On the motion of the Economic Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Aviation Act (563 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. According to the Bill, it would be possible in the future to maintain records and process the data concerning also the aircraft belonging to the National Defence League in the military aviation aircraft register. As of yet, there is no such opportunity. The Bill is also intended to provide the obligation of the Consumer Protection Board to exercise supervision over common rules for the operation of air services in the Community according to the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. The latter establishes an obligation for states according to which the ticket prices and cargo rates determined by air operators must conform to certain price formation principles The elements of the final price which is paid must be understandable and transparent for consumers and the final price of the service must contain, besides all ticket prices and cargo tariffs, all taxes, charges, additional charges and fees. The Bill was sent to the third reading.

 

On the motion of the Constitutional Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Political Parties Act (549 SE), initiated by the Estonian People’s Union Faction, the Social Democratic Party Faction and the Estonian Green Party Faction, was concluded. The purpose of the Bill is to make the election campaign expenditure of political parties and the financing of political parties more transparent. According to the Bill, a limit will be set to the election campaign expenditure: the election advertising expenditure may not exceed five million kroons per year. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

 

On the motion of the Cultural Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act (579 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was concluded. The amendment would grant students the right to receive a loan guaranteed by the state also upon acquiring the second and the following vocational or higher education, on the condition that the previous loan amount has been repaid together with interest. The initiator asserted that, today, study loan is not granted to persons who have once received the loan on the same level and within the same stage of education for a number of years which corresponds to the number of academic years foreseen for the nominal period of studies according to the study programme. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

 

On the motion of the Constitutional Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Public and National Holidays Act (582 SE), initiated by the Estonian Green Party Faction, was concluded. According to the Bill, the second Sunday of September will be designated as Grandparents’ Day. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

 

On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the Bill on Amendments to the Health Insurance Act (584 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion, 33 members voted against and 2 members abstained. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceeding.

 

 

The Riigikogu Press Service