{"kind":"expression","expression":{"expr_id":"28208","doc_id":"79364","label":"Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, 2026","is_as_enacted":"f","commenced_on":null,"superseded_on":null,"valid_from":null,"valid_to":null,"is_current":"t","incorporating":null,"akn_expr_iri":"\/akn\/ky\/bill\/2026\/20\/eng@2026-01-01","akn_envelope":"{\"_canary\": {\"iri\": {\"work\": \"\/akn\/ky\/bill\/2026\/20\", \"expression\": \"\/akn\/ky\/bill\/2026\/20\/eng@2026-01-01\", \"manifestation\": \"\/akn\/ky\/bill\/2026\/20\/eng@2026-01-01.pdf\"}, \"pdf\": {\"md5\": \"4f0d71c55d57ca8425b302ee69867ba5\", \"path\": \"\/home\/q\/Dropbox\/coding\/kyleg-data\/working\/BILLS\/2026\/2026-0020\/2026-0020.pdf\", \"pages\": 13, \"filename\": \"2026-0020.pdf\"}, \"errors\": [], \"extraction\": {\"model\": null, \"stats\": {\"word_count\": 2461, \"paragraph_count\": 12, \"text_char_count\": 16070}, \"usage\": null, \"method\": \"pymupdf-text\", \"version\": \"kyleg-akn-1.0\", \"extracted_at\": \"2026-08-19\"}, \"classification\": \"text_layer\", \"validation_flags\": [], \"docai_processor_id\": null}, \"akomaNtoso\": {\"act\": null, \"doc\": null, \"bill\": {\"body\": [{\"eId\": \"sec_n1\", \"num\": null, \"text\": \"MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026 A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) ACT (2015 REVISION) IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE CAYMAN AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY AGAINST CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES, CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS AND COSTS WHERE THE CAYMAN AUTHORITY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO A REQUEST MADE BY THE UNITED STATES AUTHORITY; AND FOR INCIDENTAL AND CONNECTED PURPOSES Introduced PUBLISHING DETAILS Sponsoring Ministry\/Portfolio: Portfolio of Legal Affairs (PLA) Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Objects and Reasons Introduced Memorandum of OBJECTS AND REASONS This Bill amends the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act (2015 Revision) (\u201cthe principal Act\u201d) to \u2014 (a) change the Cayman Authority; (b) provide for protection from liability against claims for damages, consequential loss and costs where the Cayman Authority provides assistance pursuant to a request made by the Unites States Authority; and (c) provide for incidental and connected purposes. Clause 1 provides the short title of the legislation. Clause 2 provides for general amendments to the principal Act to \u2014 (a) update references to \u201cLaw\u201d to \u201cAct\u201d in light of the Citation of Acts of Parliament Act, 2020; and (b) update gender-specific references throughout the principal Act in keeping with more modern drafting principles. Clause 3 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 4. The proposed new section 4 changes the Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority from the Chief Justice or another Judge of the Grand Court designated by the Chief Justice, to the Attorney General . Clause 4 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 5. The proposed new section 5 provides that the Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions are to be notified of any request received. The proposed new section 5 also provides that the Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be entitled, in a manner analogous to amicus curiae, to appear or to take part in any proceedings in the Islands arising directly or indirectly from a request received by the Cayman Authority. Clause 5 amends section 8 of the principal Act by providing that it is now the Solicitor General who is empowered to authorise a person for the purpose of the authentication of any official documents or records of the Islands, as mentioned in Article 9 of the Treaty. Clause 6 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 10. The proposed new section 10 contains an updated reference to legislation, has been updated in keeping with modern drafting principles and has been restructured for greater clarity. The proposed new section 10 provides, among other things, that a person who divulges confidential information or gives testimony in conformity with a request does not commit an offence under the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 or under any other law Objects and Reasons Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Introduced for the time being in force in the Islands, by reason only of the disclosure or the giving of the testimony. Clause 7 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 11. The proposed new section 11 contains updated references to legislation. The proposed new section 11 continues to provide that section 4 of the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 does not apply to confidential information given by