Astana, April 17, the House of the Mazhilis. Today, at the plenary session of the Mazhilis, deputies approved in the first reading draft laws on the organization of movement of certain types of vehicles and digitalization of road safety and amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. In the second reading, the laws "On Mass Media" and "On Science and Technology Policy" with accompanying amendments were adopted. A draft with amendments to the Law "On State Awards of the Republic of Kazakhstan" was also adopted.

Legislative amendments to the Law "On Road Traffic" and the Code of Administrative Offenses on the organization of movement of certain types of vehicles and digitalization of road safety were presented to colleagues by Deputy of the Mazhilis Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva.

According to the head of the working group, the draft laws were developed on the initiative of parliamentarians and are a continuation of work on regulating the movement of small electric and certain types of vehicles.

– The need for regulation is associated with an increase in the number of mopeds on the roads, which leads to accidents involving them. In 2023 alone, 750 accidents occurred, which is 4 times more than in 2022,– Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva stressed.

To solve this problem, it is proposed to establish requirements for moped drivers, they are equated to drivers of motor vehicles. The state registration of mopeds with an engine capacity of less than 50 cc is also being introduced. It is planned to give akimats competence to determine the procedure for the operation of electric scooters. Standards for digitalization of road safety are being introduced.

The approved amendments also affected persons who do not have and have not received the right to drive vehicles. If they are held accountable for being behind the wheel, including in a state of alcoholic, narcotic and/or substance abuse intoxication, they will not be allowed to take exams for obtaining such a right for seven years.

Legislative amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan have also passed the first reading. According to the Minister of Justice Azamat Eskarayev, the bill is aimed at regulating a new type of administrative penalty "involvement in public works" and determining the mechanism of its execution, as well as further improving legislation.

– The draft law proposes to apply public works under 9 articles, including 15 administrative offenses. For example, disorderly conduct (Article 434), drinking alcoholic beverages or appearing in public places intoxicated (Article 440), harassment in public places (article 449). The types of public works and the list of organizations in which they should be performed will be determined by akimats. In turn, the organizations will provide a quarterly report on the performance of public works to the MIO," the head of the Ministry of Justice explained.

In addition, it is planned to replace the arrest with a fine for certain violations, in particular, for registration of illegal environmental management transactions, violation of the procedure for conducting clinical trials. Other amendments are also being made, including regarding the use of a drive in case of non-appearance of a person brought to administrative responsibility on a call without valid reasons, changes in the qualification of an offense only towards improving the situation of the violator, as well as the transfer of offenses from courts to the jurisdiction of state agencies.

In the second reading, the Mazhilis adopted the law "On Mass Media" with accompanying amendments. As the head of the working group Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov said, as part of the protection of the rights of media workers, a one-year limitation period is being introduced for media materials in connection with violation of rights. In turn, the response time to journalists' requests has been reduced to five working days. Also, online publications and news agencies are combined into a single concept of "online publication" and will be one of the types of media.

In addition, a requirement is being introduced to increase television and radio programs in the state language and domestic production from their total volume to 55% from 2025, 60% from 2027. On the contrary, the retransmission of television and radio programs of foreign television and radio channels in the weekly volume of broadcasting of domestic television and radio channels will be reduced from 20% to 10%.

– A norm was also proposed for the introduction of a press card granting the right to simplified accreditation to individual journalists. Frankly speaking, it has caused great controversy in the working group and society as a whole. The overwhelming majority of the members of the working group regarded this rule as contrary to democratic principles, discrediting journalists, and hindering the comprehensive dissemination of information. Therefore, a specific decision was made on its exclusion," Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov said.

The deputies also adopted in the second reading the law "On Science and Technology Policy" with accompanying amendments, including to the Tax Code. According to the head of the working group, Tansaule Serikov, the document provides for mechanisms for the development of the national scientific system, and establishes the legal status of the National Academy of Sciences. The procedure for assigning the status of a research university and approving its development program has also been regulated.

At the same time, measures are proposed to stimulate entrepreneurs to introduce scientific achievements into industrial operation, including by reducing taxable income on expenses related to development work, as well as providing tax preferences for the creation of research centers at research universities.

The Mazhilis also adopted and sent amendments to the Law "On State Awards of the Republic of Kazakhstan" to the Senate. As the head of the working group Baktykozha Izmukhambetov explained, speaking at the third meeting of the National Kurultai "Adal Adam – Adal enbek – Adal Tabys", the Head of State instructed to assign the names of Sagadat Nurmagambetov, Bauyrzhan Momyshuly and Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev to various degrees of the Order of Aybin in order to perpetuate the memory of the valor of our soldiers. The law introduces appropriate amendments and additions.

In addition, the relevant committees have adopted a number of new draft laws, including on endowment funds (endowment funds) with accompanying amendments. Among them are also projects on the further decriminalization of economic offenses and countering the legalization (laundering) of illegally obtained income and the financing of terrorism; on amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses on Mass Media; amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses.

The Chamber also received two draft ratifications of agreements: on the exchange of biological material and on measures to ensure the parallel operation of the unified energy systems of Kazakhstan and Russia between the governments of the countries.

At the end of the plenary session, the Mazhilismen sent 10 deputy requests to state bodies, most of which related to the consequences of floods in the country. All of them are available on the official website and Telegram channel of the Mazhilis.

The press service of the Mazhilis - 24-38-22. Photo by J. Zhumabekova, T. Tanybayeva