BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft law amendment that will allow each couple to have three children, a key legal move to legitimize a new three-child policy.

The draft amendment to the Population and Family Planning Law was submitted on Tuesday to the ongoing session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee for review.

The draft cancels relevant restrictive measures, including fines for couples that violate the law to have more children than they are permitted.

It also proposes supportive measures for the policy shift, including the exploration of parental leave and the establishment of more nursery facilities in residential communities, public areas and workplaces.

More supportive measures in terms of taxation, housing and education will be rolled out in other relevant laws or regulations, according to the draft.

The legitimate rights and interests of one-child families will be protected. They will be given preferential treatment in terms of welfare benefits and elderly care services.

The Population and Family Planning Law was enacted in 2002 and revised in 2015, when China’s two-child policy was fully implemented.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council adopted a decision in late June allowing couples to have three children and putting forward supportive measures to encourage births. 

Tuesday’s draft amendment was produced to implement the principles of the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the requirements of the June decision, according to an explanatory document.

Provisions in the law that are not related to the three-child policy will not be revised in the amendment.