Bill 582.

Summary.

The bill amends Law 14 of January 23, 2009, in its provisions concerning the Board of Directors of the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families (Secretaría Nacional de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia). In Panama (Panamá), the Board would include the ministers responsible for Social Development, Economy and Finance, Health, Education, and Labor and Workforce Development; two representatives of the National Support Network for Children and Adolescents (Red Nacional de Apoyo a la Niñez y Adolescencia); and two of the National Family Council (Consejo Nacional de la Familia). The chair of the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) Committee on Women, Children, Youth and the Family, or a representative, would also participate with the right to speak. The Minister of Social Development would chair the Board.

Each principal member would have an alternate to replace them during temporary or permanent absences. Ministers would be replaced by their respective deputy ministers or by persons they designate. The organizations would select their representatives and alternates from among their members for a term of two years, with one possible reelection. The Secretariat’s Director General would attend Board meetings with the right to speak, submit technical reports and proposals on policies, plans, programs and the institutional budget, and follow up on Board decisions. The Secretariat would provide the Board with technical and administrative assistance.

The bill assigns the Board responsibility for promoting and ensuring the effectiveness of public policies for children, adolescents and families, and for assisting the Director General with the coordination and implementation of strategies, plans and programs. It directs the Board to conduct direct, in-person supervision every three months of the institution and the institutional care centers administered by the Secretariat. For this purpose, the Board would issue a resolution creating an Office for the Supervision of Institutional Care Centers, attached to the Board. The office would supervise the centers on a continuing basis and report to the Board at the intervals set by its internal regulations. The Board would impose the applicable administrative sanctions for violations established by the law governing the opening and operation of those centers.

The Board’s other functions would include approving the institutional budget with sufficient resources for protection, supervision, comprehensive care and prevention of rights violations; auditing the use of extraordinary appropriations; proposing draft bills within its remit for submission to the Cabinet Council; and approving actions affecting the institution’s property. It would also establish mandatory accountability mechanisms, including periodic public reports on the situation of children, supervision findings and corrective measures. The Board would meet in ordinary session every three months and in extraordinary session at the request of its chair or the institution’s Director, or when convened by a majority of its members. The bill reiterates the amendments to Articles 14, 16 and 17 and provides for entry into force on the day following promulgation in the Official Gazette.

The provisions concern the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families, the National Assembly, the National Support Network for Children and Adolescents, and the National Family Council. They could be of interest to child protection institutions, institutional care centers, families, and organizations participating in those networks and councils.