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The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast
May 29, 2008. XVI Session of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma 41 issues and 28 bills on the agenda. The deputies examined a number of bills aimed to create favorable conditions to enhance the living standard in the region.
They passed the bill “On Provision of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies to Certain Population Groups in Tomsk Oblast” which defines the population groups who will receive the prescribed medications for free. These are people suffering from bronchial asthma, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, children with cerebral palsy, people with artificial heart valves, those who had suffered myocardial infarction, as well as children under 3 years of age, and children from large families under 6 years of age.
Over 61 000 people in Tomsk Oblast are entitled to the provision of medicines at preferential prices, which is funded through the regional budget, 51 000 people more are eligible for free medications purchased by means of funds allocated from the federal budget.
The deputies adopted the regional target program “Administrative Reform in Tomsk Oblast for 2008-2010” which aims to enhance the satisfaction of the population with the work of authorities up to 60%, with the quality of public services up to 75%, and to reduce corruption by 30% by 2010.
The main focuses of activities outlined in the program are design and implementation of standards in public service and administrative regulations, creation of multifunctional “one-window”-approach centers, projects to provide public services online, implementation of principles and procedures of results-based management, measures to enhance transparency of the authorities’ activities, and others.
Taxes on gambling industry were increased. Tax rate per gaming table was raised from 50 000 to 100 000 rubles a month due to the public opinion and tax rates in other Russian regions. At present, there are 16 casinos in Tomsk Oblast with 160 gaming tables. Thus, by the end of 2008 the regional budget will receive additional 48m rubles from taxes.
In two readings were examined amendments to the regional target program “Drinking Water in Tomsk Oblast”. The deputies approved the allocation of additional 8m rubles for the program in order to commission this year water treatment plants in the villages Mirny and Vysoky Yar, Tomsky and Bakcharsky Districts respectively.
In two readings were examined amendments to the regional target program “Construction of Social Housing and Liquidation of Slum and Hazardous Dwelling in Tomsk Oblast for 2006-2010 with extension until 2020” due to the increased funding for the program from 7.6bn to 9.9bn rubles. It is planned to enhance the funding for the most part from local budgets as well as from the regional and federal budgets.
The deputies adopted in two readings the draft regional bill “On Time Period for State Expert Review of Design Estimates and Results of Engineering Surveys for Construction of Intersettlement and Distribution Gas Pipelines which are to be Reviewed by Executive Authorities of Tomsk Oblast or State Institutions under their Jurisdiction”. The law shortens the time period for the review of design estimates and schedules to 45 days.
The bill “On Specific Measures to Ensure Quality and Safety of Food in Tomsk Oblast” was passed to create a legal base for a complex of consistent measures to improve quality and safety of foodstuffs in the region through the regulation of relations between the links of the chain “production - consumption” of foodstuffs.
The deputies adopted in two readings the law “On Amendments to the Law of Tomsk Oblast “On the Regional Budget for 2008 and for the Planned Period of 2009 and 2010”. The law was amended with total budget revenues, expenditures and deficit unchanged.
The deputies adopted in two readings the amendments to the regional target program “Development of Innovative Activity in Tomsk Oblast for 2006-2008”, namely to the plan of measures to reach the program goals. The program now includes a section on additional 1m rubles to fund research projects in the “Development of New Power Generation Methods” in 2008. This research work is carried out by the Tomsk Atomic Center. The additions to the program also aim to increase the funding of the All-Siberian Innovation Forum, from 100 000 to 500 000 rubles. The third amendment was introduced to provide financial support of 500 000 rubles for a newly opened business incubator at Tomsk State University . Other changes concern the procurement of equipment for the Research Assistance Center in the technical and innovation zone and establishment of contacts in the field of education and research with Asia-Pacific Countries.
The deputies approved in the first reading new logging rates for own needs of citizens such as the construction, repairs and reconstruction of real estate and household outbuildings. The rate was fixed at 10% of the Russian Federation Government rates - approximately 6 rubles per 1 cu. m. Such rates are not too onerous for the citizens who construct real estate units.
The deputies adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Oblast Law “On Administrative Responsibility for Offences against Public Order in Tomsk Oblast” providing fines for false alarms, damage to or unauthorized removal of fences, guide signs, screens on the beaches; swimming under the influence of alcohol, bathing of animals in places intended for people, and other torts. The bill will be elaborated for the second reading to include specific fine amounts.
The Duma authorized the local authorities to define areas within their municipalities where it will be prohibited to drink beer and other low-alcohol drinks.
The amendments to the Oblast Law “On Improvement of Territories in Cities and Other Settlements in Tomsk Oblast” adopted in the first reading aim to increase the fines for violations of this Law. The deputies endorsed the idea to tidy the streets and yards in Tomsk Oblast cities, towns, and villages. As for the fine amounts, the deputies agreed that they should be defined by the second reading.
Additional 13m rubles were allocated by the deputies to make the public utilities of the Oblast ready for the autumn and winter of 2008-2009. The money allocated are part of the regional target program “Upgrading of Public Utilities Infrastructure of Tomsk Oblast in 2006-2010”. These funds are appropriated to repair water-supply facilities in Verkhneketsky, Kozhevnikovsky, and Krivosheinsky districts, and to rebuild three boiler houses in Verkhneketsky and Tomsky districts.
The bill “On Education in Tomsk Oblast” was passed in its first reading. The bill promotes public awareness in the law issues, clarifies social and economic tasks undertaken by the public and local authorities. The financial support for education will be provided for from the regional budget as part of the target programs, as well as by means of grant initiation for educational organizations. Tax preferences and other benefits are provided for certain categories of educational activity actors.
The Tomsk Oblast State Duma introduced a law initiative to the State Duma of the Russian Federation - to file amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations of the RF in order to increase by half fines for violation of retail trade regulations for selling alcohol and alcohol-containing goods.
The deputies approved the proposal of the Federal Assembly Federation Council of the RF to abolish switch to summer/ winter time. The bill introduced to the State Duma of the RF suggests adopting the uniform procedure of time computation during the whole calendar year without yearly putting clocks forward and back.
- The Tomsk Oblast deputies were first to initiate the abolishment of daylight-saving in Russia, said Boris Maltsev, Speaker of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma. - Although the Tomsk bill had been entered on the agenda of the Russian Parliament session, it was not considered due to the certain circumstances. Nevertheless, the question was raised again on a level of the Federation Council, which means that our efforts will pay off.
During “A Governor’s Hour” the deputies were presented with the information on the current state of provision industrial enterprises and household consumers with natural gas.
Boris Maltsev, Speaker of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma held a traditional press-conference in between the sessions, where he stressed that most issues on the session agenda concern life improvement.
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