Provincial Assembly Decision on the Amendments to the Provincial Assembly Decision on the Provincial Administration

(“Official Journal of the APV,“ no. 37/2016)

Pursuant to Article 31, Paragraph 1, Line 2 and Article 55, Paragraph 3 of the Statute of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina  (“Official Journal of the APV,“ no. 20/14) 

The Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, on the session held on 20th June 2016, passed the

Provincial Assembly Decision
on the Amendments to the Provincial Assembly Decision
on the Provincial Administration

Article 1

In the Provincial Assembly Decision on the Provincial Administration (“Official Journal of the APV,“ no. 37/14 and 54/14-other decision; hereinafter: Decision), Article 32 shall be amended and it shall read as follows:

„Provincial secretariats shall be:

1.    Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry;

2.    Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities-National Communities;

3.    Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities;

4.    Provincial Secretariat for Health Care;

5.    Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality;

6.    Provincial Secretariat of Finance;

7.    Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government;

8.    Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection;

9.    Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research;

10.    Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport;

11.    Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth;

12.    Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism.“

Article 2

Title above Article 34 and Article 34 itself shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities“

Article 34

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, in the field of culture, protection of cultural heritage, cinematography, endowments, funds and foundations, library services, publications, interregional cooperation in the field of culture, as well as protection of intellectual property rights in the field of culture, pertaining to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or Provincial Government which shall: establish institutes in the sphere of culture, determine the needs and interest of citizens in the territory of Vojvodina, in the field of culture; govern needs and interest in the field of culture of minority ethnic communities and provide means for their implementation; establish archives, museums, libraries, theatres, institutes and other institutions,  in the field of culture and exercise founder’s rights thereof; propose a part of Cultural Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia relevant to the territory of AP Vojvodina; determine the Cultural Development Program of AP Vojvodina, in conformity with the Cultural Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia; determine awards and regulate the manner and procedure for their awarding to encourage cultural creativity in specific areas of culture, or to make a special contribution in the field of cultural creativity; provide resources for work, investment and current maintenance, that is, financing for a part of a programme of cultural institutions, founded by AP Vojvodina; establish standards, criteria and procedures for allocating funds to institutions and organisations, whose founder is not AP Vojvodina, which contribute to the development of culture and art in AP Vojvodina, or ensure the development of culture of minority ethnic communities, and prepare acts providing funds for their work, investment and current maintenance and equipment, that is, programmes; prescribe additional working requirements for the operation of the Archive of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, the Matica Srpska Library in Novi Sad, the Museum of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, the Museum of Contemporary Visual Art in Novi Sad and the Theatre Museum of Vojvodina; determine the eligibility for the commencement of work and performance of activities by institutions in charge of protection of culture in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and supervise the implementation of the regulations under Paragraph 1 of this Article. In areas within its scope of work, it shall monitor, supervise and assist the institutions and public services founded by AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall achieve international cooperation, in the field of culture in the projects of interest for the development of culture, in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities, in the field of cultural heritage protection, shall; initiate proceedings for identification of immovable cultural property, in the territory of AP Vojvodina; determine the prerequisites to undertake technical protection measures and other works on the immovable cultural property, when the project and documents for these works are drawn up by the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments for the territory of Vojvodina; notify the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Novi Sad, within the statutory period, about identified prerequisites, when those prerequisites are identified by an institute within the territory of AP Vojvodina; grant approvals for the project and documentation with a view to undertaking technical protection measures and other works on the immovable cultural heritage, when the project and documents are drawn up by the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments within the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; provide opinions on spatial and urban plan drafts for the territory of AP Vojvodina and notify the competent authority if the plan lacks the required content.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities, in the field of cultural property protection, cinematography, endowments, funds and foundations, library services, issuing publications and protection of intellectual property rights and copyright and related rights and undertaking measures against piracy, shall, in conformity with the law, perform conferred tasks of the state administration, which shall be conferred upon AP Vojvodina authorities, by the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform duties of the provincial administration in the field of public information and the media, which refer to the preparation of acts for the Assembly and the Provincial Government, which shall: regulate matters of provincial interest; determine the public interest of the citizens of AP Vojvodina, in the field of public information and the media and enact a development strategy in the field of public information, in the territory of AP Vojvodina, in conformity with the republic strategy in the field of public information.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall monitor and determine the current state in the field of public information, as well as perform tasks with a view to improving and encouraging of public information in the territory of AP Vojvodina; provide funds and other conditions for providing public interest in the field of public information; allocate funds on the basis of implemented calls for proposals and individual allocations, based on the principle on the allocation of state aid and protection of competition, without discrimination; provide funds or other conditions for the operation of the mass media which inform in languages of minority ethnic communities, in accordance with the law; provide a part of funds or other conditions for unhindered exercise of rights of persons with disabilities, for the purpose of unhindered receiving of information intended for the public; secure a part of funds for financing activities of the public media service and for projects developing new technologies and archive digitalisation, projects of digitalised technological equipment, development of new distribution services, in accordance with the possibilities available by means of digitalisation and other projects of specific social interest, in accordance with the law, regulating the public information and in accordance with law, it shall submit to the Media Registry data on the sums the Secretariat approved to newspapers.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall perform tasks related to ensuring the transparency of work of provincial authorities and organisations; monitor the mass media and electronic media, prepare and draft overviews of their content and make relevant analyses; issue publications on AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall perform executive, expert and development activities of the provincial administration and perform supervision on the implementation of regulations on public information and media as a conferred task.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall monitor and overview the situation in the field of religion, churches and religious communities, achieve cooperation and undertake measures to assist their activities, which they perform in the public interest, in accordance with law and provide funds for financing of churches and religious communities, in accordance with the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall cooperate with republic authorities and authorities of the local self-government and perform other tasks when they have been conferred upon it by the law, the Provincial Assembly decision or any other regulation.”

