MARCH 16, 2015
The Chilean government’s 15 priority bills
Minister Álvaro Elizalde has outlined the Chilean government’s legislative priorities in the run-up to the President’s second State of the Nation Address on May 21. The bills that are being prioritized for approval by Congress correspond to five key areas: Economic Development, Public Security, Society and Civil Rights, the Political Institutional Framework and Education.
The government is prioritizing 15 bills for approval prior to May 21. The bills are currently being debated in Congress and correspond to five key areas of the government program:
“The President has decided to prioritize 15 bills that will have a positive impact on the lives of Chileans for approval by Congress before May 21st” – Government spokesman, Álvaro Elizalde
1.- Economic Development:
- Promotion and New Institutional Framework for Foreign Investment
- Strengthening Unemployment Insurance
- Strengthening the Inland Revenue Service
2.- Public Security:
- Modifications to the Law against stadium violence
- Short agenda for security (covering the crimes of theft, robbery and handling stolen goods)
- Strengthening the Public Ministry
- Creating a new department within the Public Prosecution Service to deal with more complex cases (Constitutional Reform)
3.- Society and civil rights:
- Fund for high-cost drugs and treatments (Ricarte Soto Bill)
- Strengthening the National Consumer Service (Sernac) and consumer rights
- Regulations for parking charges at shopping malls
4.- Political Institutional Framework:
- Strengthening Democracy and Transparency
5.- Education:
- Creation of two State Universities
- Increasing student participation
- Creation of 15 Technical Training Centers
- Pension benefits for teachers