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 GovernanceIRM Review
IRM Report: Georgia Design Report 2018-2019
Starred: Pending IRM Review
Early Results: Pending IRM Review
Design i
Verifiable: Yes
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information , Civic Participation
Implementation i
Completion: Pending IRM Review
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:
- Drafting a law on regulatory assessment and monitoring of legislative acts
- 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
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Improved Public Services
GE0066, 2018, Capacity Building
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Citizen Engagement Platform
GE0067, 2018, Capacity Building
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Unified Authentication System
GE0068, 2018, E-Government
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Economic Governance
GE0069, 2018, E-Government
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Environment Portal
GE0070, 2018, E-Government
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Strengthen Anti-Corruption Institutions
GE0071, 2018, Anti-Corruption
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Monitor SDGs
GE0072, 2018, Capacity Building
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Citizen Engagement Legislation
GE0073, 2018, Legislation & Regulation
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Publish Court Decisions
GE0074, 2018, E-Government
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Increasing Transparency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
GE0075, 2018, E-Government
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Citizen Participation in Public Finance
GE0076, 2018, Anti-Corruption
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Transparent Public Funding System
GE0077, 2018, Fiscal Openness
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Public Procurement Improvements
GE0078, 2018, Access to Information
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Housing Policy Planning
GE0079, 2018, Land Rights & Spatial Planning
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Openness and Accountability of State-Owned Enterprises
GE0080, 2018, E-Government
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Transparency and Good Governance
GE0081, 2018, Legislation & Regulation
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Open Data Collection and Publication
GE0082, 2018, Access to Information
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Participation for Disabled Individuals
GE0083, 2018, Infrastructure & Transport
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Participatory Budgeting
GE0084, 2018, Capacity Building
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Your Idea for the Zugdidi Mayor
GE0085, 2018, Capacity Building
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Electronic Services
GE0086, 2018, E-Government
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I. Gov. Zugdidi
GE0087, 2018, Capacity Building
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Service and Citizen Satisfaction Assessment
GE0088, 2018, Capacity Building
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Promoting and Monitoring SDGs
GE0089, 2018, Open Parliaments
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Citizen Involvement in Budget
GE0090, 2018, E-Government
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Technology for Transparency
GE0091, 2018, E-Government
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Citizen Engagement Center
GE0092, 2018, Capacity Building
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Raising Public Awareness About Parliamentary Democracy
GE0093, 2018, E-Government
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Electronic Innovations for More Transparency and Efficiency of Public Procurement
GE0056, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Adoption of the Environmental Assessment Code
GE0057, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Introduction of a Mobile App as an Alternative Channel to Connect to “112”
GE0058, 2016, E-Government
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Development of Local Councils for Crime Prevention
GE0059, 2016, Justice
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Development of a Guidebook for Economic Agents
GE0060, 2016, Capacity Building
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Development and Introduction of the Quality Control Program of Commercial Service
GE0061, 2016, Capacity Building
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Presentation of Company Reports in an Electronic Form and Provision of Their Accessibility
GE0062, 2016, Capacity Building
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Introduction of an Electronic Petition Portal and “Zugdidi-INFO” on the Webpage of Zugdidi Municipality Assembly
GE0063, 2016, Capacity Building
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Transparency of Ozurgeti Municipality Assembly Meetings
GE0064, 2016, Capacity Building
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Creation of Electronic Mechanism for Local Budget Planning in Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Batumi and Akhaltsikhe
GE0065, 2016, E-Government
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Adapting the Public Service Hall to the Needs of the People with Disabilities
GE0042, 2016, Capacity Building
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Launch of the Unified Healthcare System Information Portal
GE0043, 2016, Capacity Building
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Introduction of Electronic Licensing System in the Field of Natural Resources Application
GE0044, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Creation of Spatial (Geographic) Data Web-Portal for the Energy Sector
GE0045, 2016, Capacity Building
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Creation of Innovation Ecosystem
GE0046, 2016, Capacity Building
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Electronic Portal for Registering and Disposal of State Property – Customer’S Module
