House of Assembly today with four items up for discussion.

New rules to tighten up recently-introduced anti-stalking laws are first on the agenda.

Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess will open debate on a bid to give Police more power to deal with stalkers.

If passed, Police will be able to arrest someone whom officers have reasonable cause for believing a suspect has committed, or is about to commit, a stalking offence.

The Stalking Amendment Act 1998 would also give new powers to courts to make a temporary protection order for complainants, victims or a "connected person'' following an arrest.

In addition, the amendment allows for offenders to be brought before a court within 48 hours of arrest or as soon as reasonably possible.

Police will also be allowed to enter premises without a warrant under certain circumstances -- when they have cause to suspect a protection order is being broken or where someone is committing a stalking offence.

Health and Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert will start discussion on a new law designed to avoid problems with practitioners in the field of psychology with bogus qualifications or who commit misconduct. See story above The Psychological Practitioners' Act 1998 -- drawn up with the support of Island professionals -- brings psychologists into line with other groups on the Island, like chartered surveyors and engineers.

The Act proposes a ruling professional body, with powers to discipline practitioners and strike them off if necessary. Government also aims to restrict the use of the word "psychologist'' in styles or titles to approved members of a special register.

In addition, the ruling council would have the power to check on qualifications, training and experience, as well as general character.

And a bid to plug a loophole in the anti-race hate laws will be brought forward by Development and Opportunity Minister Jerome Dill.

The Criminal Code Amendment Act 1998 corrects 1995 legislation which banned a variety of racial acts -- but missed out face-to-face harassment.

Racial harassment by phone, fax, or e-mail was covered by the earlier law -- but prosecutors found their hands were tied in face-to-face confrontations.

Offenders could still be prosecuted -- but under other legislation, not the law custom-designed to tackle the problem of racial slurs.

And Finance Minister Grant Gibbons will bring a proposed law to the attention of MPs to formally give legal sanction to extra cash handed out to various Government departments over and above the Budget provisions for 1994-95.

Ship's Hill bill: Page 7