xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2015 No. 124

Social Security

Statutory Maternity Pay; Statutory Sick Pay; Employment; Housing; Rates

The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2015

Made

5th March 2015

Coming into operation in accordance with Article 1

Approved by resolution of the Assembly on

27th April 2015

This Order is made in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 132, 132A and 165(1), (4) and (5) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(1) and now vested in the Department for Social Development(2).

The Secretary of State has made Orders(3) under sections 150, 150A, 151 and 189(1), (4) and (5) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(4) and section 1 of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Act 2013(5).

Accordingly, the Department for Social Development makes the following Order:

PART 1N.I.INTRODUCTION

Citation, commencement and effectN.I.

F11.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

InterpretationN.I.

F12.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 2N.I.SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Contributions and Benefits ActN.I.

F13.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Rates or amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits ActN.I.

F14.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Pension Schemes ActN.I.

F15.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Dates on which sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act are changed by this OrderN.I.

F16.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Earnings limitsN.I.

F17.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Statutory sick payN.I.

F18.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Statutory maternity payN.I.

F19.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1Art. 9 in operation at 6.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation, see art. 1(1)(e)

Ordinary and additional statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and statutory shared parental payN.I.

F110.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Graduated retirement benefitN.I.

F111.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Disability living allowanceN.I.

F112.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Age addition to long-term incapacity benefitN.I.

F113.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit casesN.I.

F114.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Bereavement benefitsN.I.

F115.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 3N.I.INCOME SUPPORT AND HOUSING BENEFIT

Applicable amounts for income supportN.I.

16.—F2(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The sums specified in Part I of Schedule 2 (applicable amounts: personal allowances) shall be as set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

F3(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I2Art. 16 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(h)

Income support transitional protectionN.I.

F417.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Relevant sum for income supportN.I.

18.  In section 125(7) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(6) (trade disputes) for “£40∙00” substitute “£40∙50”.

Commencement Information

I3Art. 18 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(h)

Housing benefitN.I.

19.—F5(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) The sums specified in Part I of Schedule 4 (applicable amounts: personal allowances) shall be as set out in Schedule 5 to this Order.

F6(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) In Part VI of Schedule 4(7) (amount of components)—

(a)in paragraph 25 for “£28∙75” substitute “£29∙05”; and

F7(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I4Art. 19 in operation at 1.4.2015 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(i)

I5Art. 19 in operation at 6.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation, see art. 1(1)(i)

Housing benefit for certain persons over the qualifying age for state pension creditN.I.

F920.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 4N.I.JOBSEEKER’S ALLOWANCE

Age-related amounts of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowanceN.I.

21.  In regulation 79(1) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations(8) (weekly amounts of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “£57∙35” substitute “£57∙90”;

(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for “£57∙35” substitute “£57∙90”; and

(c)in sub-paragraph (c) for “£72∙40” substitute “£73∙10”.

Commencement Information

I6Art. 21 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(j)

Applicable amounts for jobseeker’s allowanceN.I.

22.—F10(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The sums specified in Part I of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts: personal allowances) shall be as set out in Schedule 9 to this Order.

F11(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I7Art. 22 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(j)

Prescribed sum for jobseeker’s allowanceN.I.

23.  In regulation 170 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations(9) (trade disputes: prescribed sum) for “£40∙00” substitute “£40∙50”.

Commencement Information

I8Art. 23 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(j)

PART 5N.I.STATE PENSION CREDIT

State pension creditN.I.

F1224.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 6N.I.EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

Applicable amounts for employment and support allowanceN.I.

25.—F13(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) The sums specified in Part 1 of Schedule 4 (prescribed amounts) shall be as set out in Schedule 14 to this Order.

F14(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) In Part 4 of Schedule 4(10) (the components)—

(a)in paragraph 12 for “£28∙75” substitute “£29∙05”; and

F15(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I9Art. 25 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(l)

PART 7N.I.REVOCATION

RevocationN.I.

