LOWER HOUSE CONCLUDES 33RD SESSION

( Editorial: --> 7244 ) ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - The House of Representatives of the Croatian Sabor (national parliament) on Friday concluded its 33rd three- week session. The representatives passed four laws or adopted changes and amendments to the laws, forwarded 20 bills into second reading, and discussed nine reports. Adopting a report on the application of the Law on Rights of Croatian Defenders, the Lower House bound the government to ensure in next year's budget means for the adjustment of the Homeland War victims' pensions, and for the resumption of a loan programme for the employment of unemployed defenders. The Lower House also adopted a conclusion suggested by the War Veterans Committee to bind the government to within three months resolve the issue of 20,000 defenders cut out of government care and without any income. The Lower House adopted a report on last summer's bush-fires along the coastline. Counties, towns and municipalities were bound to draft a plan and programme for fire danger, effect a better civil defence organisation, bring fire-fighting equipment up to date, improve the water supply system. The representatives also endorsed a bill on banks, and two bills on islands. With regard to the latter, the government was bound to draft an integral text of the law. The government was bound to submit for second reading proof towards the advantages of a bill on compulsory and optional pension funds, and to simultaneously submit a bill on the establishment and business of pension insurance funds to integrally view the new pension system. The government was bound to submit a more comprehensive bill on changes and amendments to the Law on Croatian Citizenship, or a bill on a new integral citizenship law. (hina) ha 092113 MET oct 98