Article 3

Title above Article 35 and Article 35 itself shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Health Care“

Article 35

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of health care, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or Provincial Government which shall: regulate matters of provincial interest in health care and health insurance and improve health care, health and pharmaceutical services, in the territory of AP Vojvodina; determine measures to ensure and implement health care of interest to the citizens in the territory of AP Vojvodina, as well as measures to ensure and implement activities in the field of public health, of interest to the citizens of AP Vojvodina; adopt special health care programmes for certain categories of population, i.e. types of diseases that are specific for AP Vojvodina, and for which a special health care programme has not been adopted at the republic level; adopt a special programme in the field of public health for the territory of AP Vojvodina; found health care institutions (general hospitals, special hospitals, clinics, institutes, the Clinical Centre, the Institute or Agency of Public Health, Institute of Blood Transfusion and Institute for Anti-Rabies Protection) and exercise founders’ rights thereof; propose a plan of health care institutions network in the territory of AP Vojvodina; provide its opinion on the abolition, merger and division of health care institutions, founded by AP Vojvodina; determine weekly work schedule, the start and end of working hours in health care institutions, founded by it; determine weekly work schedule, the start and end of working hours in health care institutions and private practices, in the territory of AP Vojvodina, during an epidemic and eliminate consequences caused by natural or other major disasters and emergency situations, in the territory of AP Vojvodina; determine the minimum work to be done during a strike of health care institutions, in the territory of AP Vojvodina; found the Medical Council of Vojvodina and the Ethics Committee of Vojvodina; propose a director of the Provincial Health Insurance Institute and take measures for the provision and implementation of activities, in the field of public health of interest to the citizens of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration, supervise and monitor implementation of the provisions under Paragraph 1 of this Article. In the area within its scope of work, it shall monitor and assist the work of health care institutions, founded by the AP Vojvodina authorities.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care shall: put forward a proposal to the Minister competent for health affairs to determine the number of trainees in health care facilities with the headquarters in the territory of AP Vojvodina, that health care facilities are obliged to employ, so as to obtain internship experience on an annual basis; put forward a proposal to the Minister competent for health affairs, regarding the Medical Staff Development Plan for health care institutions that are located in the territory of AP Vojvodina; put forward a proposal to the Minister competent for health affairs to determine referential health care institutions for certain fields of health services, in the territory of AP Vojvodina; provide opinion on the proposal, regarding acquisition of the title of head physicians for doctors of medicine, doctors of dental medicine and bachelors of pharmacy, in the territory of AP Vojvodina;
The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care shall cooperate with humanitarian and expert organisations, unions and associations, in the field of health care; create databases in the field of health care; monitor the work of health care services, in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, in the field of sanitary supervision shall, in conformity with the law, perform conferred tasks of the state administration, which are conferred upon the AP Vojvodina authorities, by the law. It shall pass a decision on the determination of zones of sanitary protection of water sources, in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care shall perform other tasks, when they have been conferred upon it by the law, the Provincial Assembly decision or any other regulation.“