26.  The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2014(11) is revoked.

Commencement Information

I10Art. 26 in operation at 13.4.2015, see art. 1(1)(m)

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 5th March 2015

(L.S.)

Anne McCleary

A senior officer of the Department for Social Development

Article 3(1)

SCHEDULE 1N.I.F17... 

Textual Amendments

Article 16(3)

SCHEDULE 2N.I.Part I of Schedule 2 to the Income Support Regulations as amended by this Order

Commencement Information

I11Sch. 2 comes into force in accordance with art. 1(1)(h)

I12Sch. 2 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(h)

PART IN.I.PERSONAL ALLOWANCES

Prospective

F181.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Prospective

F182.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Prospective

F182.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Column (1)Column (2)
Child or young personAmount
Person in respect of the period—
(a)beginning on, and including, that person’s date of birth and ending on the day preceding the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday;(a)£66∙90;
(b)beginning on, and including, the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday and ending on the day preceding that person’s twentieth birthday.(b)£66∙90.

Article 16(5)

SCHEDULE 3N.I.F19...   

Textual Amendments

Article 16(7)

SCHEDULE 4N.I.F19...

Article 19(5)

SCHEDULE 5N.I.Part I of Schedule 4 to the Housing Benefit Regulations as amended by this Order

Commencement Information

I13Sch. 5 in operation at 1.4.2015 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(i)

I14Sch. 5 in operation at 6.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation, see art. 1(1)(i)

PART IN.I.PERSONAL ALLOWANCES

1.  The amounts specified in column (2) in respect of each person or couple specified in column (1) shall be the amounts specified for the purposes of regulations 20(a) and 21(a) and (b)—N.I.

Column (1)Column (2)
Person or CoupleAmount
(1)(12) Single claimant who—(1)
(a)is entitled to main phase employment and support allowance;(a)£73∙10;
(b)is aged not less than 25;(b)£73∙10;
(c)is aged less than 25.(b)£57∙90.
(2) Lone parent who—(2)
(a)is entitled to main phase employment and support allowance;(a)£73∙10;
(b)is aged not less than 18;(b)£73∙10;
(c)is aged less than 18.(c)£57∙90.
(3) Couple where—(3)
(a)the claimant is entitled to main phase employment and support allowance;(a)£114∙85;
(b)at least one member is aged not less than 18;(b)£114∙85;
(c)both members are aged less than 18.(c)£87∙50.

2.—(1) The amount specified in column (2) in respect of each person specified in column (1) shall, for the relevant period specified in column (1), be the amounts specified for the purposes of regulations 20(b) and 21(c)—N.I.

Column (1)Column (2)
Child or young personAmount
Person in respect of the period—
(a)beginning on that person’s date of birth and ending on the day preceding the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday;(a)£66∙90;
(b)beginning on the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday and ending on the day preceding that person’s twentieth birthday.(b)£66∙90

Article 19(7)

SCHEDULE 6N.I.F20...   

Textual Amendments

Article 20(5)

SCHEDULE 7N.I.F20... 

Article 20(7)

SCHEDULE 8N.I.F20... 

Article 22(3)

SCHEDULE 9N.I.Part I of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations as amended by this Order

Commencement Information

I15Sch. 9 comes into force in accordance with art. 1(1)(j)

I16Sch. 9 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(j)

PART IN.I.PERSONAL ALLOWANCES

Prospective

F181.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Prospective

F182.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Prospective

F182.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Column (1)Column (2)
Child or young personAmount
Person in respect of the period—
(a)beginning on, and including, that person’s date of birth and ending on the day preceding the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday;(a)£66∙90;
(b)beginning on, and including, the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday and ending on the day preceding that person’s twentieth birthday.(b)£66∙90.

Article 22(5)

SCHEDULE 10N.I.F21... 

Textual Amendments

Article 22(6)

SCHEDULE 11N.I.F21... 

Article 22(8)

SCHEDULE 12N.I.F21...

Article 24(6)

SCHEDULE 13N.I.F21...

