House of Representatives to discuss laws on HJPC, Court and Appellate Court of BiH today

(Patria) - The 38th session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH has been scheduled for today in Sarajevo, starting at 11:00 AM. There are 40 items on the proposed agenda.

Several legal solutions are to be considered, including the Bill on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH, proposed by representatives Darko Babalj, Branislav Borenović, Mira Pekić, Nenad Grković, and Mladen Bosić.

The adoption of this law is one of the conditions for opening negotiations between BiH and the European Union.

The Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs of the House of Representatives supported the proposal of this law in the second reading in early April, with 31 amendments adopted.

The House of Representatives is also expected to consider the principles (first reading) of the Bill on the Court of BiH and the Appellate Court of BiH, proposed by representative Predrag Kojović.

The proposer states in the explanation that one of the key reasons for adopting this law is the need for a clear separation of first-instance from second- and third-instance judicial functions at the BiH level.

- The current solution, according to which second-instance decision-making is organized within the same court through an appellate department, although it ensured formal second-instance protection, did not fully reflect the standards of full functional and organizational separation of judicial instances in an institutional sense - Kojović explained.

He also states that by establishing the Appellate Court of BiH as a separate court, a higher degree of independence, impartiality, and objectivity in deciding on legal remedies is ensured, and public trust in the judicial system of BiH is further strengthened.

The consideration of the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Labor in BiH Institutions, proposed by representative Rejhana Dervišević, is also planned.

According to the provisions of the proposed law, the employer is obliged to plan and organize systematic medical examinations for all employees, or for employees who wish to undergo them, at an authorized healthcare institution in BiH, at the institution's expense.

It is proposed that systematic medical examinations be organized at least once every four years.

The Bill on Amendments to the Law on the State Investigation and Protection Agency, proposed by representative Jasmin Emrić, is expected to be considered in the first reading.

The proposer states that the proposed law amends the Law on the State Investigation and Protection Agency to ensure the continuity of leadership of that agency.

The agenda should also include the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Institutions at the BiH Level, proposed by the Joint Committee on Administrative Affairs.

However, the Committee on Finance and Budget of the House of Representatives stated at yesterday's session that the Joint Committee on Administrative Affairs of the PA BiH, as the proposer, withdrew this bill proposal because the authorized representative of the proposer did not appear at the session of the Committee on Finance and Budget for the second time.

Representatives are also expected to consider the principles of the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Communications, proposed by the Council of Ministers of BiH.

The Council of Ministers of BiH unanimously adopted the proposal of this law, which regulates the registration of users of publicly available mobile telecommunication services with prepaid payment (prepaid service), with the aim of suppressing or completely preventing the misuse of telecommunication means for committing criminal offenses.

The appointment of one member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of BiH from among others should also be on the agenda.

The House of Representatives should, among other things, consider the Reform Agenda, submitted by the Council of Ministers of BiH, as well as the Resolution on the condemnation of all forms of neo-fascism and the affirmation of anti-fascist heritage and values in Bosnia and Herzegovina, proposed by representatives Saša Magazinović and Jasmin Imamović.