MPs passed a number of bills, which will now be discussed by the Senate. Among other things, the Code of Conduct in Criminal Cases has been amended, and a decision has been made to establish the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and the National Academic Exchange Agency. The Sejm also directed the bill allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes to be signed by the President of Poland. The session will continue on July 14.

 Laws passed during the 45th Sejm session. Now the Senate will deal with them

Amendment of the Code of Conduct in cases of misdemeanors. The Parliament has decided that a fine imposed by a criminal fine may also be paid in a non-cash form, by means of a payment card. Officers equipped with payment terminals will be obliged to inform the fined persons about such possibility.

The Law on the Protection of Employee Claims in the Event of Employer Insolvency and the Law on Court Costs in Employee Cases were also amended. This will result in faster financial assistance to employees who have lost their jobs due to the cessation of the employer's operations.

The Sejm has also decided to set up a Polish Investment and Trade Agency. The Agency will be a professional entity carrying out tasks regarding the promotion of the Polish economy in cooperation with a network of foreign trade offices. It will deal with, among others, supporting the export of Polish entrepreneurs, promotion of Polish industries and supporting Polish investments at home and abroad.

There were also changes in the "Family500+" program. The Sejm passed regulations sealing the program and guaranteeing collection of the benefit by eligible persons. Changes in the program "Family 500 plus" are to lead to a situation in which benefits will go to those actually entitled. The basic principles of the program (non-taxation of the benefit and income criterion) remain unchanged.

The Sejm amended the Act on stocks of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas. The Act strengthens security of gas supply to consumers while simplifying and facilitating procedures for gas suppliers.

The amendment of the Act on the Agricultural Market Agency and the organization of certain agricultural markets and the amendment of certain other acts, results in a new program to provide milk, fruit and vegetables to schools. The amendment results from the need to create a national legal basis, necessary for the implementation, of the new program, starting from the school year 2017/2018.

The Parliament also passed amendments streamlining the functioning of housing cooperatives and facilitating the construction of new apartments for tenants. According to the bill, a housing cooperative contract for construction of a new apartment or establishment of a cooperative right to the apartment will specify either the deadline after which a member of the cooperative will be entitled to request conclusion of a contract for transfer of ownership of the apartment, or a reservation that the apartment cannot be sold to the member.

The Sejm also passed favorable amendments to the Act on State Aid in Acquisition of the First Apartment by Young People. The changes will enable full use in 2017 and 2018 of the funds allocated for the "Mieszkanie dla Młodych" program. This means that as early as August 2017, the acceptance of applications for subsidies with a payment deadline in the current year will resume.

Amendment of the Personal Income Tax Act and the Corporate Income Tax Act. The new regulations allow companies - both those already operating and those just starting out - to annually deduct expenditures on fixed assets up to PLN 100,000. This means that the single tax benefit may reach PLN 13,500. According to estimates, over 150 thousand companies will be able to benefit from the support.

Amendment of the Environmental Protection Law. It aims to clarify the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act regarding the appointment of the bodies of provincial environmental protection funds. The draft assumes changes to the provisions concerning environmental protection institutions in the field of financing environmental protection and water management. The changes are to concern the rules of appointing and dismissing the board of a provincial fund.

Amendment of the Act on the principles for the implementation of programs on cohesion policy financed in the financial perspective 2014-2020 and certain other acts. The main objectives of the amendment are to increase the effectiveness of spending EU funds for 2014-2020, as well as to simplify and streamline procedures for applying for EU funds. The proposed solutions are the result of postulates made by institutions and entities involved in the disbursement of European funds and the effect of experience related to the implementation of operational programs of the cohesion policy in the financial perspective 2014-2020. The draft law is part of the so-called "Business Constitution" Two packages: "Business Constitution" and "100 changes for companies" are intended to foster the development of entrepreneurship and innovation. The proposed amendment will contribute to the reduction of the bureaucratic burden on potential beneficiaries and will streamline the implementation of projects, which should translate into greater interest in applying for EU money and a higher quality of submitted projects.

The Sejm has passed legislation establishing the National Agency for Academic Exchange. They provide for the creation of NAWA as of October 1, 2017. The primary goal of NAWA's operations is to support the mobility of the academic community and create programs to internationalize the offer of Polish universities. The Agency is to be a public institution which, together with the National Science Centre and the National Centre for Research and Development, is to create a coherent system of public institutions implementing the state policy on strengthening the position of Polish science in the world.

Amendment of the Act on the principles of financing science and certain other acts. It will make it possible, among other things, for the minister of science and higher education to take into account the needs related to the commercialization of the results of scientific research or development works when making decisions on increasing subsidies for maintaining research potential.

 Documents referred for further work in committees

The draft amendment of the Tax Ordinance Act, the Act on Public Finance and the Act on Introductory Provisions to the Act on the National Fiscal Administration was submitted by the MPs to the Committee of Public Finance.

 Bill allowing medical use of marijuana will go to president for signature

Under the new legislation, cannabis will be able to be used to make pharmaceutical preparations. The law allows doctors to prescribe a prescription drug made in a pharmacy to patients who have no response to conventional pharmacology. The raw material will be imported from abroad.

 Current information and questions on current issues

The Sejm has listened to the government's information on the effects of amending the law on health care services financed from public funds relating to the introduction of the system of basic hospital provision of health care services (the so-called hospital network). The presentation was requested by KP Nowoczesna. Piotr Gryza, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health, spoke on behalf of the government.

Representatives of the government also answered questions of MPs, which concerned, among others, potential and possibilities of using Gliwice Canal, as well as functioning of nursing and dental care in schools in the context of planned changes in education.