Members of the Semilla party presented initiative 6839 in the Guatemalan Congress to establish a National Legal Digest. This system, which would be offered free of charge, aims to consolidate and update current legislation.
The proposal seeks to address the dispersion of laws, regulations, and agreements that are currently spread among various official sources and private systems. If approved, the Digest would come into effect on January 1, 2027, and would be integrated into the website of the Legislative Body, functioning as a consultation and reference system.
During the presentation of the initiative, Deputy Raúl Barrera highlighted that the platform would allow the public to access all current laws, regulations, and provisions free of charge. Barrera mentioned that the current cost of a private subscription to access this information is Q2.095, which he deemed “unacceptable”. The deputy stated: “This bill aims to guarantee a right that the State has denied, the updated knowledge of laws and regulations”.
The National Legal Digest would not replace the Diario de Centro América nor would it generate, reform, or annul existing regulations. Its function would be to organize and facilitate the consultation of legal information, with the official source prevailing in case of discrepancies. The platform would allow users to search for laws or regulations, identify their official source, and consult their modifications over time.
The project promotes a gradual approach to its implementation, prioritizing the norms of higher hierarchy and public impact, ensuring compatibility with mobile devices. It includes coverage of the Constitution, current treaties, congressional decrees, executive regulations and agreements, as well as rulings on constitutionality and jurisprudence.
As proposed, the Congress of the Republic will be responsible for administering this platform through the Directorate of Legislative Studies and Research. Existing files and technological systems will be utilized, and the institutions that produce regulations must submit their provisions in a processable format.
In summary, this initiative aims to establish a national legal information system so that the population can access the country’s legislation simply and free of charge, without relying on private subscriptions.
Source: www.infobae.com
