First reading of the Draft Act amending Section 27 of the Law on Preschool Institutions (319 SE)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, fourth session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-11 22:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 21
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 22m
AI Summaries: 21/21 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Draft Act 319, initiated by the faction of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia, concerning the amendment of § 27 of the Preschool Institutions Act. The objective of the draft act is to reduce the proportion of the kindergarten place fee that parents are obligated to cover, and to better align the size of the fee with wages and regional differences. While current law sets the maximum proportion of the place fee at 20% of the minimum wage, the draft act proposes reducing this percentage to 10%. Furthermore, a special exemption would apply to families raising three or more children up to the age of 18. It is also emphasized that place fees are highly regionalized, and the draft act seeks to standardize these limits at the national level to improve the economic well-being of large families and strengthen their sense of security. In this context, the regional impact and the need to consider national family and population policy were also addressed. The second part of the text refers to the discussion held by the Cultural Committee regarding the same draft act, as well as plans to address the subsequent steps and agenda, and specify solutions in future proceedings.
Decisions Made 2
To reject Bill 319 at the first reading. The Riigikogu took note of the leading committee's proposal and voted: 43 in favor, 6 against, 0 abstentions. The bill is dropped from the proceedings.
The Culture Committee decided to appoint Heljo Pikhof as the rapporteur and place the draft bill on the plenary agenda for December 5, 2023. Additionally, the committee decided, by a vote of 7 in favor and 3 against, to reject the bill.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker: Helle-Moonika Helme (EKRE faction). Position: A right-wing politician in the Riigikogu. She represented the faction, presented and defended the substance of draft bill 319, and offered a significant number of observations and responses during the course of the debate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announced that today's 11th agenda item is the first reading of draft legislation No. 319, initiated by the EKRE faction, concerning the amendment of § 27 of the Preschool Institutions Act, and requested Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme to serve as the rapporteur.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is presenting Draft Bill 319, which aims to amend subsection 3 of Section 27 of the Preschool Institutions Act. The bill seeks to reduce the parental contribution to kindergarten placement fees by capping the maximum contribution at 10 percent of the state-established minimum wage. It also proposes exempting families raising three or more children under the age of 18 from paying the parental share entirely. Furthermore, the regulation of placement fees would be moved to the national level in order to standardize regional differences, improve the economic well-being of families, and boost the birth rate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the presenter, announces that questions are welcome, and the first questioner is colleague Arvo Aller.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The rapporteur stated that the draft bill is highly pertinent given the current economic situation and population growth. She then inquired whether the bill could be utilized for regional policy by standardizing kindergarten tuition fees across Estonia, thus preventing a scenario where central areas charge zero while peripheral regions are forced to pay more, which would introduce a regional policy dimension.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasizes that regional policy must be reflected in every bill, and the state must take regional impact into account and conduct impact assessments, because the marginalization of peripheral areas and urbanization shape the life of the entire country.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the audience and asks them to listen to the signature tune until the end.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme said that it is very beautiful.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announces that it is possible to proceed, expresses his pleasure, and invites everyone to listen to the signature tune beginning for the second time.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He explains that it is not an anthem, and we do not have to stand up.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that it was very lovely, thanked them for the brief pause, and then handed the floor over to Urmas Kruuse.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse asks whether Tartu kindergarten fees are truly high, requests precise data concerning the first through fourth child, and discusses whether the autonomy and intervention of the local government are justified.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme highlighted that Tartu is among the municipalities charging the highest kindergarten fees, and although all political parties have promised to abolish these charges, this promise may not materialize in practice. She emphasized that she was focusing on orders of magnitude rather than exact figures.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Urmas Kruuse.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse stressed the autonomy of local governments, voiced concern regarding the planning for large families, and requested a clear statement on the actual system for kindergarten fees—specifically, a 50% discount for the second child, with the third and fourth being free, provided the children attend simultaneously.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasized that the state should standardize the principles governing kindergarten fees, and the exemption from paying the parental contribution, which is intended for large families (three or more children up to 18 years old), should be extended to cover other children as well, not just those attending kindergarten, noting that in Tartu, there are practical exceptions to this.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the presenter and announced that there were no further questions.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme thanks the audience
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Kadri Tali, a member of the Culture Committee, to use the Riigikogu podium to present the discussion that took place in the Culture Committee.
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Riigikogu Culture Committee decided on November 21, 2023, to conclude the first reading of draft bill 319 and reject it, given that the government did not support the draft bill. The Committee appointed Heljo Pikhof as the rapporteur and intended to place the discussion on the plenary session agenda for December 5, 2023, resulting in a vote of 7 in favor and 3 against.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He opened the debate to the factions, announced that there were no questions and that the discussion would be closed, and then presented the lead committee's proposal to reject Bill 319 at the first reading, asking his colleagues to put the matter to a vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Riigikogu Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi announced that draft bill 319 had been rejected and dropped from the proceedings. Furthermore, the debate on the first reading of draft bill 404, which was agenda item 12, could not commence because no rapporteur could be found from the Centre Party faction, resulting in the agenda being closed and the session being adjourned.