An amendment limiting the age of children eligible for Child Day Care Allowance was passed unanimously in the Senate yesterday.

The Child Day Care Allowance Amendment Act 2009 was debated in the House of Assembly last month.

It reduces the maximum age of children eligible from five to four.

Senator Kim Wilson said the change in legislature would prevent people from exploiting the programme, which was intended to help the needy.

Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes praised the amendment, which he said could save the Government money.

"We're not enhancing the legislation," he said. "We're narrowing the field."

"This is very economically wise on the part of the Government."

Opposition Senator Suzann Roberts Holshouser proposed that parents taking advantage of the allowance take a parenting course.

"It is imperative for our children that when we issue financing, we make sure that we're getting something back," she said.

The proposal was harshly criticised by Government senators Marc Bean, Walton Brown and Kim Wilson.

"A person's financial position does not relate to their parenting skills," said Sen. Bean. "It's foolish."

The amendment proposed by Sen. Roberts Holshouser was defeated in a vote of four to seven. The original proposed amendment was passed.

Legislation designed to strengthen Bermuda's proceeds of crime law was also passed unanimously in Senate yesterday.

The Proceeds of Crime Regulations (Supervision and Enforcement) (Provisions Subject to Civil Penalties) Order 2009 and The Proceeds of Crime (Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing) Amendment Regulations 2009 will impose anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing requirements in relation to wire transfers. The change will lead to greater scrutiny of wire transfers over $1,000.

The laws enable the Bermuda Monetary Authority to require payer information to accompany wire transfers and verification of payer information and to set requirements for detection of incomplete or missing information.

Opposition Senator Michael Dunkley warned that such legislation could make it more difficult and expensive to conduct business.