Article 25(2)

SCHEDULE 14N.I.Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations as amended by this Order

Commencement Information

I17Sch. 14 comes into force in accordance with art. 1(1)(l)

I18Sch. 14 in operation at 6.4.2015 coming into force in accordance with , see art. 1(1)(l)

PART 1N.I.PRESCRIBED AMOUNTS

Prospective

F181.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.

Textual Amendments

Column (1)Column (2)
Person or CoupleAmount
(1) Single claimant—(1)
(a)who satisfies the conditions set out in section 2(2) or (3) or 4(4) or (5) of the Act;(a)£73∙10;
(b)aged not less than 25;(b)£73∙10;
(c)aged less than 25.(c)£57∙90.
(2) Lone parent or a person who has no partner and who is responsible for and a member of the same household as a young person—(2)
(a)who satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act;(a)£73∙10;
(b)aged not less than 18;(b)£73∙10;
(c)aged less than 18.(c)£57∙90;
(3) Couple—(3)
(a)where both members are aged not less than 18;(a)£114∙85;
(b)where one member is aged not less than 18 and the other member is a person under 18 who—(b)£114∙85;
(i)if that other member had not been a member of a couple, would satisfy the requirements for entitlement to income support other than the requirement to make a claim for it,
(ii)if that other member had not been a member of a couple, would satisfy the requirements for entitlement to an income-related allowance,
(iii)satisfies the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18), or
(iv)is the subject of a direction under Article 18 of that Order (persons under 18: severe hardship);
(c)where the claimant satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act and both members are aged less than 18 and—(c)£114∙85;
(i)at least one of them is treated as responsible for a child,
(ii)had they not been members of a couple, each would have qualified for an income-related allowance,
(iii)had they not been members of a couple the claimant’s partner would satisfy the requirements for entitlement to income support other than the requirement to make a claim for it,
(iv)the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order, or
(v)there is in force in respect of the claimant’s partner a direction under Article 18 of that Order;
(d)where both members are aged less than 18 and—(d)£87∙50;
(i)at least one of them is treated as responsible for a child,
(ii)had they not been members of a couple, each would have qualified for an income-related allowance,
(iii)had they not been members of a couple the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements for entitlement to income support other than a requirement to make a claim for it,
(iv)the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order, or
(v)there is in force in respect of the claimant’s partner a direction under Article 18 of that Order;
(e)where the claimant is aged not less than 25 and the claimant’s partner is a person under 18 who—(e)£73∙10;
(i)would not qualify for an income-related allowance if the person were not a member of a couple,
(ii)would not qualify for income support if the person were not a member of a couple,
(iii)does not satisfy the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order, and
(iv)is not the subject of a direction under Article 18 of that Order;
(f)where the claimant satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act and the claimant’s partner is a person under 18 who—(f)£73∙10;
(i)would not qualify for an income-related allowance if the person were not a member of a couple,
(ii)would not qualify for income support if the person were not a member of a couple,
(iii)does not satisfy the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order, and
(iv)is not the subject of a direction under Article 18 of that Order;
(g)where the claimant satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act and both members are aged less than 18 and head (c) does not apply;(g)£73∙10;
(h)where the claimant is aged not less than 18 but less than 25 and the claimant’s partner is a person under 18 who—(h)£57∙90;
(i)would not qualify for an income-related allowance if the person were not a member of a couple,
(ii)would not qualify for income support if the person were not a member of a couple,
(iii)does not satisfy the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order, and
(iv)is not the subject of a direction under Article 18 of that Order;
(i)where both members are aged less than 18 and head (d) does not apply.(i)£57∙90.

Article 25(3)

SCHEDULE 15N.I.F22...

Textual Amendments

Article 25(6)

SCHEDULE 16N.I.F22...

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which corresponds to Orders (S.I. 2015/30 and 457) made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under section 1 of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Act 2013 and sections 150 and 150A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, alters the rates and amounts of certain social security benefits and other sums.

Part 2 relates to social security benefits and pensions.