Article 4

After Article 35, a title and a new article 35a shall be added, which shall read as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality

Article 35a

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall: perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of social protection, protection of families and children, pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, single parents with children, the youth, adults and the old, legal protection of family and custody, pension insurance, veteran and disability protection and civilian invalids of war, which pertain to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government, which shall regulate matters of provincial interest in social protection of family, children, the youth, adults and the old, in accordance with law; establish, in accordance with financial possibilities, more favourable conditions for exercise of social protection, if the funds for that purpose have been previously appropriated in its budget; establish and ensure higher level of protection of the family, children rights, pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave and single parents with children, in accordance with the programme of demographic development of Vojvodina, along with respective implementation measures; establish institutions of social protection in the territory of AP Vojvodina, in accordance with law and act of the Provincial Government and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; found the Provincial Institute of Social Protection; give consent for the modification of activities and status changes of social protection institutions, founded by the province; give consent to the statute and the act on organisation and job systematisation in social care institution, founded by the province; enact the Social Welfare Improvement Programme; enact the Programme of Demographic Development of AP Vojvodina, along with the respective implementation measures; provide its opinion on the decision proposal on a network of social welfare institutions which provide dorm accommodation, social-healthcare institutions and family accommodation and adoption centres, founded by the Republic of Serbia, i.e. autonomous province, in the part which refers to the network of institutions in the territory of AP Vojvodina; give consent for the appointment of directors and acting directors of social work centres in the territory of AP Vojvodina; propose a director of the Provincial Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and shall supervise the implementation of regulations under Paragraph 1 of this Article. In the areas within its scope of work, it shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of institutions, funds and public services founded by AP Vojvodina and cooperate with organisations and citizens’ associations.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall monitor the implementation of conventions relating to children protection, family planning; provide funds for the implementation of the social protection improvement programme in the autonomous province, family protection, single parents with children, for the implementation of programmes and activities of disability, social-humanitarian organisations and citizens’ associations that contribute to improvement of socio-economic and social status, rehabilitation and socialisation of disabled persons and other persons, in need of social assistance; provide funds for the implementation of work programmes of its founded institutions, with the exception of institutions of dorm accommodation and provide funds for the implementation of innovative services and services of social protection of specific interest for the autonomous province.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall determine whether the requirements to start the work and performance of activities of social welfare institutions for the accommodation of the beneficiaries, have been fulfilled.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall monitor the situation and propose measures in the field of providing social security for refugees, expelled and displaced persons; it shall monitor implementation of the Programme of Demographic Development of AP Vojvodina; it shall undertake activities aimed at family planning and propose measures to encourage the birth of children in AP Vojvodina.
In the field of social protection, legal protection of family and custody, children’s social care, veteran and disability protection, protection of civilian invalids of war and in conformity with the law, the Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall perform conferred tasks of the state administration, that are conferred upon the authorities of AP Vojvodina, by the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall decide on appeals against the decision of social protection inspector.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, related to: the preparation of the analytical and other materials regarding the implementation of regulations in the field of gender equality for the Assembly or the Provincial Government; activities for the improvement of gender equality in the province; promotion of equal opportunities for men and women; monitoring of the situation and proposing measures for the improvement of the position of women and the implementation of equal opportunity in the province; monitoring of the implementation of ratified conventions and recommendations of international organisations in this field; establishment of cooperation with non-governmental organisations, unions and other associations and the media; proposal and implementation of measures of affirmative activities for the improvement of the economic and social position of women, especially vulnerable women groups, as well as the elimination of violence against women and domestic violence; cooperation with the republic and provincial administration authorities and the authorities of local self-government, in the field of gender equality; activities leading towards the integration of the principle of gender equality into all aspects of the work of provincial authorities and the provision of expert support. As a conferred task, the Secretariat is responsible for the supervision of the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, related to the: implementation and application of strategies for the integration of the Roma and the realisation of action plans in the territory of the province; coordination of different projects of the integration of Roma people in the territory of the province; establishment of coordination with the Roma councils in the province and with corresponding organisations and bodies at the international level; encouraging and improving women and human rights and the rights of Roma men and women, in the territory of the province; preparation of the analytical documentation for planning and programming of activities, regarding the integration of the Roma people in the province; establishment of cooperation and consultations with the governmental and non-governmental organisations and authorities, in the field of the integration of the Roma and the improvement of their position; realisation of projects which were founded on the goals, defined in strategies and action plans, coordination of the implementation and the realisation of domestic and international programmes for the integration and improvement of the Roma position; information-documentation activities and record keeping, regarding the integration of the Roma in the territory of the province; monitoring and gathering of information regarding the measures taken in the Republic of Serbia and other countries, for the purpose of improvement of the expertise, regarding the integration of the Roma, as well as monitoring of the training and professional improvement of experts, in the field of Roma integration.

