Adoption of the law on the Supreme Court and the law on the National Property Stock, adoption of the report on the execution of the state budget for 2016 and granting discharge to the Council of Ministers - these are the most important decisions taken by the Sejm during the 46th session - the last one before the August break. The next session is scheduled for September.

Laws passed during the 46th Sejm session. Now the Senate will deal with them

The law on the Supreme Court provides, among other things, for three new chambers of the Supreme Court - Public Law, Private Law and Disciplinary, changes in the procedure for appointing Supreme Court judges and the possibility of retiring current Supreme Court judges. The amendments include the President's proposal to elect judges by a 3/5 majority.
The amendments to the Act on Renewable Energy Sources are aimed at changing the amount of the unit substitution fee, which is an element that makes the green certificate market more flexible and reduces the oversupply of certificates in this market.
The amended Act on Technical Supervision entrusts the inspection of filling stations with respect to the efficiency of fuel vapour recovery installations to technical supervision units.
The amended act on animal health protection and infectious animal disease control aims to increase the effectiveness of the fight against infectious animal diseases by introducing new obligations for, among others, hunters, lessees or managers of hunting districts and owners of farms. The changes enable the Veterinary Inspection to, among other things, prohibit or restrict the keeping, rearing or breeding of animals of susceptible species in a given area.
The National Property Stock Act will increase the supply of moderate-rent rental housing through the use of Treasury properties. KZN is intended to help realize the potential and opportunities of these assets.
Another of the bills adopted by the Sejm gives permission for the President to ratify the Headquarters Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
The amendment to the Act on Information System in Healthcare provides that the administrators of data related to medical records will be the entities that maintain those records. Medical records are used, among others, for the purposes of scientific, research and development activities. The National Health Fund has been added to the list of entities that can be entrusted with keeping medical records.
Amendments to the Tax Ordinance, the Public Finance Act and the Introductory Provisions to the National Fiscal Administration Act oblige the Director of National Fiscal Information to apply to the Head of KAS for an opinion on issuance of an individual interpretation only when the issue arising against the background of the actual state of affairs or future event has not been previously assessed by the Head of KAS.

Documents referred for further work in committees

A citizen's bill on conditions of employment in health care has been referred to the Public Finance Committee and the Health Committee.
By a decision of the MPs, the government bill on the National Institute of Freedom - Center for Civil Society Development was submitted for further work in the Social Policy and Family Committee.
To the Commissions: Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry, and Local Government and Regional Policy, a government draft amendment to the Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste Management and Certain Other Laws, aimed at reducing the use of plastic shopping bags by consumers, has been referred.

Laws forwarded for the president's signature

The Water Law Act, implementing EU regulations, introduces a new model of water management. It concerns, among others, a new way of charging for water services. It also assumes appointment of a new institution managing waters in Poland - Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne "Wody Polskie". It will be responsible for flood and drought protection, as well as for investments.
Amendments to the Sports Act and the Act on the Disclosure of Information on Documents of State Security Agencies from 1944-1990 and the Content of Those Documents increase transparency in the operation of Polish sports associations.
The amendments to the Act on employment promotion and labor market institutions set forth new rules for accepting foreigners to perform seasonal and short-term work in Poland. They also create the basis for the exchange of data on the performance of work by foreigners between offices.
Amendments to the Law on Protection of Employee Claims in the Event of Employer Insolvency and the Law on Court Costs in Civil Cases. The purpose of these amendments is to expedite the provision of financial assistance to employees who have been deprived of their jobs and employment-related benefits in the event of an employer's actual cessation of operations.
Amendment of the Act on the principles of financing science and some other acts. It is intended, among other things, to allow the Minister of Science and Higher Education to take into account the needs related to the commercialization of research or development results when making decisions on increasing subsidies for maintaining research potential.
The amendments to the Real Estate Management Act and certain other acts are intended to provide clarity and stability to parties to real estate agency and property management contracts.
New regulations streamline functioning of housing cooperatives and facilitate construction of new apartments for tenants. Among other things, the Act provides that a 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 an agreement on transfer of ownership of the apartment, or a reservation that the apartment cannot be sold to the member.

Other decisions by Members in votes

The House adopted the report on the implementation of the state budget for 2016 and granted discharge to the government.
The MPs adopted the Information on sureties and guarantees granted in 2016 by the State Treasury, certain legal entities and the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and read the report on the activities of the National Bank of Poland in 2016 together with the position of the Public Finance Committee.
The Sejm did not pass a resolution to order a nationwide referendum on education reform.
The deputies also listened to the Sejm heard the Information on the activities of the Supreme Court in 2016 along with the position of the Commission.

The next, 47th session of the Diet is scheduled for September.

Photo: K. Białoskórski, R. Zambrzycki, KS