a person on the directions of the Cayman Authority given in pursuance of a request. Clause 8 amends the principal Act by inserting proposed new section 14A. The proposed new section 14A provides that the Cayman Authority is protected from liability for damages, consequential loss and costs in legal proceedings in respect of any act done in the discharge or purported discharge of the functions of the Cayman Authority under this Act unless it is shown that the act was done in bad faith. The proposed new section 14A also provides that costs shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars. Clause 9 amends section 16(3) of the principal Act to update references to legislation, to update the provision in keeping with modern drafting principles, and to restructure the subsection for greater clarity. As part of the restructuring of the provision, subsection (3) has now been recast as subsections (3) and (3A). The essence of the provisions remains the same. The proposed new subsection (3) provides that where any documents or other written information have not been produced in pursuance of a notice served by the Cayman Authority \u2014 (a) a constable of the rank of Inspector or above, acting on the written instructions of the Cayman Authority, may apply to a court, magistrate or justice of the peace for the issue of a search warrant to search for and seize any such documents or other written information; and (b) on application made under paragraph (a), the court, magistrate or justice of the peace shall issue a warrant to search for and seize the documents or information concerned. A warrant issued by the court, with necessary changes, shall be in form similar to, and shall confer the same powers of entry, search and seizure as, a search warrant issued under section 26 of the Criminal Procedure Code (2026 Revision). Clause 10 repeals section 17 of the principal Act. Clause 11 provides for transitional matters. Clause 11 provides that every request made before the date of commencement of this amending legislation which has not been dealt with at the date of such commencement shall be dealt with in all respects as if this amending legislation had not come into force. Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Objects and Reasons Introduced Clause 11 also provides that every proceeding commenced before the date of commencement of this amending legislation and which has not been completed or otherwise determined at such date shall be dealt with and be completed or otherwise determined, as if this amending legislation was not in force. Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Arrangement of Clauses Introduced MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) (AMENDMENT) BILL, Arrangement of Clauses Clause 1.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_2\", \"num\": \"2.\", \"text\": \"General amendment of the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act (2015 3.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_4\", \"num\": \"4.\", \"text\": \"Repeal of section 5 and substitution - Attorney General and the Director of Public 5.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_6\", \"num\": \"6.\", \"text\": \"Repeal of section 10 and substitution - protection of person disclosing confidential\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_7\", \"num\": \"7.\", \"text\": \"Repeal of section 11 and substitution - restriction on application of Confidential\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_8\", \"num\": \"8.\", \"text\": \"Insertion of section 14A - protection from liability for damages, consequential loss and 9. 10.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_11\", \"num\": \"11.\", \"text\": \"Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Clause 1 Introduced MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) (AMENDMENT) BILL, A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) ACT (2015 REVISION) IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE CAYMAN AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY AGAINST CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES, CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS AND COSTS WHERE THE CAYMAN AUTHORITY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO A REQUEST MADE BY THE UNITED STATES AUTHORITY; AND FOR INCIDENTAL AND CONNECTED PURPOSES ENACTED by the Legislature of the Cayman Islands.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_1\", \"num\": \"1.