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall also perform other duties when they have been conferred thereupon by the law, the Provincial Assembly decision or by other regulation.”

Article 5

In Article 37, Paragraph 5 of the Decision, the following words “churches and religious communities” shall be deleted.

Paragraph 10 of the same Article shall be deleted.

Article 6

Title above Article 38 and Article 38 itself, shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government

Article 38

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall perform the tasks of the provincial administration, in the field of regional development, related to the preparation of acts for the Provincial Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: regulate and enable a balanced regional development; establish organisations that deal with the establishment of the balanced regional development and exercise founder's rights thereof; determine and enact regional development strategic and other documents.

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall monitor the implementation of the programme, measures and activities for the balanced regional development, propose one member of the Tender and Auction Commission when the subject of privatisation is in the territory of AP Vojvodina; participate in the creation of strategic documents and action plans which determine the principles, goals and priorities of the development of electronic communications in the Republic of Serbia; participate in enacting of RF Bands Allocation Plan and RF Allocation Plan; participate in determining the method of using the remaining radio frequency bands, intended for terrestrial digital broadcasting, as well as the provision of broadband service (digital dividend).

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall, in conformity with the law, the Statute and within foreign policy of the Republic of Serbia, perform the tasks of the provincial administration related to: interregional cooperation and maintaining the relations between AP Vojvodina and other territorial communities of other countries, initiating and maintaining memberships in European and global associations of regions; preparation, concluding and monitoring the implementation of agreements with corresponding territorial communities of other countries; preparation of visits of representatives of territorial communities and other forms of autonomies of other countries; preparation of participation of the representatives of AP Vojvodina at conferences of European and global associations of regions; creation, collecting, keeping and publishing information about the cooperation with corresponding territorial communities of other countries; preparation of reports and information and proposing development programmes and plans within its scope of work; coordination of activities of all provincial administration authorities, in the process of programming instruments of European Union; creation of conditions for the realisation of projects financed from the EU funds, donations and other forms of development aid; participation in activities of preparing and implementing macro regional strategies; participation in establishment of specific units within diplomatic and consular offices of the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with the law, which will represent and improve economic, educational and tourist capacities of AP Vojvodina; monitoring of the establishment of diplomatic and consular activities in the territory of AP Vojvodina; participation in establishing balanced regional development in the territory of AP Vojvodina, in accordance with the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, in the field of local self-government, pertaining to: preparation of acts for the Provincial Government, which propose the dissolution of an assembly of the local self-government unit in the territory of AP Vojvodina to the Government of the Republic of Serbia; preparation of reports and information for the Provincial Government and the Assembly and proposing development programmes and plans within the Secretariat’s scope of competences; giving prior consent to the assembly of the local self-government unit in the territory of AP Vojvodina when determining holidays and deciding upon the names of streets, squares, boroughs, villages and other populated areas, in the territory of the local self-government unit, directing and supporting local self-government units and local community self-government to ensure legality and efficiency of their work; coordination and promotion of cooperation between AP Vojvodina and local self-government units in its territory, in the field of developing efficient and modern local self-government; support and promotion of measures in the field of the establishment of systems of local self-government, intermunicipal networking, standardisation of capacities and modernisation of the work of local administration; monitoring of establishment of local community self-government in local self-government units in Vojvodina, as well as other forms of direct participation of citizens in the decision- making process at the local level; provision of expert legal opinion and advice in regard to the application of law and other acts that have a direct impact on the development and establishment of local self-government and the work of the authorities of local self-government unit; initiation of proceedings to assess the constitutionality and legality of the statute or other general acts of local self-government units, if the Secretariat considers that this regulation is not in accordance with provincial regulations; control of compliance of general acts of local self-government unit with its statute, taking measures and providing expert assistance in its implementation; control of compliance of an individual act against which judicial protection is not provided, with the law or general act of the local government units and taking of other related measures; monitoring of application of regulations, concerning the direct participation of citizens in establishing of local self-government; monitoring of the process and procedures of conducting local elections.

