Draft bill #543-IX of June 30, 2023
Decision-maker: the Parliament. The law is in effect since July 2, 2023
Who is affected: MPs, parliamentary committees, and the Apparatus of the Verkhovna Rada
Summary of the law: while martial law is in effect, the special work regime will be required from parliamentary committees:
- work plans, meeting schedules, and agendas are sent to MPs via a unified automated system
- it is allowed to hold committee meetings via video conference. Agendas for such meetings and pieces of legislation to be considered are to be sent to committee members as soon as possible. These remote meetings are considered authorized if more than half of the committee members attend
- at remote meetings, MPs vote by raising their hands and expressing their position, and the vote is counted by the committee secretary or the meeting chair
- committee acts, protocols of the meeting, and transcripts are to be signed by the committee members with a qualified electronic signature and posted on the Verkhovna Rada website.
Why this is important: the special work regime was initially introduced during the COVID-19 lockdown. At 24:00 on June 30, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers lifted the quarantine in Ukraine.
What is right: the extension of the special work regime for parliamentary committees while martial law is in effect. Because of the war, it is often difficult or even impossible to hold a committee meeting with the majority of members physically present.
What is wrong: the law violates legal certainty and slows down the MPs’ work. The law came into effect on July 2, while the provisions on the special work regime of parliamentary committees were valid until the end of quarantine — 24:00, June 30. Thus, the provisions amended by MPs had become void by the time they came into effect.
Alternative solution: to reintroduce provisions regarding the special work procedures for parliamentary committees under martial law.