\", \"text\": \"Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Act, 2026. Clause 2 Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Introduced 2. General amendment of the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act (2015 Revision) - references to \u201cLaw\u201d, \u201che\u201d and \u201chis\u201d 2. (1) The Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act (2015 Revision), in this Act referred to as the \u201cprincipal Act\u201d, is amended as follows \u2014 (a) by deleting the word \u201cLaw\u201d wherever it appears and substituting the word \u201cAct\u201d; (b) by deleting the word \u201che\u201d and substituting the words \u201che or she\u201d; and (c) by deleting the word \u201chis\u201d and substituting the words \u201chis or her\u201d. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Schedule.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_3\", \"num\": \"3.\", \"text\": \"Repeal of section 4 and substitution - Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority 3. The principal Act is amended by repealing section 4 and substituting the following section \u2014 \u201cCayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority 4. For the purpose of Article 2, the Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority is the Attorney General.\u201d. 4. Repeal of section 5 and substitution - Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions to be notified of request received 4. The principal Act is amended by repealing section 5 and substituting the following section \u2014 \u201cSolicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions to be notified of request received\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_5\", \"num\": \"5.\", \"text\": \"(1) Without prejudice to Article 5(4), the Cayman Authority shall notify the Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions immediately as a request is received, with particulars of the request, and copies of any documents relating to the request. (2) Further to subsection (1), the Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be entitled, in a manner analogous to amicus curiae, to appear or to take part in any proceedings in the Islands arising directly or indirectly from a request received by the Cayman Authority.\u201d. 5. Amendment of section 8 - authentication of official documents 5. The principal Act is amended in section 8 by deleting the words \u201cAttorney General\u201d and substituting the words \u201cSolicitor General\u201d. Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Clause 6 Introduced 6. Repeal of section 10 and substitution - protection of person disclosing confidential information 6. The principal Act is amended by repealing section 10 and substituting the following section \u2014 \u201cProtection of person disclosing confidential information\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_10\", \"num\": \"10.\", \"text\": \"(1) A person who divulges confidential information or gives testimony in conformity with a request does not commit an offence under the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 or under any other law for the time being in force in the Islands, by reason only of the disclosure or the giving of the testimony. (2) A disclosure or testimony referred to under subsection (1) shall not be a breach of any confidential relationship between the person making the disclosure or giving the testimony and any other person, and a civil claim or action shall not lie against \u2014 (a) the person making the disclosure or giving the testimony; or (b) the person\u2019s principal or employer by reason of the disclosure or testimony.\u201d. 7. Repeal of section 11 and substitution - restriction on application of Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law 7. The principal Act is amended by repealing section 11 and substituting the following section \u2014 \u201cRestriction on application of Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 11. Section 4 of the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 does not apply to confidential information given by a person on the directions of the Cayman Authority given in pursuance of a request.\u201d. Clause 8 Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Introduced 8. Insertion of section 14A - protection from liability for damages, consequential loss and costs 8. The principal Act is amended by inserting after section 14 the following section \u2014 \u201cProtection from liability for damages, consequential loss and costs 14A. (1) The Cayman Authority is not liable \u2014 (a) in damages; (b) for consequential loss; or (c) for costs in legal proceedings, in respect of any act done in the discharge or purported discharge of the functions of the Cayman Authority under this Act unless it is shown that the act was done in bad faith. (2) Subsection (1)(c) does not apply if a person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Grand Court \u2014 (a) that the person would suffer undue financial hardship if the costs were not recovered; or (b) that the Cayman Authority acted unreasonably in the conduct of the legal proceedings giving rise to the costs, but in either case costs shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars. (3) For the purposes of this section, \u201ccosts\u201d includes costs arising from legal proceedings to establish the lawfulness of a decision to provide assistance in respect of a request by the United States Authority.