There are ||| bodies in focus of our committee scan today:
- Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional and Urban Development
The сommittee recommended adopting the first reading of the bill No.3195 that improves the appointment and dismissal procedure of ministers. The bill aims to empower the parliament and its committees to hear an office activity report (administrative report) of the minister to be amoved, and bring into line with Ukraine’s constitution those provisions of VRU’s rules of procedure that regulate the appointment and dismissal procedure of ministers.
- Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into EU
At its today’s sitting, the committee saw into an array of bills that bring in equal opportunities for men and women.
As EU law-AA compliant, there were recognized the following bills:
Bill No.3193 – amending UA law to ensure rights and opportunities of citizenry to be equally represented in review boards and managing bodies of state unitary enterprises, state banking institutions and economic entities. The document suggests introducing gender quotas at the level of 40%. For private companies such quotas are voluntary and might be set at their discretion. Its alternate, the bill No.3193-1, should be revised and updated.
Bill No.2331 – amending the Law of Ukraine “On state lotteries in Ukraine”. The bill provides for the prohibition of distributing state lotteries within one kilometer from dwelling houses, children's and/or educational establishments and institutions, local government authorities, state authorities, cultural sites, places of worship and religious organizations, pharmacies, medical institutions, establishments and organizations, post offices to name a few. Its alternate, the bill No.2331-1, places even more lottery restrictions but it needs to be revised and updated as well.
Bill No.2594 – about amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On social services” (as to the provision of free public transport to social service providers). The document is drafted to provide social service providers with zero-fare travel on all types of urban public transport (except for taxis), public motor transport in rural areas during the exercise of their powers.
Bill No.3316 - about amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine (on combating hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity). The document proposes imposing a harsher punishment for committing crimes stemming from intolerance towards sexual orientation of a person or its gender identity. The bill, however, is thought to be in need of some updates.
- Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy
The сommittee completed reviewing the second reading of the draft bill No.2571-d on the improvement of banking regulations and at its 27 April sitting recommended the bill’s passing as law. The bill “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the improvement of some mechanisms of banking regulation” was given 16,586 corrections. Ukraine’s minister of finance Serhii Marchenko joined the meeting and answered a number of questions about negotiations with the IMF. The official apprised that the ministry of finance did support that bill in its second reading version and asked MPs to back it as well.
The committee is to next sit on April 29 at 10 am, where lawgivers will examine the revised bill No.3329 aimed to exempt frontline medics’ earnings from taxation through making changes to the Ukrainian tax code.
Committeemen are also going to invite Ukraine’s finance minister to hear the government action plan.