The evening section

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov opened the evening round of the plenary meeting.

The first deputy speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk announced the creation of two inter-factional parliamentary associations “Turbaza” (short for “The tourist base”) and “Novyi Kyiv” (“New Kyiv”).

Members of parliament proceeded with the business of the day.

Laws, bills and resolutions passed

Higher allowances for the disabled

--Draft bill No.2031 (including the draft bill No.2031-1 as the alternate)

MPs have seen into the draft bill No.2031 “On amendments to Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On state social assistance to persons with disabilities since childhood and children with disabilities’ regarding a higher carer’s allowance for persons with disabilities since childhood” (including the draft bill No.2031-1 as the alternate).

The bill proposes to increase the amount of a carer’s allowance for different categories of persons with disabilities since childhood. 324 ayes supported the first reading of the bill No.2031.

On ratification of FATCA-linked treaty

--Draft law No.0001

Members of parliament have given consideration to the draft law No.0001 “On ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Ukraine to improve international tax compliance and to implement FATCA”.

The deed aims to increase compliance with international tax law and enforce provisions of the FATCA act (The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) by means of internal reporting and аutomatic exchange of information (AEOI) in accordance with the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Ukraine for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital, with protocol, signed at Washington on March 4, 1994.

The line committee recommended ratifying the document in tote. The ratification decision was upheld by 310 ayes.

On FATCA-related legislative changes

--Draft bill No.2102

The draft bill No.2102 on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine in connection with the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Ukraine to improve international tax compliance and to implement FATCA. The first reading of the bill was backed by 320 ayes.

--Draft bill No.2103

One more draft bill related to the above FATCA inter-governmental agreement. The bill is drafted to make some relevant changes to the Tax Code of Ukraine. 295 members of parliament gave their votes for the first reading of this bill.

On upkeep of state border

--Draft bill No.0905

MPs have reviewed the draft bill No.0905 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding maintenance engineering, retrofit and upkeep of the state border”.

The law defines the size of plots of land (50 meters in width at the least) provided to bodies of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the construction and maintenance of engineering structures, fences, border signs, border glades, communications and other border infrastructure facilities. As a result, these bodies are to be absolved from compensation for agricultural and forestry losses.

The relevant changes have been made to the Land Code, Water Code, the Law of Ukraine “On the state border of Ukraine”. The bill was supported by 288 ayes on the second reading and in tote.

On free access to shore zones

--Draft bill No.0869

MPs have scrutinized the draft bill No.0869 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding ensuring unhampered access of citizens to shore zones of water bodies for common water use purposes”.

The law is aimed at providing unfettered and free access of citizens to shore/bank zones of water bodies for general water use.

The law provides for amendments to the Water Code of Ukraine, the Land Code of Ukraine, the Administrative Offenses Code of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine “On local self-government in Ukraine”, “On local state administrations”.

The law prohibits the construction of fences or other structures that prevent access to banks of rivers, ponds and islands throughout riparian protective strips, except in cases provided for by law.

The bill was supported by 314 ayes on the second reading and in tote.

On changes to some Rada’s resolutions

--Draft resolution No.2210

MPs considered and adopted the draft resolution No.2210 on amendments to some resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, concerning procedures of conferring certain prizes, personal scholarships (exhibitions, etc.) - as well as a range of technical issues relating to committees of the current parliament. The paper was backed by 287 votes in favour.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov closed the evening section of the meeting.