Do not increase staffing and budget expenditure for forces participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level.

According to the draft Law on Forces Participating in Security and Order Protection at the Grassroots Level, each Security and Order Protection Team can be in charge of one or several villages and residential groups, so the total number of Security and Order Protection Teams may decrease, leading to a decrease in the total budget for security. Thus, with the above estimate, there will be no increase in the number of participants and no increase in the total budget for security compared to current practice.

Continuing the 6th Session, on the morning of October 27, at the National Assembly House, under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the National Assembly discussed in the hall a number of contents with different opinions of the draft Law on Forces Participating in Protecting Security and Order at the Grassroots Level.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong chaired the meeting.

In the report on explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Law, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that regarding the scope of regulation, some opinions suggested expanding the scope of regulation of the Law to cover all voluntary and self-managed forces participating in supporting the Commune-level Police. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly found that the 2013 Constitution, the Law on the People's Public Security and many other legal documents have stipulated that all citizens have the obligation to participate in protecting national security, order and social safety; grassroots forces have the responsibility to participate in and support the People's Public Security in performing the task of protecting security and order. However, support that is regular, core and has a long-term implementation process nationwide is still being used by only 3 forces, namely the civilian security force, the militia and the part-time Commune Police. Therefore, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly proposes that the National Assembly not expand the scope of regulation of the Law.

Regarding the position and function of the force participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level, taking into account the above opinions, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly has directed the addition of Article 2 to clarify the concept of the force participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level as a force established by the government on the basis of the people's voluntary participation. Adjust the position and function in Article 3 to more clearly show that this is a mass force arranged at the grassroots level, with the core function of supporting the police force in performing the task of protecting security and order, and building a mass movement to protect national security at the grassroots level.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi reported at the meeting.

Regarding the tasks of the forces participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that the forces participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level are voluntary mass forces selected to participate in protecting security and order, do not perform management functions, do not belong to the state apparatus, but the nature of their activities is to participate in supporting under the guidance, assignment, and direct direction of the commune-level police, so it is unreasonable to stipulate the authority and legal responsibility of this force. The responsibilities of relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals in protecting security and order have been stipulated in the Constitution, the Law on National Security, the Law on People's Public Security, and other relevant legal documents.

Regarding the arrangement of forces; titles, recognition of titles, and establishment of Security and Order Protection Teams, the National Assembly Standing Committee has separated Article 13 of the draft Law submitted by the Government into 3 separate articles; adding clearer regulations on the arrangement of forces, titles, recognition of titles, and establishment of Security and Order Protection Teams to ensure strict security and order. Regarding the number of Security and Order Protection Teams that need to be established, the maximum number of Security and Order Protection Team members, and the number of each position of the Security and Order Protection Team in villages and residential groups will be decided by the Provincial People's Committee to ensure compliance with the security and order situation, socio-economic conditions of the locality and according to the criteria prescribed by the Provincial People's Council.

Delegates attending the meeting.

Some opinions suggested considering the arrangement and consolidation of forces participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level so as not to increase the staff, not to overlap functions and tasks with other forces, and not to generate administrative procedures. In response to the opinions of National Assembly Deputies, the National Assembly Standing Committee directed the review and adjustment of regulations on the arrangement, consolidation, and deployment of forces in accordance with the situation, requirements for ensuring security and order, and socio-economic conditions of each locality; simplifying the procedures for establishing Teams and recognizing the positions of the Security and Order Protection Teams, reviewing functions and tasks so as not to overlap with other forces and to ensure feasibility.

Regarding the operating budget and material facilities of the force participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level, many opinions suggested a more detailed assessment report on the organization and budget when establishing the force participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level; stating that it should not stop at the number of about 300,000 people as stated in the Draft Law submitted by the Government and that the budget and guarantee budget will increase; requesting specific data to prove that "it does not increase the payroll" and "it does not increase the budget" compared to current practice.

National Assembly session on the morning of October 27.

According to the Government's report, currently nationwide there are 298,688 people participating in activities in the civil defense force, part-time commune police are continuing to be used and the positions of captain and deputy captain of civil defense teams. Implementing current regulations, localities nationwide are paying for the organization, operation, regime, policies, and ensuring operating conditions for these forces about 3,570 billion VND/year (calculated according to the new basic salary).

As of December 2022, there are 84,721 villages and residential groups nationwide. If each village and residential group establishes a Security and Order Protection Team, with 84,721 Security and Order Protection Teams, there will need to be at least 254,163 participants (each Team needs at least 3 people) and the estimated total budget needed to ensure implementation according to the provisions of the draft Law is 3,505 billion VND/year. However, because the draft Law stipulates that each Security and Order Protection Team can be in charge of one or several villages and residential groups, the total number of Security and Order Protection Teams may decrease, resulting in a decrease in the total budget. Thus, with the above estimate, there will be no increase in the number of participants and no increase in the total budget compared to current practice.

In addition, the National Assembly Standing Committee has directed to remove the regulation that localities with budget difficulties will receive support from the central budget, ensuring consistency with the provisions of the law on the state budget.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/khong-lam-tang-bien-che-va-chi-ngan-sach-cho-luc-luong-tham-gia-bao-ve-an-ninh-trat-tu-o-co-so-post270143.html