Bill 409.

Summary.

Article 1 proposes adding Article 28-A to Law 32 of 2013 to establish a special electronic passport in the sporting or cultural category. It would be intended for Panamanian students participating in international activities convened for cultural or sporting purposes. The proposed provision lists events, tournaments, congresses, assemblies, meetings and seminars among the covered activities. Eligibility is tied to being a Panamanian student, participating in one of those international activities and the cultural or sporting purpose for which it was convened.

An application for this special passport would have to meet the same requirements that Article 27 of Law 32 of 2013 sets for issuing an ordinary electronic passport. The application would therefore follow the requirements applicable to that ordinary document, while resulting in a special passport connected to the international event. The special passport would remain valid until five (5) days after the event ends. Its period of validity is thus linked to the completion of the activity in which the student participates.

The same article directs the responsible authority to give the application priority and authorize the special passport within no more than twenty-four (24) hours. It also provides that issuance would be free of charge. Priority processing, the authorization deadline and free issuance would apply to applications for this special electronic passport in the sporting or cultural category. The provision associates the absence of a fee with the international representation of national talent in cultural or sporting activities.

Article 2 again identifies the legislative amendment as the addition of Article 28-A to Law 32 of April 23, 2013. The proposed change would therefore place in that law a special form of electronic passport, specifying its recipients, qualifying activities, application requirements, duration, priority processing, authorization deadline and cost in the new article. Article 3 provides that, if the bill is promulgated as law, it would enter into force on the day following its promulgation.

The related public institution is the Passport Authority of Panama (AUTORIDAD DE PASAPORTES DE PANAMA), which was created by Law 32 of 2013 and would be involved in processing the proposed document. The bill's provisions could concern Panamanian students travelling to participate in international events, tournaments, congresses, assemblies, meetings or seminars, as well as the education, sport and cultural sectors connected with those activities.