Parliament approves amendments to several laws
By Laman Ismayilova
The next plenary meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament kicked off on October 14, where the parliamentarians considered a number of amendments to several laws.
The agenda of the session stipulated discussion of amendments to the laws on “Combating corruption”, “Perpetuating the memory of martyr and benefits of families of martyrs”, “Social security of children who have lost their parents and were deprived of parental care”, “Education”, “Regulation of inspections in the field of entrepreneurship and protection of interests of entrepreneurs”, “State Registry of Real Estate”, “The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, “Public debt”, “State duties”, “Budget system”, “Local (municipal) taxes and fees”, “Basis of Municipal Finance”, “Civil service”, “organization of awards and medals of the Azerbaijani Republic" in connection with organization of the medal of the Azerbaijani Republic “For bravery”, “Road traffic”, “Medicines”, as well as the amendments to Codes of Administrative Offences, Civil Procedure, Labour, Urban Planning and Construction.
The amendments proposed to the law “On social security of children who have lost their parents and were deprived of parental care” were discussed firstly at the plenary session and approved.
Under the amendments, children, who have lost their parents or were deprived of parental care, will be exempt from tuition fee for the master’s degree of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). In addition, they will be provided several benefits in other educational institutions in the country.
Persons qualified for the same status will be provided with seasonal clothes, as well as lump sum payment equal to double average salary in the country after graduating vocational, secondary, high schools and ANAS master’s degree within the amounts established by the relevant authority of executive power.
Persons qualified as children who lost their parents and were deprived of parental care, will be provided with allowances within their term of education for purchasing of text books and stationary materials.
As the parliamentarians considered amendments to the law on State duties, Chairman of Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Committee Ziyad Samadzade said that investors implementing investment projects in accordance with the build-operate-transfer model will not pay duty.
The investors implementing investment projects in accordance with the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model are exempted from paying state duties.
Tax for agricultural lands will be levied by municipalities, this was reflected in the amendments offered to the Law on Local (Municipal) Taxes and Payments discussed at the plenary meeting.
Samadzade informed that the rate of tax for agricultural lands, which are usable or unusable due to irrigation, melioration and other agrotechnical reasons, will be set as 0.06 for 1 conventional point from January, 2017.
The lands which are usable or unusable will be determined in accordance with criterions and rules confirmed by the executive authority. To apply this law, a relevant amendment was made in the Local (Municipal) Taxes and Payments. In other words, the tax for agricultural lands will be levied by municipalities.
Relevant amendment was also made in the law “On basics of municipal finances”, both bills were adopted.
Moreover, for refusal to pay fee for public transport passengers will be fined in the amount of five manats.
In turn, the driver will be fined in the amount of 20 manat for the transportation of passengers without charge in the prescribed manner. The relevant changes were made to the Code of Administrative Offences.
Furthermore, a new civil service positions, related to the work of the bodies providing the activities of the President, will be created in Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, employees of the State Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Azerbaijan will be given the status of civil servants.
Under the proposed changes, the State Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service will be considered as a special kind of public service.
The issues were reflected in amendments proposed to the law "On civil service", which was discussed at the meeting and approved.
The MPs also mulled amendments to the law on “Combating corruption”.
Persons, who inform the relevant structures about corruption, will be protected by the state. This was reflected in a new article proposed to the law "On Combating Corruption".
Under the proposed Article, if the person reporting on corruption does not want to name himself/herself, the relevant agencies, as well as specialized bodies to combat corruption must ensure the confidentiality of this person. The information on this person may be disclosed only with his /her written consent. Those who violate the confidentiality of such informants are responsible in the manner prescribed by law.
In accordance with this article, those who will blackmail that person and his/her family, pressure them, causing moral or material damage, insults and slander will be bear juridical responsibility.
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