Four Acts passed in the Senate yesterday, including the Energy Act 2009 which was first tabled by sacked Energy Minister Terry Lister.

That Act will establish an Energy Commission responsible for regulating energy costs and licensing the sale of electricity.

Senator Walton Brown, Junior Minister of Energy, explained the Act was a result of the Government's Energy Green Paper in February. It is expected that the Energy White Paper will be released later in the year.

But Senator Michael Dunkley said it was unfortunate the country was without a Minister of Energy at the time the legislation passed Mr. Lister was fired on Sunday after asking for Premier Ewart Brown's resignation. It is not yet known who will replace him in the Cabinet.

The first Act to be passed by Senators was the Dental Practitioners Amendment Act.

Senator Thaoo Dill noted it was identical to one rejected by the Senate a year ago. He blamed the rejection on misinformation at the time.

The Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act passed yesterday as well. The Act, which allows on-the-spot fines for companies breaking the health and safety code, is over 100 pages long. In order to save an estimated $7,000 printing cost if the entire Act were published in the Official Gazette, it will instead be placed in the Ministry of Health, the Bermuda Library and on the Government website.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Amendment also passed. The Act will do away with the need for search warrants in cases where officers are seeking a person suspected of committing an arrestable offence, pursuing a person unlawfully at large, or trying to apprehend a person wanted in connection with a court warrant issued for an arrestable offence.

Officers will now only require a warrant from a magistrate — rather than a judge — to demand confidential records relating to things such as cell phones and medical or banking information.

Sen. Wilson added that warrants will no longer be granted by Justices of Peace, something Senator Jeanne Atherden and Senator Walton Hughes said they were pleased with.