In its final legislative efforts before being dispersed before the next election, the 24th Knesset on Thursday passed a series of bills agreed by the coalition and the opposition, including those by Omicron to provide financial grants to disadvantaged businesses, people with disabilities, and more. Includes legislation to promote rights. , better protect victims of sexual abuse and recognize the bereaved brothers and sisters of IDF soldiers.
The approved legislative package includes a law that strengthens the confidentiality of mental care treatments performed by victims of sexual abuse and domestic abuse, to reduce the likelihood of those documents appearing in court during criminal cases.
Another bill passed into law extends the time in which a civil suit can be filed in cases of sexual abuse. Until now, civil suits were only allowed to be filed within one year of the completion of criminal proceedings, regardless of the limitations of any other statute. Under the new law, such a lawsuit can be filed in child sexual abuse cases until the victim reaches the age of 35 – unless the abuser is the victim after the age of 18. No criminal proceedings are registered against him. In all other sexual abuse cases, the maximum limit of filing within one year after the conclusion of any criminal proceedings shall also be lifted.
A third related bill passed Thursday grants victims of sexual assault compensation of NIS 10,000 after a sentence, and mandates that the state pay the fee and then take on the responsibility of collecting the money from the offender.
The Knesset also passed legislation earlier this year approving financial grants to small and medium-sized businesses damaged by the Omicron wave of the coronavirus.
The long-awaited bill allows state compensation for businesses with total revenues between NIS 18,000 ($5,100) and NIS 80 million ($22.85 million) if they receive that figure during the Omicron wave (January-February 2022). faced a reduction of 25%. ) compared to the same period in 2019.
Justice Minister Gideon Saar in the Knesset on June 22, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash 90)
Basic grants range between NIS 4,350 and NIS 9,350 ($1,240-2,670) for businesses with total revenues of up to NIS 300,000 ($85,700), with the amount increasing according to company size.
Other laws that passed into law just before the dispersal of the Knesset recognize siblings of IDF soldiers or victims of terror as bereaved family members. Such recognition entitles siblings to be officially notified of such deaths, to be eligible for any rights through the Ministry of Defense, as well as to be invited to official memorial proceedings. Until now, this status was given only to the spouses, parents and children of those who died.
In addition, legislation that seeks to provide tools to implement the Equal Rights Act for Persons with Disabilities was unanimously passed in the Knesset on Thursday morning. The new bill places financial sanctions on those who violate accessibility laws and expands the Justice Ministry’s Commission on Equal Rights to sue on behalf of people with disabilities.
“As a society, we must create a vision in which a person with a disability is not limited to reaching any place or any goal,” said Justice Minister Gideon Saar, who pushed for the legislation.
The legislative package also includes legislation confirming details of upcoming elections, including their budget, state employees related to elections and special preparedness for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