\u201d.\", \"element\": \"section\", \"heading\": null}, {\"eId\": \"sec_9\", \"num\": \"9.\", \"text\": \"Amendment of section 16 - enforcement 9. The principal Act is amended in section 16 as follows \u2014 (a) by repealing subsection (3) and substituting the following subsections \u2014 \u201c(3) Where any documents or other written information have not been produced in pursuance of a notice served under this Act by the Cayman Authority \u2014 (a) a constable of the rank of Inspector or above, acting on the written instructions of the Cayman Authority, may apply to a court, magistrate or justice of the peace for the issue of a search warrant to search for and seize any such documents or other written information; and (b) on application made under paragraph (a), the court, magistrate or justice of the peace shall issue a warrant to search for and seize the documents or information concerned. Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, Clause 10 Introduced (3A) A warrant issued under subsection (3), with necessary changes, shall be in form similar to, and shall confer the same powers of entry, search and seizure as, a search warrant issued under section 26 of the Criminal Procedure Code (2026 Revision).\u201d; and (b) in subsection (5), by deleting the word \u201chim\u201d and substituting the words \u201chim or her\u201d. 10. Repeal of section 17 - repeal of Law 17 of 1984 10. The principal Act is amended by repealing section 17. 11. Transitional provisions 11. (1) Every request made before the date of commencement of this amending Act and which has not been dealt with at the date of such commencement shall be dealt with in all respects as if this amending Act had not come into force. (2) Every proceeding commenced before the date of commencement of this amending Act and which has not been completed or otherwise determined at such date shall \u2014 (a) be dealt with; and (b) be completed or otherwise determined, as if this amending Act was not in force. Passed by the Parliament the day of , 2026. 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The proposed\nnew section 4 changes the Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority from the Chief\nJustice or another Judge of the Grand Court designated by the Chief Justice, to the Attorney\nGeneral .\nClause 4 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 5. The proposed\nnew section 5 provides that the Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions\nare to be notified of any request received.\nThe proposed new section 5 also provides that the Solicitor General and the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions shall be entitled, in a manner analogous to amicus curiae, to appear or\nto take part in any proceedings in the Islands arising directly or indirectly from a request\nreceived by the Cayman Authority.\nClause 5 amends section 8 of the principal Act by providing that it is now the Solicitor\nGeneral who is empowered to authorise a person for the purpose of the authentication of\nany official documents or records of the Islands, as mentioned in Article 9 of the Treaty.\nClause 6 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 10. The proposed\nnew section 10 contains an updated reference to legislation, has been updated in keeping\nwith modern drafting principles and has been restructured for greater clarity.\nThe proposed new section 10 provides, among other things, that a person who divulges\nconfidential information or gives testimony in conformity with a request does not commit\nan offence under the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 or under any other law\n\nObjects and Reasons\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\n\nPage 4\n Introduced\nc\n\nfor the time being in force in the Islands, by reason only of the disclosure or the giving of\nthe testimony.\nClause 7 amends the principal Act by repealing and substituting section 11. The proposed\nnew section 11 contains updated references to legislation. The proposed new section 11\ncontinues to provide that section 4 of the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016\ndoes not apply to confidential information given by a person on the directions of the\nCayman Authority given in pursuance of a request.\nClause 8 amends the principal Act by inserting proposed new section 14A. The proposed\nnew section 14A provides that the Cayman Authority is protected from liability for\ndamages, consequential loss and costs in legal proceedings in respect of any act done in\nthe discharge or purported discharge of the functions of the Cayman Authority under this\nAct unless it is shown that the act was done in bad faith.