How the Knesset Votes
English

Government bill · 25th Knesset · published as law 12 February 2023

חוק המרכז לגביית קנסות, אגרות והוצאות (תיקון מס' 19 והוראת שעה) (תיקון), התשפ"ג-2023Law on the Center for Collection of Fines, Fees and Expenses (Amendment No. 19 and temporary provision) (Amendment), 2023 · automatic translation · suggest a correction

Status: התקבלה בקריאה שלישית

Topics: Taxes* · * from the Knesset's official law classification

Official summary of the law (Knesset)

The temporary provision authorizing the Minister of Justice to approve the Fines Collection Center to collect fines on behalf of a local authority was extended by four years. In addition, the Minister of Justice was granted the authority to extend, by order and with the consent of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the period of the temporary provision by an additional two years.

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Hebrew original

הוראת השעה המסמיכה את שר המשפטים לאשר למרכז לגביית קנסות לגבות קנסות עבור רשות מקומית הוארכה בארבע שנים. כמו כן, הוענקה לשר המשפטים סמכות להאריך בצו, בהסכמת ועדת החוקה, חוק ומשפט את תקופת הוראת השעה בשנתיים נוספות.

Readings

What was said in the plenum

The bill seeks to extend by an additional four years (with the possibility of further extension by order) the temporary provision that allows voluntary local authorities to transfer their fine collection to the center for collecting fines, fees and expenses, after the practical implementation of the arrangement was delayed and was not sufficiently examined during the original pilot period. The discussion in the first and second-third readings dealt mainly not with the content of the law itself but with the parallel judicial reform being advanced by the coalition, with opposition members using the discussion for filibuster speeches against it, while coalition representatives argued that the opposition was not statesmanlike and was delaying important legislation.

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Hebrew original

הצעת החוק מבקשת להאריך בארבע שנים נוספות (עם אפשרות הארכה נוספת בצו) את הוראת השעה שמאפשרת לרשויות מקומיות וולונטריות להעביר את גביית הקנסות שלהן למרכז לגביית קנסות, אגרות והוצאות, זאת לאחר שהיישום המעשי של ההסדר התעכב ולא הספיק להיבחן במשך תקופת הפיילוט המקורית. הדיון בקריאה הראשונה והשנייה-שלישית נסב בעיקרו לא על תוכן החוק עצמו אלא על הרפורמה המשפטית המקבילה שקידמה הקואליציה, כאשר חברי אופוזיציה ניצלו את הדיון לנאומי פיליבסטר נגדה, ונציגי הקואליציה טענו שההתנגדות אינה ממלכתית ומעכבת חקיקה חשובה.

Arguments for

  • The law is intended to help local authorities with fine collection procedures by providing an additional governmental alternative to private collection.
    Yoav Kisch (Likud), Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism)
  • The existing arrangement is voluntary and intended to promote a gradual transition of all government authorities to uniform state collection while maintaining a balance between the rights of the creditor and the rights of the debtor.
    Gilad Kariv (Labor)
  • The temporary provision should be extended because the technological preparations were delayed, including due to the coronavirus crisis, and actual use of the center for fine collection only began in 2022, so there was not enough time to examine the effectiveness of the arrangement.
    Yoav Kisch (Likud), Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism)
  • Granting the Minister of Justice the authority to extend the temporary provision by order, with the consent of the Constitution Committee, will eliminate the need for new legislation in the future for further extension.
    Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism)
  • The bill is important for the country and should be voted for regardless of other political disputes, and whoever opposes it is demonstrating a lack of public responsibility.
    Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit)

