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Georgia

Citizen Engagement Legislation (GE0073)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Georgia Action Plan 2018-2019

Action Plan Cycle: 2018

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Administration of the Government of Georgia, MoJ of Georgia

Support Institution(s): Parliament of Georgia

Policy Areas

Legislation & Regulation, Open Parliaments, Participation in Lawmaking, Public Participation, Regulatory Governance

IRM Review

IRM Report: Georgia Design Report 2018-2019

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: No IRM Data

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information , Civic Participation

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

Commitment 8: Development of legislative acts based on citizen engagement and data analysis

Within the framework of the OGP Action Plan of Georgia for 2016-2017, the administration of the GoG, in cooperation with the MoJ, initiated the development of a Unified Regulatory Impact Assessment and Monitoring System (RIA).

The system serves the establishment of an evidence-based decision making process and implies the making of a situational analysis on the basis of ex-ante assessment. The ex-ante assessment makes it possible to identify specific problems and develop and plan legislative acts adapted thereto.

The government’s purpose is to make the preparation of the RIA report mandatory under the current plan. It is of importance that a consultation with both the relevant experts and wide public is an integral part of ex-ante assessment. In this way the government constantly ensures citizen participation in the drafting of laws or strategic documents and, accordingly, the making of decisions adapted to their needs.

Commitment 8: Development of a monitoring and analysis system for legislative acts
Lead Agency Administration of the Government of Georgia, MoJ of Georgia
Other Involved Actors Public Agency Parliament of Georgia
Civil Society /Private Sector
Issues to be Addressed Today, the government structures do no use the situational analysis method while developing legislative initiatives. This ensures correct definition of the problem and respective goals/tasks, which will, in the end, facilitate a reliable calculation of expected impacts (economic, social, etc.) of a specific legislative amendment.
Main Objective Identification, assessment and effective management of legislative initiatives based on a situational analysis.

OGP Principles Transparency Accountability Citizens Participation Technologies and Innovations
   
Milestones to Fulfill the Commitment New or ongoing commitment Start date: End date:
Drafting a law on regulatory assessment and monitoring of legislative acts. New September 2018 March 2019
Developing a unified framework and methodology for assessing and monitoring of legislative acts. New December 2018 December 2019

Indicator A draft law on regulatory assessment and monitoring of legislative acts as has been submitted to the GoG for consideration;
The unified RIA framework and methodology has been developed.

IRM Midterm Status Summary

Commitment 8: Development of Legislative Acts Based on Citizen Engagement and Data Analysis

Language of the commitment as it appears in the action plan:

“Within the framework of the OGP Action Plan of Georgia for 2016-2017, the administration of the GoG, in cooperation with the MoJ, initiated the development of a Unified Regulatory Impact Assessment and Monitoring System (RIA).

The system serves the establishment of an evidence-based decision-making process and implies the making of a situational analysis on the basis of ex-ante assessment. The ex-ante assessment makes it possible to identify specific problems and develop and plan legislative acts adapted thereto.

The government’s purpose is to make the preparation of the RIA report mandatory under the current plan. It is of importance that a consultation with both the relevant experts and wide public is an integral part of ex-ante assessment. In this way the government constantly ensures citizen participation in the drafting of laws or strategic documents and, accordingly, the making of decisions adapted to their needs”

Milestones: 

  1. Drafting a law on regulatory assessment and monitoring of legislative acts
  2. Developing a unified framework and methodology for assessing and monitoring of legislative acts.

Start Date: September 2018

End Date: December 2019

Editorial note: For the full text of this commitment, please see https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/georgia-action-plan-2018-2019/.

Context and Objectives

This commitment builds on Commitment 8 from Georgia’s third action plan (2016–2017). [45] That commitment aimed to develop a unified system for monitoring government policy documents and legislative acts on the basis of ex ante and ex post assessments. However, when the IRM End-of-Term Report was written, this monitoring system had not been launched. [46] With the current commitment, the government plans to incorporate the Unified Regulatory Impact Assessment and Monitoring System (RIA) into the lawmaking process as a mandatory assessment tool for certain types of bills. These bills will be defined in the Law of Georgia on Normative Acts. Incorporating the RIA into law- and policy-making processes is an effort tied to the European Union–Georgia Association Agreement. [47] That agreement outlines the introduction of a regulatory and supervisory framework in accordance with internationally agreed-to regulatory standards. [48] 

The utilization of RIA could increase transparency through the entire lawmaking process. In addition, access to published impact assessment reports could provide an opportunity for citizens to gain information on possible outcomes of prospective regulations. This access could also encourage participation, as the process entails consultation with stakeholders. Therefore, the commitment is relevant to the OGP values of access to information and civic participation. This commitment provides verifiable deliverables, such as 1) a law on regulatory assessment and the monitoring of legislative acts and 2) a unified framework and methodology for assessing and monitoring legislative acts.


If fully implemented, this commitment could establish a new tool (RIA) in the lawmaking process, which would lead to better and more transparent policy making. The RIA will contribute to higher-quality design in policy making, [49] and it will result in well-reasoned and more transparent policy solutions and bills. [50] Therefore, the potential impact is considered moderate.

