LOWER HOUSE CONFIRMS POSTPONEMENT OF NEW CHILD'S ALLOWANCE ACT

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives on Thursday postponed the enforcement of a new child's allowance law by January 1, 2001, despite a suspension veto the upper house - the House of Counties - put on a decision on the delay in the law's implementation. The new act, which should have gone into effect on 1 July 1999, stipulates that the child's allowance be granted to children of the unemployed, farmers and craftsmen. The Sabor's House of Representatives today ordered the Government to submit a report by 1 July on the course of preparations for the application of this law and try find means for an earlier enforcement either by the reduction of the basis for the allowance or by the revision of the state budget. Upon the suggestion of the government, the lower house made a decision on the postponement of the child's allowance act. The Government explained that the postponement was caused by the technical inability of relevant offices and services to organise the payment of child's allowance in compliance with the new law, and subsequently it justified such a move by a lack of budgetary means for this purpose. Under the current law about 350,000 kids receive allowances, while the new law will enable between 600,000 and 650,000 children to get money. The House of Counties maintains that the enforcement of the new act should not be delayed, having in mind that poor material condition of impoverished classes in the society. Therefore the upper house used its Constitutional powers to put the suspension veto on the lower house's decision on the postponement. Nevertheless, the House of Representatives today confirmed its decision to delay the enforcement until January 1, 2001. (hina) mm ms