On Friday, 3 April, the Saeima passed in the final reading an urgent law on the activities of public institutions during the coronavirus-related state of emergency. The Law introduces basic operation principles of public institutions and certain rights and obligations of public institutions and private entities, aiming to prevent and overcome threats to national security and their consequences. 

The Law aims to ensure continuous and effective operation of public institutions in the interests of public security during the state of emergency declared due to the spread of COVID-19. 

The Law instructs public institutions to organise their work to ensure the fulfilment of the functions and tasks specified in laws and regulations to the fullest extent, intensively coordinate their activities and cooperate with one another, as well as adapt work management to the state of emergency, for example by restricting direct mutual contacts, operating remotely, and working in the digital environment. 

The Law states that applications for the issuance of an administrative document are to be submitted only in writing during the state of emergency. That implies either a handwritten application or an electronic application that complies with the Electronic Documents Law. 

In addition, given that a number of precautionary measures that are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 are related to the need for individuals to observe social distancing by avoiding direct face-to-face contact, the Law provides for court-ordered oral hearings to be held in person only in cases related to serious infringements of the rights of persons and objective urgency. It also enables the court in civil cases to replace previously determined oral hearings with written proceedings, where it is possible to fully respect the procedural rights of the parties and unless the court has identified the need to hear the parties in person. The Law obliges the court to inform the persons involved in the proceedings both about rescheduling court hearings and about substituting oral hearings with written proceedings. 

The Law suspends the placement of new clients in social service facilities that provide accommodation, except for crisis centres ensuring social rehabilitation for victims of violence, long-term social care or social rehabilitation institutions or crisis centres for children without parental care, and temporary shelters or night shelters for the homeless. 

Municipalities should also immediately provide a place in a childcare facility or other facilities adapted for short-term childcare, at the request of a parent if the latter has caught COVID-19 and has no way of leaving the child in safe conditions with the other parent, relatives, or other close persons. 

The Law also enables former emergency medical service employees who receive retirement pensions under the relevant law to be hired by the State Emergency Medical Service during the state of emergency, while concurrently maintaining their retirement pensions. 

In order to reduce the impact of the emergency situation on the work of medical practitioners and medical support staff, the Law extends the term of valid registration or valid certificate of both these categories by six months. Educational institutions whose accreditation term expires in the period until 31 August 2020 will receive an extension until 31 December. 

The Law also regulates a number of other areas, including the conditions under which meetings of municipal councils and their committees may take place remotely. 

The Law will enter into force on the day following its promulgation.

Saeima Press Service