Next steps

Given the importance of having the Unified Regulatory Impact Assessment and Monitoring System (RIA), the IRM researcher recommends carrying this commitment forward to the next action plan, with the following modifications: 

  • Ensure an optimum range of legislative acts is defined as subject to the RIA. Acknowledging its benefits for shifting policy makers’ attitudes from procedure-oriented to a more result-oriented mind-set. Establishing the RIA as a major tool for policy planning and assessment nationwide might have a significant impact.
  • Develop an impact assessment report dissemination and communication strategy and include it in the overall RIA methodology. This will aid in proper communication of RIA goals and assessment results to stakeholders and citizens.
  • Stakeholders recommend the building of relevant capacities and resources in the municipalities, to incorporate the RIA at the local level and raise overall policy-making quality in the municipalities.
  • AoG could develop guidelines and specific tools for public consultations for different types of policies and decisions at the national and local levels. This will strengthen the stakeholder engagement component of RIA.

[45] Open Government Partnership, “Georgia National Action Plan 2018–2019,” https://bit.ly/2XLXiju.

[46] Open Government Partnership, IRM: Georgia End-of-Term Report 2016–2018,https://bit.ly/2XN8Oix.

[47]Association Agenda between the European Union and Georgia, 2017–2020, https://bit.ly/2u5v0DP.

[48] European Commission, Association Implementation Report on Georgia, 2017, https://bit.ly/2J3lVkOf.

[49] Mariam Gorgadze, Deputy Chief of Party and Mikheil Darchiashvili, Governance Manager at USAID Georgia Good Governance Initiative, interview with the IRM researcher, 14 May 2019.

[50] Giorgi Meladze, Director of Constitutional Research Center and Associate Professor in the Law School at Ilia State University, interview with the IRM researcher, 8 June 2019.

Commitments

  1. Improved Public Services

    GE0066, 2018, Capacity Building

  2. Citizen Engagement Platform

    GE0067, 2018, Capacity Building

  3. Unified Authentication System

    GE0068, 2018, E-Government

  4. Economic Governance

    GE0069, 2018, E-Government

  5. Environment Portal

    GE0070, 2018, E-Government

  6. Strengthen Anti-Corruption Institutions

    GE0071, 2018, Anti-Corruption

  7. Monitor SDGs

    GE0072, 2018, Capacity Building

  8. Citizen Engagement Legislation

    GE0073, 2018, Legislation & Regulation

  9. Publish Court Decisions

    GE0074, 2018, E-Government

  10. Increasing Transparency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

    GE0075, 2018, E-Government

  11. Citizen Participation in Public Finance

    GE0076, 2018, Anti-Corruption

  12. Transparent Public Funding System

    GE0077, 2018, Fiscal Openness

  13. Public Procurement Improvements

    GE0078, 2018, Access to Information

  14. Housing Policy Planning

    GE0079, 2018, Land Rights & Spatial Planning

  15. Openness and Accountability of State-Owned Enterprises

    GE0080, 2018, E-Government

  16. Transparency and Good Governance

    GE0081, 2018, Legislation & Regulation

  17. Open Data Collection and Publication

    GE0082, 2018, Access to Information

  18. Participation for Disabled Individuals

    GE0083, 2018, Infrastructure & Transport

  19. Participatory Budgeting

    GE0084, 2018, Capacity Building

  20. Your Idea for the Zugdidi Mayor

    GE0085, 2018, Capacity Building

  21. Electronic Services

    GE0086, 2018, E-Government

  22. I. Gov. Zugdidi

    GE0087, 2018, Capacity Building

  23. Service and Citizen Satisfaction Assessment

    GE0088, 2018, Capacity Building

  24. Promoting and Monitoring SDGs

    GE0089, 2018, Open Parliaments

  25. Citizen Involvement in Budget

    GE0090, 2018, E-Government

  26. Technology for Transparency

    GE0091, 2018, E-Government

  27. Citizen Engagement Center

    GE0092, 2018, Capacity Building

  28. Raising Public Awareness About Parliamentary Democracy

    GE0093, 2018, E-Government

  29. Electronic Innovations for More Transparency and Efficiency of Public Procurement

    GE0056, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  30. Starred commitment Adoption of the Environmental Assessment Code

    GE0057, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  31. Introduction of a Mobile App as an Alternative Channel to Connect to “112”

    GE0058, 2016, E-Government

  32. Development of Local Councils for Crime Prevention

    GE0059, 2016, Justice

  33. Development of a Guidebook for Economic Agents

    GE0060, 2016, Capacity Building

  34. Development and Introduction of the Quality Control Program of Commercial Service

    GE0061, 2016, Capacity Building

  35. Presentation of Company Reports in an Electronic Form and Provision of Their Accessibility

    GE0062, 2016, Capacity Building

  36. Introduction of an Electronic Petition Portal and “Zugdidi-INFO” on the Webpage of Zugdidi Municipality Assembly

    GE0063, 2016, Capacity Building

  37. Transparency of Ozurgeti Municipality Assembly Meetings

    GE0064, 2016, Capacity Building

  38. Creation of Electronic Mechanism for Local Budget Planning in Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Batumi and Akhaltsikhe