\nThe proposed new section 14A also provides that costs shall not exceed fifty thousand\ndollars.\nClause 9 amends section 16(3) of the principal Act to update references to legislation, to\nupdate the provision in keeping with modern drafting principles, and to restructure the\nsubsection for greater clarity.\nAs part of the restructuring of the provision, subsection (3) has now been recast as\nsubsections (3) and (3A).\nThe essence of the provisions remains the same.\nThe proposed new subsection (3) provides that where any documents or other written\ninformation have not been produced in pursuance of a notice served by the Cayman\nAuthority \u2014\n(a) a constable of the rank of Inspector or above, acting on the written instructions of\nthe Cayman Authority, may apply to a court, magistrate or justice of the peace for\nthe issue of a search warrant to search for and seize any such documents or other\nwritten information; and\n(b) on application made under paragraph (a), the court, magistrate or justice of the\npeace shall issue a warrant to search for and seize the documents or information\nconcerned.\nA warrant issued by the court, with necessary changes, shall be in form similar to, and shall\nconfer the same powers of entry, search and seizure as, a search warrant issued under\nsection 26 of the Criminal Procedure Code (2026 Revision).\nClause 10 repeals section 17 of the principal Act.\nClause 11 provides for transitional matters.\nClause 11 provides that every request made before the date of commencement of this\namending legislation which has not been dealt with at the date of such commencement\nshall be dealt with in all respects as if this amending legislation had not come into force.\n\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\nObjects and Reasons\n\nc\n Introduced\nPage 5\n\nClause 11 also provides that every proceeding commenced before the date of\ncommencement of this amending legislation and which has not been completed or\notherwise determined at such date shall be dealt with and be completed or otherwise\ndetermined, as if this amending legislation was not in force.\n\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\nArrangement of Clauses\n\nc\n Introduced\nPage 7\n\nCAYMAN ISLANDS\n\nMUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED\nSTATES OF AMERICA) (AMENDMENT) BILL,\n2026\n\nArrangement of Clauses\nClause\nPage\n1.\nShort title ...................................................................................................................................9\n2.\nGeneral amendment of the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act (2015\nRevision) - references to \u201cLaw\u201d, \u201che\u201d and \u201chis\u201d ......................................................................... 10\n3.\nRepeal of section 4 and substitution - Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority .................. 10\n4.\nRepeal of section 5 and substitution - Attorney General and the Director of Public\nProsecutions to be notified of request received ........................................................................ 10\n5.\nAmendment of section 8 - authentication of official documents ................................................ 10\n6.\nRepeal of section 10 and substitution - protection of person disclosing confidential\ninformation ............................................................................................................................... 11\n7.\nRepeal of section 11 and substitution - restriction on application of Confidential\nRelationships (Preservation) Law............................................................................................. 11\n8.\nInsertion of section 14A - protection from liability for damages, consequential loss and\ncosts ........................................................................................................................................ 12\n9.\nAmendment of section 16 - enforcement .................................................................................. 12\n10.\nRepeal of section 17 - repeal of Law 17 of 1984 ...................................................................... 13\n11.\nTransitional provisions ............................................................................................................. 