Arguments against

  • The parallel legal reform being advanced by the coalition transfers complete control over judicial appointments to the government and the political majority, thereby destroying the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.
    Orit Farkash Hacohen (National Unity), Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu), Ron Katz (Yesh Atid)
  • Abolishing the reasonableness doctrine and granting immunity to laws titled "Basic Law" from judicial review harm citizens' rights and business certainty, and provide a way for those in power to evade scrutiny and even criminal proceedings.
    Orit Farkash Hacohen (National Unity)
  • The reform severely harms the economy and Israel's international standing, as evidenced by warnings from the Governor of the Bank of Israel, hundreds of economists, international rating agencies, and high-tech companies withdrawing funds and investments from the country.
    Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), Ron Katz (Yesh Atid)
  • The move is being carried out through rushed legislation without broad consent or genuine debate, unlike the way Basic Laws were enacted in the past with broad consensus, and while ignoring the President's call to pause and hold discussions.
    Orit Farkash Hacohen (National Unity), Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu)
  • The reform harms the rights of minorities and vulnerable populations, including the LGBT community, and could lead to a situation like in Poland, Hungary and Russia, where fundamental rights are stripped away in the absence of an independent judicial check.
    Yorai Lahav Hertzanu (Yesh Atid), Ron Katz (Yesh Atid)
Who spoke (20)
MemberFactionReadingsSpeechesIn the final vote
Yoav KischLikud coalitionFirst reading1no record
Gilad KarivLabor oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2no record
Merav Ben AriYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading1no record
Efrat Rayten MaromLabor oppositionFirst reading1no record
Boaz ToporovskyYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading1no record
Yasmin FridmanYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading1no record
Mickey LevyYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading1no record
Idan RollYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading1no record
Matan KahanaNational Unity oppositionFirst reading1no record
Yifat Shasha BitonNational Unity oppositionFirst reading1no record
Itamar Ben GvirOtzma Yehudit coalitionFirst reading1no record
Simcha RothmanReligious Zionism coalitionThird reading2for
Orit Farkash HacohenNational Unity oppositionThird reading1no record
Vladimir BeliakYesh Atid oppositionThird reading1no record
Ram Ben BarakYesh Atid oppositionThird reading1no record
Oded ForerYisrael Beytenu oppositionThird reading1no record
Yorai Lahav HertzanuYesh Atid oppositionThird reading1no record
Elazar SternYesh Atid oppositionThird reading1no record
Ron KatzYesh Atid oppositionThird reading1no record
Debbie BitonYesh Atid oppositionThird reading1no record

An automatic summary of the plenum transcripts: the debate on the bill at every reading it was voted on. Arguments are given as the speakers made them; this is not an assessment. The list of speakers comes from the transcript, without a model. Transcripts of the sittings: 1, 2 · write to the author

Reservations to the second reading

38 reservations were filed: proposed changes to the text the committee brought to the second and third reading.

The reservations range from shortening or changing the validity period of the temporary provision, adding conditions and controls on the authorization of the Center for Collection of Fines to collect debts owed to local authorities, restrictions on the designation of the funds collected, and proposals to condition the commencement or applicability of the law on political events such as indictments against the Prime Minister or the size of the government.

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Hebrew original

ההסתייגויות נעות סביב קיצור או שינוי תוקף הוראת השעה, הוספת תנאים ובקרות על הסמכת המרכז לגביית קנסות לגבות חובות רשויות מקומיות, הגבלות על ייעוד הכספים הנגבים, והצעות להתנות את תחילת או תחולת החוק באירועים פוליטיים כגון כתבי אישום נגד ראש הממשלה או גודל הממשלה.

By faction

A joint reservation counts for every faction whose members filed it.

