The National Assembly will consider a draft Law on the promotion of volunteering, BTA reported.
This is provided for by the first point of the work program of the deputies, published on the website of the National Assembly. The promoters of the project are Atanas Zafirov and a group of people's representatives from the "BSP for Bulgaria".
The purpose of the bill is to create a comprehensive legal regulation of volunteering, as a basis for promoting civic activity and solidarity in Bulgarian society. The bill also aims to clearly define the responsibilities of the persons organizing volunteer activities. The bill removes some of the barriers to volunteering, and creates incentives for citizens to engage in long-term volunteer activities, the petitioners note. The bill introduces a legal definition of “voluntary activity” with the aim of unifying the current legislation, providing for the express prohibition of the use of volunteering as a substitute for an employment relationship. The types of volunteering are regulated, defining short-term, long-term and corporate volunteering. Next, the rights and obligations of both the volunteers and the persons organizing volunteer activities are regulated, it is pointed out in the reasons.
The draft law regulates the status of volunteers. When volunteering by minors and minors, an explicit requirement is introduced to take the activity into account with the age of the persons, as well as with their physical and mental capabilities. The written informed consent of the legal representative is required for the performance of activities by minors, minors and prohibited persons. The minimum age for volunteers carrying out long-term voluntary work is envisaged to be 16 years, the petitioners state.
In the reasons, it is also stated that the legislation envisages the creation of a National Register of Volunteers at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
On the agenda is also the first vote on a bill to amend the Law on Physical Education and Sports, as well as the ratification of the Joint Guarantee Agreement in connection with the Framework Loan Agreement between the Development Bank of the Council of Europe and “ Bulgarian Development Bank“ EAD, as well as the ratification of the Administrative Agreement between the Joint Venture “Integral Schemes” and the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, related to the mechanism for creating joint ventures within the framework of “Horizon Europe”.