13\n\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\nClause 1\n\nc\n Introduced\nPage 9\n\nCAYMAN ISLANDS\n\nMUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED\nSTATES OF AMERICA) (AMENDMENT) BILL,\n2026\n\nA BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (UNITED\nSTATES OF AMERICA) ACT (2015 REVISION) IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE CAYMAN\nAUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY AGAINST CLAIMS\nFOR DAMAGES, CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS AND COSTS WHERE THE CAYMAN\nAUTHORITY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO A REQUEST MADE BY THE\nUNITED STATES AUTHORITY; AND FOR INCIDENTAL AND CONNECTED PURPOSES\nENACTED by the Legislature of the Cayman Islands.\n1.\nShort title\n1.\nThis Act may be cited as the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America)\n(Amendment) Act, 2026.\n\nClause 2\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\n\nPage 10\n Introduced\nc\n\n2.\nGeneral amendment of the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of\nAmerica) Act (2015 Revision) - references to \u201cLaw\u201d, \u201che\u201d and \u201chis\u201d\n2.\n(1) The Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act (2015 Revision),\nin this Act referred to as the \u201cprincipal Act\u201d, is amended as follows \u2014\n(a)\nby deleting the word \u201cLaw\u201d wherever it appears and substituting the word\n\u201cAct\u201d;\n(b) by deleting the word \u201che\u201d and substituting the words \u201che or she\u201d; and\n(c)\nby deleting the word \u201chis\u201d and substituting the words \u201chis or her\u201d.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the Schedule.\n3.\nRepeal of section 4 and substitution - Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance\nAuthority\n3.\nThe principal Act is amended by repealing section 4 and substituting the following\nsection \u2014\n\u201cCayman Mutual Legal Assistance Authority\n4.\nFor the purpose of Article 2, the Cayman Mutual Legal Assistance\nAuthority is the Attorney General.\u201d.\n4.\nRepeal of section 5 and substitution - Attorney General and the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions to be notified of request received\n4.\nThe principal Act is amended by repealing section 5 and substituting the following\nsection \u2014\n\u201cSolicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions to be\nnotified of request received\n5.\n(1) Without prejudice to Article 5(4), the Cayman Authority shall notify\nthe Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions\nimmediately as a request is received, with particulars of the request,\nand copies of any documents relating to the request.\n(2) Further to subsection (1), the Solicitor General and the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions shall be entitled, in a manner analogous to\namicus curiae, to appear or to take part in any proceedings in the\nIslands arising directly or indirectly from a request received by the\nCayman Authority.\u201d.\n5.\nAmendment of section 8 - authentication of official documents\n5.\nThe principal Act is amended in section 8 by deleting the words \u201cAttorney General\u201d\nand substituting the words \u201cSolicitor General\u201d.\n\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\nClause 6\n\nc\n Introduced\nPage 11\n\n6.\nRepeal of section 10 and substitution - protection of person disclosing\nconfidential information\n6.\nThe principal Act is amended by repealing section 10 and substituting the following\nsection \u2014\n\u201cProtection of person disclosing confidential information\n10. (1) A person who divulges confidential information or gives testimony\nin conformity with a request does not commit an offence under the\nConfidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 or under any other\nlaw for the time being in force in the Islands, by reason only of the\ndisclosure or the giving of the testimony.\n(2) A disclosure or testimony referred to under subsection (1) shall not\nbe a breach of any confidential relationship between the person\nmaking the disclosure or giving the testimony and any other person,\nand a civil claim or action shall not lie against \u2014\n(a)\nthe person making the disclosure or giving the testimony; or\n(b) the person\u2019s principal or employer by reason of the disclosure\nor testimony.\u201d.\n7.\nRepeal of section 11 and substitution - restriction on application of\nConfidential Relationships (Preservation) Law\n7.\nThe principal Act is amended by repealing section 11 and substituting the following\nsection \u2014\n\u201cRestriction on application of Confidential Information Disclosure\nAct, 2016\n11. Section 4 of the Confidential Information Disclosure Act, 2016 does not\napply to confidential information given by a person on the directions of\nthe Cayman Authority given in pursuance of a request.\u201d.\n\nClause 8\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\n\nPage 12\n Introduced\nc\n\n8.\nInsertion of section 14A - protection from liability for damages,\nconsequential loss and costs\n8.