Article 3 and Schedule 1 alter the rates of benefits and increases of benefit (except those referred to in Article 3(2)) specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Contributions and Benefits Act”).

Article 4 increases the rates and amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act.

Article 5 increases the sums payable as part of a Category A or Category B retirement pension under sections 11(1) and 13(2) and (3) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (“the Pension Schemes Act”) on account of increases in guaranteed minimum pensions.

Article 6 specifies the dates from which the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act are altered.

Article 7 increases earnings limits for child dependency increases.

Article 8 increases the rate of statutory sick pay.

Article 9 increases the rate of statutory maternity pay.

Article 10 increases the rates of ordinary and additional statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and statutory shared parental pay.

Article 11 increases the rate of graduated retirement benefit.

Article 12 increases the rates of disability living allowance.

Article 13 increases the rates of age addition and the rates referred to in Article 13(2) for claimants entitled to long-term incapacity benefit.

Article 14 increases the rates of transitional invalidity allowance and the rates referred to in Article 14(2) for claimants entitled to long-term incapacity benefit.

Article 15 increases the rates of widowed mother’s allowance, widow’s pension, widowed parent’s allowance and bereavement allowance.

Part 3 relates to income support and housing benefit.

Article 16 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income support. Article 16(3) and Schedule 2 set out the personal allowances; Article 16(4) and (5) and Schedule 3 set out the premiums; and Article 16(7) and Schedule 4 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Article 17 provides for the percentage increase of sums payable by way of special transitional additions to income support.

Article 18 increases the sum by which any income support of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.

Article 19 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit. Article 19(5) and Schedule 5 set out the personal allowances and Article 19(6) and (7) and Schedule 6 set out the premiums.

Article 20 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit for persons over the qualifying age for state pension credit. Article 20(5) and Schedule 7 set out the personal allowances and Article 20(6) and (7) and Schedule 8 set out the premiums.

Part 4 relates to jobseeker’s allowance.

Article 21 increases the age-related amounts of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance.

Article 22 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income-based jobseeker’s allowance. Article 22(3) and Schedule 9 set out the personal allowances; Article 22(4) and (5) and Schedule 10 set out the premiums; Article 22(6) and Schedule 11 set out the amounts of premiums relevant to joint-claim couples; and Article 22(8) and Schedule 12 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Article 23 increases the sum by which any income-based jobseeker’s allowance of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.

Part 5 relates to state pension credit.

Article 24 and Schedule 13 specify sums relevant to state pension credit.

Part 6 relates to employment and support allowance.

Article 25 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of employment and support allowance. Article 25(2) and Schedule 14 set out the prescribed amounts; Article 25(3) and Schedule 15 set out the premiums; and Article 25(6) and Schedule 16 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Part 7 relates to a revocation.

Article 26 revokes the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2014.

(1)

1992 c. 8; section 132 was amended by paragraph 41 of Schedule 7 to the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49), paragraph 9 of Schedule 4 to the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), section 3 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 (c. 3 (N.I.)) and regulation 2(2) of S.R. 2012 No. 120 (see also section 1(8) of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Act 2013 (c. 16)), section 132A was inserted by section 5(1) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1 (N.I.)) and section 165(1) was amended by paragraph 49(2) of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/671) and section 18(5) of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 (c. 7)

(2)

See Article 8(b) of S.R. 1999 No. 481

(6)

Section 125(7) was amended by Article 18 of S.R. 2014 No. 78

(7)

Part VI was added by regulation 3(17)(d) of S.R. 2008 No. 378 and amended by Article 19(8) of S.R. 2014 No. 78

(8)

Regulation 79(1) was amended by Article 21 of S.R. 2014 No. 78

(9)

Regulation 170 was amended by Article 23 of S.R. 2014 No. 78

(10)

Paragraphs 12 and 13 were amended by Article 25(4) of S.R. 2014 No. 78

(12)

Sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) were substituted by regulation 3(17)(a) of S.R. 2008 No. 378