Summary.
The bill proposes to amend Article 2 of Law 134 of December 31, 2013, concerning economic equalization for persons with disabilities. The proposed provision grants the listed benefits to all persons with disabilities who are duly certified by the National Disability Secretariat (Secretaría Nacional de Discapacidad) and are within the national territory. It expressly includes Panamanian nationals, permanent residents, temporary residents, and nonresidents. Residence status therefore appears in the proposed text alongside certification and presence within the national territory as part of the description of the people covered.
Within the benefits listed in Article 2, the bill establishes a 20% discount on all prostheses and orthoses. The same discount covers technical and technological assistive devices and accessories for communication. The provision groups these goods under a benefit for persons with disabilities covered by the amended article. Its scope includes prostheses and orthoses, as well as devices and accessories intended to assist communication through technical or technological means.
The bill also establishes a 50% discount on training and educational courses, seminars, and workshops. This benefit covers public and private activities at the basic, secondary, higher education, and postgraduate levels. The enumeration includes different forms of instruction and educational levels, and applies to persons meeting the conditions set out in the proposed Article 2. The discounts on assistive goods and on training activities would form part of the economic equalization benefits listed for persons with disabilities.
Art. 2 expressly identifies the scope of the amendment: Article 2 of Law 134 of December 31, 2013. The proposed change concerns that article, which identifies the beneficiaries and sets out the discounts described above. Art. 3 provides that the proposed law would take effect upon its promulgation. The bill contains no further provisions amending or repealing legislation.
The bill concerns the National Disability Secretariat, which performs the certification mentioned in its text, and Law 134 of December 31, 2013, also referred to as Law 134 of 2013. Its provisions could affect persons with disabilities and suppliers of prostheses, orthoses, and technical or technological communication aids. They could also concern public and private providers of training and educational courses, seminars, and workshops at the levels of education listed in the proposed provision.
What it proposes.
- Economic equalization benefits for persons with disabilities.
- Discounts on prostheses, orthoses, and communication aids.
- Discounts on training and educational courses, seminars, and workshops.
Who it would affect.
- Persons with disabilities certified by the National Disability Secretariat who are within Panama.
- Suppliers of prostheses, orthoses, and assistive communication devices and accessories.
- Public and private providers of training and educational courses, seminars, and workshops.
Key points.
- The proposal covers certified persons with disabilities who are within the national territory.Art. 1
- The beneficiaries include Panamanian nationals, permanent residents, temporary residents, and nonresidents.Art. 1
- It establishes a 20% discount on all prostheses and orthoses.Art. 1
- It extends the 20% discount to technical and technological assistive devices and accessories for communication.Art. 1
- It establishes a 50% discount on public and private training and educational courses, seminars, and workshops at the basic, secondary, higher education, and postgraduate levels.Art. 1
- It identifies Article 2 of Law 134 of December 31, 2013, as the provision being amended.Art. 2
- It provides for the proposed law to take effect upon promulgation.Art. 3