Summary.
The bill creates the National Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Plan for People Experiencing Homelessness in the Republic of Panama. It defines homelessness and the risk of becoming homeless and recognizes the right to equality and protection from discrimination and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It declares November 27 the National Day of Support for Homeless People and provides for awareness activities and collection of supplies by government institutions and schools. The plan’s objectives include temporary accommodation, services for children and adolescents, health and addiction treatment, legal advice, prevention, research, and a channel to request assistance or report abuse by authorities.
The Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social) would develop the plan with the National Technical Council for the Care of People Experiencing Homelessness (Consejo Técnico Nacional para Atención de Personas en Situación de Calle). The council would oversee the plan’s phases, meet quarterly and receive institutional reports, which would also go to the Health, Labor and Social Development Committee (Comisión de Salud, Trabajo y Desarrollo Social) of the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional). Government, health, security, social development, agriculture and housing authorities, the National Mortgage Bank (Banco Hipotecario Nacional) and a municipal representative would participate. The Ministry of Social Development and the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo) would complete a demographic and socioeconomic study within a maximum of one year and update and publish it annually. The ministry would conduct monthly operations to locate and transfer people to care centers.
The plan would have an Action Phase and a Monitoring Phase. The Action Phase would include a comprehensive care protocol, three stages and programs for addiction rehabilitation, physical or psychological treatment, skills development, volunteering, donations, stronger family ties and social reintegration. Qualified professionals would provide treatment, and required materials would be supplied free of charge. The Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral) would coordinate permanent private-sector jobs and opportunities in state institutions for rehabilitated participants. They would retain the rights provided by the Labor Code (Código de Trabajo) and could not be dismissed without just cause. Government entities and private companies would grant study leave, subject to submission of academic documents.
The Monitoring Phase would include a centralized register of participants’ personal, medical and psychosocial information and progress for up to five years after their departure, together with annual impact assessment reports. The National Technical Council for the Care of People Experiencing Homelessness would establish mechanisms to create centers according to demand within two years after entry into force and prepare a Single Admission Protocol within the first year. The Government Innovation Authority (Autoridad de Innovación Gubernamental) would create the protocol’s computer system. Centers would provide free shelter, food, hygiene facilities, medical and psychosocial care, legal advice, training and veterinary care. The Social Protection Services Directorate (Dirección de Servicios de Protección Social) would authorize and supervise their operation. Centers would be organized according to participants’ health and addiction needs, with separation by sex.
Centers would include agriculture and animal care with the participation of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario). Participants would attend state educational centers and receive academic follow-up. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would grant tax incentives and institutional recognition; the Ministry of Housing and Land Management (Ministerio de Vivienda y Ordenamiento Territorial) would coordinate housing responses for a renewable period of two (2) years. The bill provides for cooperation with other organizations and budget allocations, and treats the centers as social service centers under Article 112-E of Law 37 of 2009 (Ley 37 de 2009). It also directs the Executive Branch to issue regulations during the six months following entry into force. Its provisions concern municipalities, schools, employers, health services, social organizations, and the housing and agriculture sectors.
What it proposes.
- A national plan for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.
- Rehabilitation, social reintegration, employment and follow-up programs.
- Creation, services and supervision of care centers.
- Institutional coordination, education, housing and funding.
Who it would affect.
- People experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.
- Public institutions and municipalities responsible for the plan.
- Care centers and their staff.
- Private companies and schools participating in the programs.
Key points.
- Creates the national plan, defines its target population and recognizes equality and protection from discrimination and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.Arts. 1-3
- Declares November 27 a national day of support and provides for awareness activities and collection of supplies.Arts. 4-5
- Sets the plan’s objectives, creates a technical oversight council and provides for studies and monthly operations.Arts. 6-12
- Organizes the action and monitoring phases and programs for treatment, training, volunteering, family ties and employment.Arts. 13-26
- Creates a centralized participant register and an impact assessment program with annual reports.Arts. 27-29
- Provides for free care centers, an admission protocol, minimum services and forms of care tailored to participants’ needs.Arts. 30-35
- Includes agriculture, animal care and continued education in the services provided.Arts. 36-37
- Provides for incentives, housing responses, cooperation and funding, and directs the Executive Branch to issue regulations.Arts. 38-42