\nThe principal Act is amended by inserting after section 14 the following section \u2014\n\u201cProtection from liability for damages, consequential loss and\ncosts\n14A. (1) The Cayman Authority is not liable \u2014\n(a)\nin damages;\n(b) for consequential loss; or\n(c)\nfor costs in legal proceedings,\nin respect of any act done in the discharge or purported discharge of\nthe functions of the Cayman Authority under this Act unless it is\nshown that the act was done in bad faith.\n(2) Subsection (1)(c) does not apply if a person demonstrates to the\nsatisfaction of the Grand Court \u2014\n(a)\nthat the person would suffer undue financial hardship if the\ncosts were not recovered; or\n(b) that the Cayman Authority acted unreasonably in the conduct\nof the legal proceedings giving rise to the costs,\nbut in either case costs shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars.\n(3) For the purposes of this section, \u201ccosts\u201d includes costs arising from\nlegal proceedings to establish the lawfulness of a decision to provide\nassistance in respect of a request by the United States Authority.\u201d.\n9.\nAmendment of section 16 - enforcement\n9.\nThe principal Act is amended in section 16 as follows \u2014\n(a)\nby repealing subsection (3) and substituting the following subsections \u2014\n\u201c(3) Where any documents or other written information have not been\nproduced in pursuance of a notice served under this Act by the\nCayman Authority \u2014\n(a) a constable of the rank of Inspector or above, acting on the\nwritten instructions of the Cayman Authority, may apply to a\ncourt, magistrate or justice of the peace for the issue of a search\nwarrant to search for and seize any such documents or other\nwritten information; and\n(b) on application made under paragraph (a), the court, magistrate\nor justice of the peace shall issue a warrant to search for and seize\nthe documents or information concerned.\n\nMutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill,\n2026\nClause 10\n\nc\n Introduced\nPage 13\n\n(3A) A warrant issued under subsection (3), with necessary changes, shall\nbe in form similar to, and shall confer the same powers of entry,\nsearch and seizure as, a search warrant issued under section 26 of the\nCriminal Procedure Code (2026 Revision).\u201d; and\n(b) in subsection (5), by deleting the word \u201chim\u201d and substituting the words\n\u201chim or her\u201d.\n10.\nRepeal of section 17 - repeal of Law 17 of 1984\n10. The principal Act is amended by repealing section 17.\n11.\nTransitional provisions\n11. (1) Every request made before the date of commencement of this amending Act and\nwhich has not been dealt with at the date of such commencement shall be dealt\nwith in all respects as if this amending Act had not come into force.\n(2) Every proceeding commenced before the date of commencement of this\namending Act and which has not been completed or otherwise determined at\nsuch date shall \u2014\n(a)\nbe dealt with; and\n(b) be completed or otherwise determined,\nas if this amending Act was not in force.\nPassed by the Parliament the\nday of\n, 2026.\nSpeaker\nClerk of the Parliament","akn_extracted_at":"2026-08-19 08:15:54.119369+00","is_tombstone":"f","tombstone_provenance":"{}","future_commencement_provenance":"{}","cms_id":"2026-0020","law_type":"bill","year":"2026","number":"20","title":"Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) (Amendment) Bill, 2026","status":"bill"},"provenance":{"files":[{"file_id":"173150","expr_id":"28208","kind":"akn_xml","filename":"2026-0020.akn.xml","source_url":null,"storage_path":"\/home\/q\/Dropbox\/coding\/kyleg-data\/working\/BILLS\/2026\/2026-0020\/2026-0020.akn.xml","content_md5":"42e9b7c6de56ae1c33e0c4afe8ca2256","byte_size":"18359","http_last_modified":null,"fetched_at":"2026-08-19 08:15:54.21167+00"},{"file_id":"173096","expr_id":"28208","kind":"pristine_pdf","filename":"2026-0020.pdf","source_url":"\/cms\/images\/LEGISLATION\/BILLS\/2026\/2026-0020\/2026-0020.pdf","storage_path":"\/home\/q\/Dropbox\/coding\/kyleg-data\/pristine\/BILLS\/2026\/2026-0020\/2026-0020.pdf","content_md5":"4f0d71c55d57ca8425b302ee69867ba5","byte_size":"343248","http_last_modified":null,"fetched_at":"2026-09-13 08:08:00.515548+00"},{"file_id":"173097","expr_id":"28208","kind":"working_pdf","filename":"2026-0020.pdf","source_url":"\/cms\/images\/LEGISLATION\/BILLS\/2026\/2026-0020\/2026-0020.pdf","storage_path":"\/home\/q\/Dropbox\/coding\/kyleg-data\/working\/BILLS\/2026\/2026-0020\/2026-0020.pdf","content_md5":"4f0d71c55d57ca8425b302ee69867ba5","byte_size":"343248","http_last_modified":null,"fetched_at":"2026-09-13 08:08:00.515548+00"}],"paragraph_count":3,"latest_history":{"history_id":"340463","change_type":"CREATE","changed_at":"2026-09-13 07:31:49.876131+00","change_source":"CRAWL_DELTA","change_reason":"recent-changes [Bills]: new PDF for known work (not in legislation_files)"}},"quality":null}