GE0047, 2016, E-Government
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Development of the Freedom of Information Law
GE0048, 2016, Access to Information
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Development of a Monitoring and Assessment System of the Government Policy and Legislative Acts
GE0049, 2016, Capacity Building
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Introduction of the Public Officials’ Asset Declarations Monitoring System
GE0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Establishing Unified Regulations to Publish Court Decisions
GE0051, 2016, Judiciary
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Development of Transparency and Integrity Strategy and Action Plan in the Field of Regional Development and Infrastructure
GE0052, 2016, Capacity Building
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Improvement of the Database of the Convicted and Transfer of the Penitentiary Department Entirely Onto the Electronic Workflow Management
GE0053, 2016, Capacity Building
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Publication of Phone Tapping Data According to the Nature of the Crime and Geographic Area
GE0054, 2016, E-Government
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Increasing Citizen Participation in Supervision of Public Finances (Public Audit)
GE0055, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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"Voice of the Consumer"
GE0013, 2014, Public Participation
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JUSTdrive
GE0014, 2014,
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Educational Services
GE0015, 2014, Education
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Citizen's Portal (Www.Mygov.Ge)
GE0016, 2014, Capacity Building
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Transformation of Public Libraries for Regional Development
GE0017, 2014, Capacity Building
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Digital Signature and Online Authentication
GE0018, 2014, E-Government
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Open Data Portal (Data.Gov.Ge)
GE0019, 2014, Access to Information
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Draft
GE0020, 2014, Access to Information
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Georgia's OGP Forum
GE0021, 2014, Public Participation
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I-Change.Ge
GE0022, 2014, E-Government
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Transparency of Public Service Recruitment
GE0023, 2014, E-Government
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Asset Declaration Monitoring System
GE0024, 2014, Anti-Corruption
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Political Party Financial Declarations
GE0025, 2014, Access to Information
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Accessibility of Ministry of Interior's Webpage to People with Special Needs
GE0026, 2014, E-Government
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Proactive Publishing of Surveillance Data
GE0027, 2014, Civic Space
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Public Awareness of the Electoral Process
GE0028, 2014, Capacity Building
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Transparency of Budgetary Processes
GE0029, 2014, E-Government
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Electronic System of Procurement
GE0030, 2014, Anti-Corruption
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Digital Human Resource Management System
GE0031, 2014, E-Government
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Digital Preservation System: E-Archive
GE0032, 2014, E-Government
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Openness and Accessibility of National Archives
GE0033, 2014, E-Government
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Electronic Catalogues of Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) Archives
GE0034, 2014, E-Government
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Public Finance Management System
GE0035, 2014, E-Government
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Alternative Channels to "112"
GE0036, 2014, E-Government
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Interactive Statistics and Crime Mapping
GE0037, 2014, E-Government
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Travel Insurance Services
GE0038, 2014, Citizenship & Immigration
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State Property Registration
GE0039, 2014,
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Development of Community Centers in Georgia
GE0040, 2014, E-Government
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Introduction of e-Governance in Local Self-Governments
GE0041, 2014, E-Government
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Public Service Hall-Hub of Public Services
GE0001, 2012, Access to Justice
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e-Governance in Local Governments
GE0002, 2012, E-Government
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Citizens’ Portal
GE0003, 2012, E-Government
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Easily Accessible and Better Healthcare
GE0004, 2012, E-Government
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Launch Ichange.Ge and Data.Gov.Ge
GE0005, 2012, E-Government
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Platform for Participating in the Legislative Process
GE0006, 2012, E-Government
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Citizens and Justice
GE0007, 2012, Access to Justice
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Transparent Party Financing
GE0008, 2012, Anti-Corruption
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Home-Grown Concept of E-Procurement
GE0009, 2012, Anti-Corruption
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e-Declarations
GE0010, 2012, Anti-Corruption
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Technology Cares for Safety: ICCMS, Crime Mapping, and Safety in Your Neighbourhood
GE0011, 2012, E-Government
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NGO Forum
GE0012, 2012, Capacity Building