Santo Domingo. – The Dominican Senate approved this Tuesday, in second reading, the draft General Law of Public contractswhich prohibits the President and Vice President of the Republic or their family members from contracting with the State.
The legislation defines the types of procedures for public tendering, abbreviated public tendering, simplified contracting, drawing of lots for works, reverse auction, minor contracting and contracting subject to threshold.
The initiative, presented by the Vice President of the Senate, Faride Raful, has as a novelty the abbreviated public tender, which establishes a reduced period for the contracting of common and standardized goods and services.
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It also establishes the contracting modalities or procedures, taking into account the amount, the object and the characteristics of the service.
From now on, the agreements resulting from the supplier selection procedure, managed and executed by the Directorate General of Public Procurement (DGCP), for the acquisition of common and standardized goods and services frequently used by public institutions, will establish prices and delivery conditions for a defined period of time.
The project strengthens the principles of the public procurement system, including legality, inclusion, due process, objectivity, impartiality, planning, sustainability, favorability of national production and favorability of local development.
The main purpose is to strengthen the regulatory authority of the governing body, in addition to extending the scope and capacity of controls to achieve maximum transparency and broadening the sanctioning power of the Comptroller General of the Republic, in addition to reforming its internal structure.
Tax Obligation
The Senate approved in second reading the Executive Branch’s bill that modifies article 11 of Law 11-92, which approves the Tax Code, which regulates the tax relationship between the State and taxpayers of the tax obligation, establishing provisions to guarantee the payment of the tax debt.
Hookah use banned
The Senate also approved in second reading the bill that modifies article 3 of Law 16-19, which establishes the prohibition of the use of hookah in public and private places in order to prevent diseases and protect the environment.
The initiative by the senator for La Altagracia, Virgilio Cedano, aims to expand the radius of prohibition for the use of these devices.
Retentive embargo
Another project approved in second reading by the Senate Plenary is the one that regulates the Retentive Embargo in the Dominican Republic, submitted by Faride Raful.
Health tourism
Senators approved in second reading the bill regulating Health Tourism throughout the national territory, by Senator Eduardo Estrella.
Paternity leave
The Senate approved in its second reading the bill that increases the number of days of leave for public servants due to the birth of their spouse or partner from two to 15 days and increases the days granted to private sector workers, a proposal by Senator Franklin Rodríguez.
DNA registration
The Senate Plenary approved in second reading the project that creates the National Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Registration System, authored by Senator Santiago José Zorrilla, which will regulate the National Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Registration System, built on the basis of genetic fingerprints determined at the time of the birth of the minor, by military members of the Ministry of Defense and the National Police, and by a human and scientific criminal investigation.
The senators approved the project that declares December 11 of each year as “National Bachata Day”, presented by senators Rogelio Genao and Franklin Romero, who establish that this regulation will contribute to the promotion of this rhythm in the country and internationally.
TC “Milton Ray Guevara” Building
During the legislative work on Tuesday, the senators approved in second reading the bill that names the new building of the Constitutional Court after Milton Ray Guevara. The initiative is authored by Senator Bautista Rojas Gómez.
In second reading, the bill that modifies several articles of Law 167-21, on Regulatory Improvement and Simplification of Procedures, an initiative submitted by the Executive Branch, was approved.
Development and Competitiveness of Crafts
The senators approved the project for the Promotion of Development and Competitiveness of Crafts, by Senator José Del Castillo Saviñón, which seeks to promote the institutionalization of existing craft companies in the country, boost private investment, create conditions to improve productivity, and encourage ongoing training of craft creators in order to increase their artistic, technical, and economic potential.
The resolution was also approved, requesting the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, to create the necessary infrastructure to allow the tourist development of the beaches of Caracoles, Palmar de Ocoa and Puerto Los Negros, located in the Bay of Ocoa, province of Azua.
The Senate approved in second reading the bill for the Declassification of Dominican State properties in Santiago, and also ratified the sale of 14 plots of land to private individuals.
During the session, legislators approved two bills in first reading on the Fiscal Responsibility of Institutions Law; and the one that establishes the conscience clause as Protection of Labor Rights in favor of Journalists in the Dominican Republic.
Bicameral Commission
The President of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, formed a Bicameral Commission to analyze and study the draft law on the Public Statistical Function. The commission will be chaired by Senator Félix Bautista and will include Senators Ginnette Bournigal de Jiménez, Cristóbal Venerado, Lía Díaz de Díaz, Pedro Catrain, Bautista Rojas Gómez and Rogelio Genao.
The public trust agreement for the parking lot of the Chamber of Deputies, between the Dominican State and Fiduciaria Reservas, SA, presented by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, was also approved in a single reading.
Minute of silence
Before the start of the session, the senators observed a minute of silence and honored the memory of Mrs. Carmensina Casanova Rodríguez, widow of the lawyer, writer and diplomat Víctor Gómez Bergés, as well as the death of Delvis Tineo Ulloa and Félix Alberto Taveras, Cultural Manager.
