The Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee discussed the draft bills on Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection with the second reading.

According to the amendments, both entities – the Special Investigation Service (SIS) and the Personal Data Protection Service (PDPS) acquire the authority to, by their own initiative and at any time, promulgate the special report on the issues attributed to their activity and considered as of significant nature.

The Drafts envisage that upon the election of the Heads of the Services, the Public Defender enjoys the authority to select a member of the Competition Commission without the contest.

The Competition Commission selects the candidates for the positions of the Heads of the Services by increased quorum, namely, with the majority of full composition instead of the majority of the attending members. Besides, both entities shall be granted the extended term for the competition – from 11 to 14 weeks.

The Draft Law on Special Investigation Service stipulates that the SIS shall investigate the crimes envisaged under special Articles of the Criminal Code even in the case if committed by the prosecutor.

The Committee discussed the Draft Rules of Procedure for the II reading, envisaging that the initiation of the remedies against the Heads of the SIS and PDPS as prescribed under the Criminal Procedure Code requires the approval of the Parliament – the majority of the full composition – 76 votes instead of 50.

According to the reporter, the Chair of the Committee, Anri Okhanashvili, the amendments derive from the fulfilment of the 9-step plan set out by the European Commission and aim at the full EU integration of the country.