Who proposed what
  • אחמד טיבי · 3
    Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi proposes shortening the validity of the temporary provision, requiring publication of the list of local authorities authorized to collect, and allowing the head of the largest opposition faction on the council to also request activation of the authority.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • עאידה תומא סלימאן · 3
    MK Aida Touma-Sliman proposes conditioning the extension of the authorization on the approval of all committee members, shortening the extension period to one additional year only, and requiring that the head of the local authority be summoned to report to the Constitution Committee.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • עופר כסיף · 3
    Knesset Member Ofer Cassif proposes allowing the arrangement to also be activated based on a residents' petition, authorizing the Minister of Justice to refuse a request for additional reasons while publishing his justifications, and preventing the exercise of the authority by the deputy of the Minister of Justice.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • גדעון סער · 3
    Knesset Member Gideon Sa'ar proposes clarifying that the exercise of authority by the minister is discretionary rather than mandatory, and stipulating that the order shall be issued on his behalf and as the temporary provision was previously established.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • יפעת שאשא ביטון · 3
    Knesset Member Yifat Shasha-Biton proposes conditioning the applicability of the provision on the head of the local authority not being charged with fraudulently receiving a benefit, breach of trust, or incitement to racism.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • זאב אלקין · 3
    Knesset Member Ze'ev Elkin proposes conditioning the applicability of the provision on the head of the local authority not calling for draft evasion from the IDF and not keeping a photograph of a terrorist in his home, and clarifying the meaning of the term 'currently' in the existing definition.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • מיכאל מרדכי ביטון · 3
    Knesset Member Michael Mordechai Biton proposes clarifying wording for the section and stipulating that the funds collected not be transferred to the personal pocket of the minister responsible for the law.
    Sections: לסעיף 2
  • מתן כהנא · 3
    Knesset Member Matan Kahana proposes stipulating that the funds collected not be transferred to the family of the responsible minister, to the personal bank account of the head of the local authority, or to the personal pocket of the prime minister.
    Sections: לסעיף 2
  • אורית פרקש הכהן · 3
    Knesset Member Orit Farkash Hacohen proposes preventing the transfer of funds to the personal account of the local committee chairperson and requiring that the funds be directed to needy families or Holocaust survivors.
    Sections: לסעיף 2
  • יוסף עטאונה · 3
    Knesset Member Yousef Atauna proposes conditioning the law's commencement on the swearing-in of a prime minister who is not criminally indicted, on the publication of the conclusions of a state commission of inquiry on police violence, or on the repeal of Basic Law: Israel – the Nation State of the Jewish People.
    Sections: לאחרי סעיף 2
  • ישראל ביתנו · 2
    The Yisrael Beiteinu group proposes shortening the validity period of the temporary provision to the end of 2024 and conditioning the extension of the authorization for an additional year on submitting a report to the committee on collection efficiency and on finding an essential need for the extension.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
    Avigdor Liberman, Oded Forer, Evgeny Sova, Sharon Nir, Yulia Malinovsky, Hamad Amar
  • העבודה · 2
    The work group proposes significantly shortening the validity of the temporary provision to the end of 2023 and increasing the frequency of the minister's reporting from once a year to once every six months.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
    Merav Michaeli, Naama Lazimi, Gilad Kariv, Efrat Rayten Marom
  • קארין אלהרר · 2
    Knesset Member Karin Elharrar proposes adding the Minister of Diaspora Affairs to the bodies required for approval, and replacing the requirement for a request from the local committee or local authority with a request from the head of the local authority alone.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • אורנה ברביבאי, מאיר כהן, אלעזר שטרן, מיקי לוי, מירב בן ארי, רם בן ברק, יואב סגלוביץ', מיכל שיר סגמן, עידן רול, יוראי להב הרצנו, ולדימיר בליאק, רון כץ, מטי צרפתי הרכבי, טטיאנה מזרסקי, יסמין פרידמן, דבי ביטון, משה טור פז, סימון דוידסון, נאור שירי · 2
    A group of Knesset members proposes that the provisions of the law shall not apply if indictments have been filed against the Prime Minister or if the number of ministers in the government exceeds 20.
    Sections: לאחרי סעיף 2
    Orna Barbivay, Meir Cohen, Elazar Stern, Mickey Levy, Merav Ben Ari, Ram Ben Barak, Yoav Segalovitz, Michal Shir Segman, Idan Roll, Yorai Lahav Hertzanu, Vladimir Beliak, Ron Katz, Matti Sarfatti Harcavi, Tatiana Mazarsky, Yasmin Fridman, Debbie Biton, Moshe Turpaz, Simon Davidson, Naor Shiri

Proposers and reservation numbers are extracted automatically from the committee version, and the count is checked against the numbers printed in it. The descriptions are an automatic summary. Committee version for the second and third reading (PDF) · write to the author

Reservations, sections and other votes (2)

In order. Votes on reservations and individual sections are shown separately from the vote on the bill as a whole.

Source: bill page in the Knesset legislation database ↗