Bill 623.

Summary.

The bill establishes the Corpus Christi, Octave and Sacred Heart of Jesus Festivity in the District of Parita as a national cultural, tourism and folk event. It provides for the celebration to take place each June, from Trinity Sunday to the second Sunday after Corpus Christi Thursday, following the calendar of the Catholic Church (Iglesia Católica), in the central corregimiento (district) of the district of Parita, province of Herrera. Its purposes are to preserve and publicize folk customs and traditions, promote domestic tourism, and showcase regional and national folk rites.

The Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación), Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura), Panama Tourism Authority (Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá), Catholic Church, district authorities, playwrights, clubs, associations and other nonprofit organizations established for these purposes would organize related events. During the festivities, bars, outdoor bars, cantinas, nightclubs and mobile nightclubs would be prohibited from presenting artistic groups or playing music inconsistent with the region’s cultural and folk values and the events being held. The State would allocate funding through the Ministry of Culture and Panama Tourism Authority in the first half of each year. Those appropriations could not fall below the previous year’s level or be transferred to other activities.

The bill creates the Corpus Christi, Octave and Sacred Heart of Jesus Festivity Patronage Body, with its own assets, legal personality and administrative autonomy. It assigns the body responsibility for ensuring the annual celebration, organizing and carrying it out, and accounting for it. Regional and national cultural expressions, authorities, the private sector, educators and civil society would take part. Its resources would be used for the festivity’s preservation, celebration, promotion and development, as well as the other purposes established by the bill.

The body would include representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Panama Tourism Authority, educators working in the district of Parita, Parita Municipal Council (Concejo Municipal de Parita), and the Parita Corpus Christi Dance Committee “Simón (Mon) Mendieta” or another organization with related aims. The represented institutions and groups would appoint members and alternates for a three year term, with one additional term permitted; the body would regulate their selection. Its assets would include acquired or donated property, annual public contributions, inheritances, bequests, investment income, service fees and proceeds from activities. It would be exempt from taxes and levies, while contributions and donations would be deductible expenses for donors’ income tax purposes.

Decisions would require approval by at least five members. A board comprising a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, auditor and two ordinary members would serve for a three year term and adopt internal rules. State funds and self-generated revenue would be allocated 20% to administration and 80% to organizing and conducting the festivities; direct contracting would be authorized for activities benefiting them. The Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República) would oversee State-provided funds and property and receive an annual audit report, also published at the body’s office and the Municipal Council of the District of Parita (Concejo Municipal del distrito de Parita), province of Herrera. The bill would take effect the day after its promulgation. Its provisions concern these public bodies and the education, culture, tourism, religious, performing arts and entertainment venue sectors.