Government bill · 19th Knesset · published as law 7 August 2014
חוק סמכויות לשם שמירה על ביטחון הציבור (תיקון מס' 4), התשע"ד-2014Powers for the Purpose of Protecting Public Security Law (Amendment No. 4), 2014 · automatic translation · suggest a correction
Status: התקבלה בקריאה שלישית
Topics: Police and internal security* · * from the Knesset's official law classification
Readings
- 29 July 2014 · Third reading · אישור החוקהצעת חוק סמכויות לשם שמירה על ביטחון הציבור (תיקון מס' 4), התשע"ד-2014Bill to Amend the Powers for the Purpose of Protecting Public Security Law (Amendment No. 4), 2014autoLaw passed18 for · 10 against
What was said in the plenum
The law amends the Law on Powers for the Protection of Public Security and expands the types of places where authorized security guards, trained and approved by the Minister of Public Security, may exercise powers to prevent violence (such as demanding identification, removal, or detention until a police officer arrives), so that they will also include hospitals, educational institutions, entertainment venues, and sports facilities, subject to special restrictions regarding minors. The discussion focused on whether this represents a reasonable balance between the need to protect the public in places where police cannot always be present, and concerns about dangerous privatization of the state's powers to use force.
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Hebrew original
החוק מתקן את חוק סמכויות לשם שמירה על ביטחון הציבור ומרחיב את סוגי המקומות שבהם מאבטחים מוסמכים, שהוכשרו ואושרו על-ידי השר לביטחון פנים, יוכלו להפעיל סמכויות למניעת אלימות (כגון דרישת זיהוי, הרחקה או עיכוב עד הגעת שוטר), כך שייכללו גם בתי-חולים, מוסדות חינוך, אתרי בילוי ומתקני ספורט, בכפוף לסייגים מיוחדים בנוגע לקטינים. הדיון נסב על השאלה אם מדובר באיזון סביר בין הצורך בהגנה על הציבור במקומות שהמשטרה אינה יכולה להיות נוכחת בהם תמיד, לבין החשש מהפרטה מסוכנת של סמכויות שימוש בכוח המוקנות למדינה.
Arguments for
- The law balances the need to protect public safety with the caution required in exercising powers, including through special restrictions to protect minors in educational institutions and an annual reporting requirement to the committee.David Tsur (Hatnua)
- The police cannot be present everywhere and are unable to fulfill all the tasks assigned to them, so there is a need for certified security guards who can operate in defined public places.David Tsur (Hatnua)
Arguments against
- The law constitutes far-reaching privatization of powers to use force that should remain in the hands of the state and its representatives, the police, and not in the hands of private actors.Dov Khenin (Hadash)
- Private security guards lack the training, knowledge, and accountability that police officers have, and therefore granting them powers to use force is problematic on a practical level.Dov Khenin (Hadash)
- The expanded list of places where security guards may use force, including hospitals and educational institutions of all kinds, exceeds and deviates from any reasonable limit.Dov Khenin (Hadash)
- This move stems from budgetary difficulties and cutbacks in the police, and it is another step in an expanding and problematic process of privatizing enforcement powers.Dov Khenin (Hadash)
Who spoke (2)
| Member | Faction | Readings | Speeches | In the final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Tsur | Hatnua coalition | Third reading | 2 | no record |
| Dov Khenin | Hadash opposition | Third reading | 2 | against |
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. Transcript of the sitting: 1
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.
- 19 May 2014 · Not a legislative reading · להחיל דין רציפותהצעת חוק לייעול האכיפה ולשמירה על ביטחון הציבור (חילוט וסמכויות פיקוח)(תיקוני חקיקה), התשע"א-2010Bill for the Improvement of Enforcement and the Protection of Public Security (Forfeiture and Supervisory Powers) (legislative amendments), 2010auto19 for · 4 againstProcedural decision
- 29 July 2014 · Second reading · קריאה שנייההצעת חוק סמכויות לשם שמירה על ביטחון הציבור (תיקון מס' 4), התשע"ד-2014Bill to Amend the Powers for the Purpose of Protecting Public Security Law (Amendment No. 4), 2014auto19 for · 11 againstVote on sections of the bill