The Riigikogu passed with 76 votes in favour
the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of Members of the Supervisory Board of the National Library of Estonia”” (
622 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, which appoints the Member of the Riigikogu
Georg Pelisaar a member of the Supervisory Boardinstead of
Aadu Must.
The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of five Bills:
The Family Law Bill (
543 SE), initiated by the Legal Affairs Committee, provides a new comprehensive family law regulation which comprises matrimonial legal relationship, legal relationship between parents and children and legal relationship arising between minors and adults in case of guardianship.
The Bill on Amendments to the State Fees Act (
604 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee. According to the judgment of the Supreme Court, the appeal committee at the Public Procurement Office is no longer at the same level with the court of the first instance but is an ordinary administrative authority. Submitting an appeal against a decision of the appeal committee is now deemed to be an ordinary appeal against an administrative act. Earlier, persons had recourse directly to the court of appeal, that is, the circuit court for submitting an appeal against a decision of the appeal committee, whereas now they will have recourse to the court of the first instance, that is, the administrative court. Before the entry into force of the abovementioned decision of the Supreme Court, the person who contested a procurement paid a state fee in the amount of 10 000 or 20 000 kroons for submitting an appeal against a decision of the appeal committee; however, now it will be possible to file an appeal against such decision by paying a state fee in the amount of 250 kroons.
The Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code (
542 SE), initiated by the Legal Affairs Committee, provides stricter punishments for criminal offences against minors and against sexual self-determination of minors, and criminalisation of violation of the temporary restraining order.
The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol Act (
491 SE), initiated by the Government, concerns, in the first place, simplification of the application for entering of alcohol in the state register of alcohol. The functions of the authorised processor and the chief processor of the state register of alcohol are also specified.
The Bill on Amendments to the Research and Development Organisation Act (
576 SE), initiated by the Government, amends the provisions concerning the external evaluation of research and development. The Bill creates a new evaluation mechanism.
The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of two Bills:
The Public Service Act Implementation Bill (
598 SE), initiated by the Government, creates the conditions for implementation of the new Public Service Act. First, the process of transition from the current regulation to the new regulation is provided. Preparation of the transition regulation is necessary because the new Public Service Act provides a number of fundamental changes in the legal regulation of the public service in Estonia. One of the most significant changes is linking of the definition of an official with the function of exercising public authority which means that the employment of the current officials who do not exercise public authority is to be based on employment contract relationships. In view of the fact that the principle of the legitimate expectation of persons is to be taken into account, transition provisions are provided by this Act, according to which the current salary will be retained for a certain period, additional holiday days earned so far will be retained, and it will be possible to continue employment in public service for increasing the state pension within five years as of the entry into force of the Act.
The Bill on Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure, the Courts Act and the State Legal Aid Act (
583 SE), initiated by the Government, enables implementation of the e-file system and resolves the current issues which have arisen regarding expedited procedure in matters of payment orders and information systems. The Bill concerns mainly four issues: implementation of the e-file system in civil and administrative court proceedings, formalisation and simplification of expedited procedure in matters of payment orders, creation of a structural unit for resolving petitions for application of expedited procedure in matters of payment orders, and granting of the rights of access to the courts information system. The common integrated e-file processing information system of law enforcement authorities is an information system which is created pursuant to the Government Resolution and which incorporates information systems of the legal protection field and merges them into a uniformly functioning whole. The e-file system is a proceeding system which includes information necessary for more than one participant in the proceeding, ensures standardisation of the proceeding information of registers and agencies, rapid and efficient exchange of information and equal access to the information for persons related to the proceeding.
On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee (42 votes in favour, 33 votes against),
the Bill on Amendments to the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act (
575 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction.
The Riigikogu Press Service