On 28 December 2022, amendments to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia Act, Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act and Long Term Care Act, entered into force. Mentioned amendments were approved by the voters in a triple referendum which took place on 27 November 2022.
Amendment to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia Act
The enacted amendments to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia Act stipulate the reorganization of the government and the establishment of a new Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, the Ministry of Solidary Future, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development. The government will now have 19 line ministers (i.e. ministers designated for a particular field of operation) and one non-designated minister.
Amendment to the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act
Act amending Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act abolishes the Program Council of RTV Slovenia, the Supervisory Board of RTV Slovenia and the position of the General Director.
Instead of the existing 29-members of Program Council, the amendment introduces a new Council with 17 members. 6 of the Council members will be appointed by employees of RTV Slovenia. The rest of the members will be appointed by the public, i.e. one member (each) will be appointed by Italian and Hungarian national community and one member by the President of the Republic of Slovenia in cooperation with religious communities. In addition, one member (each) will be appointed by the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the National Council for Culture, the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, the Information Commissioner, the Council for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, the umbrella organization of disability organizations and the Ombudsman. Two members of the Council will be appointed by the National Council for Culture.
Responsibilities previously exercised by the General Director of RTV Slovenia will now be exercised by the Board which will have four members. Instead of existing Supervisory Board of RTV Slovenia, the amendment establishes a new body, namely the Financial Committee which will have 5 members. Financial Committee members will be appointed by the Board on the proposal of the ministry responsible for finance, the ministry responsible for the media, the Council of Workers of the RTV Slovenia, the Association of Supervisors Slovenia and the Association of Accountants, Finance officers and Auditors of Slovenia. The responsibilities of the Finance Committee will now be limited to giving preliminary consents (to the draft statute, financial plan and annual report) and making proposals for approval by the Council (to the prices of services, the level of tariffs, etc.).
The amendment also introduces a completely new body, namely the Viewers and listeners ombudsman, who will deal with the comments and suggestions of viewers and listeners of RTV Slovenia’s programs.
Amendments to the Long Term Care Act
The enacted amendments to the Act on long-term care postponed the commencement date of implementation of stated act to 1 January 2024. This change enables the government to adequately prepare the necessary changes for the implementation of the act, accompanying activities, and above all, it enables to adequately ensure and regulate funding for long-term care services.
