Draft bill #12301 of December 11, 2024 

Cosponsors: 12 MPs from the Servant of the People, Batkivshchyna, and European Solidarity factions, the Restoration of Ukraine group, and independent MPs with Pavlo Frolov as the first signatory 

Status: sent for review to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, Deoccupation and Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities, and Interethnic Relations 

Who is affected: internally displaced persons and their families, local self-government bodies, and the Pension Fund of Ukraine 

Summary: 

  • the bills provides legal definitions of the concepts “abandoned place of residence,” “adaptation,” “integration,” “reintegration,” and “place of temporary residence” 
  • the bill outlines the purpose of the IDP registration system as to clearly define their status and ensure their rights and assistance 
  • the status of an IDP will be terminated in the following cases: 
    • at the person’s request (application) 
    • by decision of local self-government bodies 
  • grounds for cancellation will be the following: 
    • the person left Ukraine for permanent residence abroad 
    • the person is absent from Ukraine for more than 90 consecutive days or more than 180 days a year 
    • the person was convicted of crimes against the national security of Ukraine 
  • a Database of Internally Displaced Persons will be established for recording and verifying their needs. It will be part of the Unified Information System of the Social Security Sphere 
  • a statement from the Database of Internally Displaced Persons will be an official certificate confirming the registration of an IDP, their status, and place of temporary residence 
  • the bill establishes the state’s obligation to support IDPs at all stages of their displacement to help them cope with
  • ifficulties, including evacuation, adaptation, integration, return, and reintegration 
  • forced displacement will be prohibited: people will remain where they are or return only voluntarily 
  • the state will assess the needs of the IDPs at each stage to provide necessary assistance 
  • IDPs will receive social and pension benefits on the same terms as other citizens, regardless of when they relocated or whether they need to confirm they aren’t receiving a pension from Russian authorities 
  • the state will help IDPs with obtaining housing through various means: 
    • provide decent conditions in centers for IDPs or other temporary accommodation locations 
    • provide preferential loans for purchasing or constructing housing 
    • allow gradual home purchase while living in it 
    • offer housing for rent or use at affordable prices 
    • employ other programs to help IDPs obtain housing 
  • the state will guarantee IDPs psychological assistance, wellness, rehabilitation, and education for their children 
  • IDPs will be considered residents of the community where they currently live, granting them the right to participate in resolving local issues on par with other community residents. 

What is right: 

The bill proposes a comprehensive approach to protecting rights and ensuring decent living conditions for people forced to leave their homes due to war. It covers improvements in housing conditions, social integration, financial support, and transparency in obtaining and revoking IDP status. 

What is wrong: 

Limited budget resources will make it hard to implement preferential loan programs and new housing construction. The funds allocated for financial assistance might be insufficient to cover actual housing expenses. Complex application procedures or lack of transparency can make it hard for people to access the proposed programs. Additionally, regions hosting many IDPs may face infrastructure challenges exceeding the capacity of local governments. 

Alternative solution: 

It’s crucial to anticipate potential funding shortfalls to ensure all provisions in the bill can be feasibly implemented. Funding should be prioritized to effectively distribute resources, focusing on urgent tasks like the provision of temporary housing or benefits for the most vulnerable groups. Scaling of the programs should be planned based on available budget resources. Otherwise, the state will promise more than it can provide. 

How to help the legislator: proposals to the draft bill can be sent to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, Deoccupation and Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities, and Interethnic Relations.