    GE0065, 2016, E-Government

  39. Adapting the Public Service Hall to the Needs of the People with Disabilities

    GE0042, 2016, Capacity Building

  40. Launch of the Unified Healthcare System Information Portal

    GE0043, 2016, Capacity Building

  41. Introduction of Electronic Licensing System in the Field of Natural Resources Application

    GE0044, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  42. Creation of Spatial (Geographic) Data Web-Portal for the Energy Sector

    GE0045, 2016, Capacity Building

  43. Creation of Innovation Ecosystem

    GE0046, 2016, Capacity Building

  44. Electronic Portal for Registering and Disposal of State Property – Customer’S Module

    GE0047, 2016, E-Government

  45. Development of the Freedom of Information Law

    GE0048, 2016, Access to Information

  46. Development of a Monitoring and Assessment System of the Government Policy and Legislative Acts

    GE0049, 2016, Capacity Building

  47. Starred commitment Introduction of the Public Officials’ Asset Declarations Monitoring System

    GE0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  48. Establishing Unified Regulations to Publish Court Decisions

    GE0051, 2016, Judiciary

  49. Development of Transparency and Integrity Strategy and Action Plan in the Field of Regional Development and Infrastructure

    GE0052, 2016, Capacity Building

  50. Improvement of the Database of the Convicted and Transfer of the Penitentiary Department Entirely Onto the Electronic Workflow Management

    GE0053, 2016, Capacity Building

  51. Publication of Phone Tapping Data According to the Nature of the Crime and Geographic Area

    GE0054, 2016, E-Government

  52. Starred commitment Increasing Citizen Participation in Supervision of Public Finances (Public Audit)

    GE0055, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  53. "Voice of the Consumer"

    GE0013, 2014, Public Participation

  54. JUSTdrive

    GE0014, 2014,

  55. Educational Services

    GE0015, 2014, Education

  56. Citizen's Portal (Www.Mygov.Ge)

    GE0016, 2014, Capacity Building

  57. Transformation of Public Libraries for Regional Development

    GE0017, 2014, Capacity Building

  58. Digital Signature and Online Authentication

    GE0018, 2014, E-Government

  59. Open Data Portal (Data.Gov.Ge)

    GE0019, 2014, Access to Information

  60. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Draft

    GE0020, 2014, Access to Information

  61. Georgia's OGP Forum

    GE0021, 2014, Public Participation

  62. I-Change.Ge

    GE0022, 2014, E-Government

  63. Transparency of Public Service Recruitment

    GE0023, 2014, E-Government

  64. Asset Declaration Monitoring System

    GE0024, 2014, Anti-Corruption

  65. Starred commitment Political Party Financial Declarations

    GE0025, 2014, Access to Information

  66. Accessibility of Ministry of Interior's Webpage to People with Special Needs

    GE0026, 2014, E-Government

  67. Starred commitment Proactive Publishing of Surveillance Data

    GE0027, 2014, Civic Space

  68. Public Awareness of the Electoral Process

    GE0028, 2014, Capacity Building

  69. Transparency of Budgetary Processes

    GE0029, 2014, E-Government

  70. Electronic System of Procurement

    GE0030, 2014, Anti-Corruption

  71. Digital Human Resource Management System

    GE0031, 2014, E-Government

  72. Digital Preservation System: E-Archive

    GE0032, 2014, E-Government

  73. Openness and Accessibility of National Archives

    GE0033, 2014, E-Government

  74. Electronic Catalogues of Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) Archives

    GE0034, 2014, E-Government

  75. Public Finance Management System

    GE0035, 2014, E-Government

  76. Alternative Channels to "112"

    GE0036, 2014, E-Government

  77. Interactive Statistics and Crime Mapping

    GE0037, 2014, E-Government

  78. Travel Insurance Services

    GE0038, 2014, Citizenship & Immigration

  79. State Property Registration

    GE0039, 2014,

  80. Development of Community Centers in Georgia

    GE0040, 2014, E-Government

  81. Introduction of e-Governance in Local Self-Governments

    GE0041, 2014, E-Government

  82. Public Service Hall-Hub of Public Services

    GE0001, 2012, Access to Justice

  83. e-Governance in Local Governments

    GE0002, 2012, E-Government

  84. Citizens’ Portal

    GE0003, 2012, E-Government

  85. Easily Accessible and Better Healthcare

    GE0004, 2012, E-Government

  86. Launch Ichange.Ge and Data.Gov.Ge

    GE0005, 2012, E-Government

  87. Platform for Participating in the Legislative Process

    GE0006, 2012, E-Government

  88. Citizens and Justice

    GE0007, 2012, Access to Justice

  89. Starred commitment Transparent Party Financing

    GE0008, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  90. Home-Grown Concept of E-Procurement

    GE0009, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  91. e-Declarations

    GE0010, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  92. Technology Cares for Safety: ICCMS, Crime Mapping, and Safety in Your Neighbourhood

    GE0011, 2012, E-Government

  93. NGO Forum

    GE0012, 2012, Capacity Building

Open Government Partnership