PARLIAMENT VOTES ON PREVIOUSLY DEBATED BILLS

ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted amendments to the Fire-Fighting Law, whereby fire-fighting units and voluntary fire-fighting societies are exempt from paying Value Added Tax on equipment. Parliament adopted a law on a science, higher education and technological development foundation, the aim of which is encouraging science, economic development and employment. The law on games of chance was put out of force. Parliament should debate a new bill on games of chance in January. A bill of amendments to the Law on the Rights of Displaced Persons and Refugees will go into second reading. These were moved by the opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in order to prevent courts from continuing to pass judgements whereby the displaced have to pay lease on houses and flats owned by others. Parliament adopted a conclusion binding the government and justice ministry to submit to parliament a report on court proceedings held to date. A bill of amendments to the law on the organisation and jurisdiction of ministries and state organisations was also forwarded into second reading. These propose abolishing the State Water Management and transferring its tasks to the environmental protection and public works and construction ministries, and land consolidation activities from the justice to the forestry and agriculture ministry. (hina) ha