1 / 1

On September 11, Parliament debated a number of drafts in the second reading.

The draft law on Making Amendments to the RA Civil Code was presented.

In the draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Law on Cinematography, a number of amendments were made from the first to the second reading, which refer to the limit of refunds in the field of film production.

“Within 6 months after the adoption of the law, the Government will define and publish the list of products and services and their conditions, if they are used, the film producers will receive a refund of 10-40%”, the key rapporteur Sisak Gabrielyan said and expressed hope that as a result of the regulations significant progress will be made in the field of film production.

The draft law on Making Amendment and Addenda to the Law on Ensuring Road Traffic Safety proposes to introduce a new type of registration plates, that is, plate numbers with special demand, the sale of which will be planned exclusively through an electronic auction. The Government will set the separate accounting standards, and the Minister of Internal Affairs will set the auction starting prices according to the standards, as well as the online auction regulations. The electronic auction will be organized and held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The RA Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan presented the agenda item for debate in the second reading.

The proposals of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security were adopted from the first to the second reading: The Deputy Chair of the Committee Armen Khachatryan informed about this.

The Deputy Minister of Health Armen Nazaryan presented the proposed addenda and amendments to the constitutional law RA Judicial Code for debate. An authorizing norm will be established to define the procedure for conducting medical examinations by the Government.

Alkhas Ghazaryan presented the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

The draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the Code of the Republic of Armenia on Administrative Offenses authored by the deputy of Armenia Faction Lilit Galstyan was also debated in the second reading.

The main amendments are planned in Articles 94 and 95. It is designed to increase the amount of administrative penalties.

Narek Babayan spoke about the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport. The Government also expressed a positive position.

The adoption of the draft law on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Audiovisual Media authored by the deputies Lilit Galstyan and Elinar Vardanyan is conditioned by the elimination of uncertainties in the existing law and the reduction of legal obstacles for women candidates in the management body of the Public Broadcaster, as well as in the Regulatory State Body. “Unfortunately, I should mention that Armenia has recorded regress in the Gender Gap Index” Lilit Galstyan mentioned.

During the period from the first to the second reading, the deputy Zaruhi Batoyan submitted a written proposal, suggesting that the number of each gender in the council should not be less than 3. A number of proposals presented by the Government were also adopted.

With the adoption of the package of draft laws authored by the Government on Making Amendments to the Law on the RA Budgetary System and the related draft laws, the budgets of the communities will be supplemented with a new source of funds, that is, with partial deductions of 30% from the funds received from the lands alienated in the territory of the community. According to the key rapporteur, the RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Vache Terteryan, it will allow communities to implement new decentralized powers.

The adoption of the package of draft laws will be an important step towards the implementation of the financial decentralization policy adopted by the Government. From the first to the second reading, only editorial amendments were introduced.

With the adoption of the draft law on Making Addenda to the Law on Normative Legal Acts debated in the second reading, it is expected to ensure the implementation of the process of approximating the legislation of the Republic of Armenia to the legislation of the European Union provided for in the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement concluded between the RA and the EU, which will promote the improvement of domestic legislation and the development of the relevant spheres. From the first to the second reading, the bill did not undergo substantive amendments.

Arusyak Julhakyan presented the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

According to the draft law on Amending the Law on Local Fees for Vehicle Parking and Features of Administrative Proceedings, it is planned to reserve the features of paid parking space markings to the RA Government. As a result of the adoption of the draft law, the process of making amendments regarding the colour and shape of the distinguishing markings of municipal paid parking lots will be simplified, the possibility of quick settlement of problems arising by local self-government bodies will be increased, and the differentiated coloring of parking lots intended for persons with disabilities will be ensured.

As a result of the adoption of the draft laws on Making Amendments to the Law on Veterinary Medicine and on Making Addendum to the Law on State Control of Food Safety, the phases and actions of the food chain will be clarified. According to the regulations, in case of detection of raw materials and products of animal origin obtained as a result of non-slaughterhouse during the state control, it is planned to suspend the sale of the entire batch, while making a decision on confiscation and destruction.

The Head of the RA State Property Management Committee of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Arnak Avetisyan presented the draft law on approving the 2022 annual report on the implementation of the 2017-2020 programme of privatization of state property for debate to the Parliament in the second reading. It was noted that state-owned shares of 3 organizations were privatized during the financial period. Budget revenues from privatization amounted to 826 million AMD, which is 208.76% more compared to the previous period.

The purpose of the draft law on Amending the Law on Limited Liability Companies is to create legal conditions for self-determination of the frequency of profit distribution by the Limited Liability Companies. The RA Deputy Minister of Economy Rafael Gevorgyan informed that there are currently about 30.000 Limited Liability Companies (LLC) operating in the republic.