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall perform other executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and monitor the implementation of regulations, in fields within the scope of its competences, supervise the work of institutions and public services, founded by AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall also perform other tasks, when they are conferred by law, Provincial Assembly decision or any other regulation.”

Article 7

Title above Article 39 of the Decision and Article 39 itself, shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection

Article 39

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the law and the Statute, perform the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of spatial and urban planning, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: design, enact and implement documents on the spatial development of AP Vojvodina; design, enact and implement regional spatial plans and spatial plans for special purposes; propose measures and activities of the implementation programme of the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia in the territory of AP Vojvodina, regional development plans and spatial plans for special purposes and monitor their implementation; establish a public company for spatial and urban planning and design and exercise founder’s rights thereof.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration; conduct supervision and monitor the implementation of the regulations from Paragraph 1 of this Article. Within the scope of its competences, the Secretariat shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of public companies and public services, founded by AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall provide expert assistance and secure the funds for financing, i.e. co-financing of local self-governments for the design of spatial and urban planning documentation, projects by expert and non-governmental organisations, in the field of spatial planning, urban planning; conduct expert control and provide public inspection into regional spatial plans and spatial plans for specific purposes for the areas in the territory of AP Vojvodina; give prior consent and consent in the process of designing and enacting of spatial and urban plans of the local self-government units in the territory of AP Vojvodina and propose one- third of the members of the commission for expert control of spatial and urban plans in a self-government unit; take part in the work of commission and working bodies, established by the competent minister in charge of urban planning affairs and give opinion on the statute and other by-laws of the Republic Agency for Spatial Planning and the Engineer Chamber of Serbia.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, in the field of spatial and urban planning, which were conferred to the authorities of AP Vojvodina, pursuant to the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the law and Statute, perform the tasks of provincial administration in the field of environmental protection, regarding the preparation of the acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: put a natural asset under protection; enact an environmental protection programme for the territory of AP Vojvodina; enact a monitoring programme, an external plan for protection against accidents and natural resources and asset management plans and programmes; establish a budget fund; establish the Provincial Institute for Nature Conservation and exercise the founder’s right thereof; declare a state of environmental endangerment in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and monitor the implementation of regulations from Paragraph 5 of this Article. Within the scope of its competences, the Secretariat shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of public companies, institutions and public services, founded by AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall: control the exploitation and protection of natural resources and assets on the territory of AP Vojvodina; provide continuous control and monitoring of the state of the environment; give conditions for securing the measures and terms for the environment protection, upon the request of the competent body, in charge of preparing and enacting of spatial and urban plans, and on the grounds of the conditions and opinions of the competent expert organisations- take part in the process of preparing and enacting of spatial, urban and other plans (spatial plan and the grounds for the exploitation of agriculture soil, forest soil plan, water management plan and hunting management plan, as well as programmes for the improvement of fishing at the fishing areas and other plans).

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall, in the field of environment improvement, fishing and managing the fish stock in fishing waters, and in accordance with the law, perform conferred tasks, which are in accordance with the law, conferred to the authorities of AP Vojvodina. The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection shall perform other tasks, when they are conferred in accordance with the law, Provincial Assembly decision or another regulation.

Article 8

Title above Article 40 of the Decision and Article 40 itself, shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research

Article 40

The Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research shall, in accordance with the law that defines these areas and the Statute, perform the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of higher education and student accommodation, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: establish scientific institutes and research and development centres and exercise founder’s rights thereof; regulate issues in higher education of significance to the province; propose the member of the National Council for Higher Education; discuss student accommodation issues of significance to the province.

The Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research shall, in accordance with the General Interest Programme of the Republic of Serbia, perform tasks of the provincial administration related to: housing issues of young, academic and scientific workers; promotion of international cooperation and innovation activities; provision of financial means for the co-financing of specific programmes of innovation activities and infrastructure in the territory of AP Vojvodina; co-financing of the programme of the Novi Sad Branch of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Matica Srpska, Matica Slovačka and other institutions that perform scientific and research activities, and are of significance to AP Vojvodina; provision of financial means for the co-financing of basic research programmes and technical development research programmes in AP Vojvodina, for the co-financing of participation of academic and scientific workers and students at scientific and professional development conferences abroad and for the organisation of scientific conferences in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration within the scope of its competences and monitor, supervise and assist the work of institutions and public services, founded by AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research shall, in accordance with the law, perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, in the field of higher education and student accommodation, which were conferred to the authorities of AP Vojvodina, pursuant to the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research shall perform other tasks when they are conferred to it, in accordance with the law, Provincial Assembly decision or another regulation.

Article 9

Title above Article 41 of the Decision and Article 41 itself, shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport

Article 41

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall carry out the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of energy, rational consumption of energy, pipeline transport of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons and distribution of gaseous hydrocarbons, along with the tasks in the field of geology and mining pertaining to enforcement of the law and preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and monitor the enforcement of regulations, specified in Paragraph 1 of this Article.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport shall monitor the situation in the energy and mineral resources sector, shall: monitor the security of the supply of energy and energy generating products; development and use of all types of primary and secondary energy; investment and research and development programmes in the field of coal, oil, oil derivatives and bio fuels, natural gas, heat and electricity, geothermal and mineral waters and all forms of renewable energy resources; energy efficiency and rational consumption of energy; the current energy and mineral resources development policy and energy system functioning, production and consumption of all energy forms. The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport shall co-finance projects in the field of energy, particularly concerning the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, as well as projects in the field the consumption of mineral resources in the territory of the province; it shall inform and train on issues in its scope of work, by organising meetings, conferences and fair events; cooperate with potential investors and institutions in its scope of work.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, in the field of energy for the territory of the autonomous province, shall: draft the Proposal of the part of the Programme for  Implementation of the Energy Development Strategy; demand from energy and other entities the data for the energy balance preparation; plan the needs for energy in development plans, as well as the requirements and the manner of procuring the necessary energy capacities; implement the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency within the scope of its competences; determine special financial and other incentives for implementation of activities aimed at efficient consumption of energy in its territory.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport,  in the field of geology and mining for the territory of the autonomous province, shall: propose the part of the Programme for Implementation of the Mineral Resources Management Strategy and the part of the Long-Term Development Programme of Basic Geological Research; adopt and implement the Annual Programme of Basic Geological Research; keep records of the approved research and the cadastre of the approved surveyed areas; examine and record the established resources and reserves of mineral resources of ground waters, as well as the established potential of geothermal resources; issue a certificate,  by way of a decision, containing a certificate of the resources and reserves of mineral resources and ground waters or established potential of geothermal resources, as well as approvals for mining operations and for the use of mining facilities (use permit); pass decisions on: revocation and termination of the approval for exploitation of mineral resources reserves and geothermal resources and approval for facility commissioning and trial operation; prepare balances of resources and reserves of mineral resources, ground waters and geothermal resources; appoint a committee in the event of full and permanent suspension of exploitation, to assess the reasons for the suspension of work and consequences of the suspension and propose specific measures; give consent to the programme of measures, adopted by the competent authority of the local self-government for the use of funds from fees for using mineral raw materials and geothermal resources; maintain cadastres of surveyed and exploited fields, active and rehabilitated mining facilities and deposits and balances of mineral resources and geothermal resources, fields of mining waste and abandoned mines and mining facilities; keep a book of documents and register of business entities that were approved to perform geological research and exploitation.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, for the territory of the autonomous province, shall: appoint committees and organise qualifying examination, required for performing the tasks of technical management, handling and maintenance: oil pipelines and indoor gas installations; in facilities for transportation and distribution of natural gas; in facilities for production, transmission and distribution of electrical energy; carry out inspection through inspectors for electric power and pressurized equipment; carry out and finance basic geological research; appoint the committee and organise qualifying examination required for performing the tasks in the field of geological research and mining; issue decisions approving: the applied geological surveys, exploitation of reserves of mineral resources and geothermal resources, execution of mining works, use of mining facilities; perform inspection through geology and mining inspectors.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, in conformity with the law and Statute, shall carry out the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of building construction, pertaining to enforcement of the law and preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government. The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport shall provide expert assistance and ensure funds to local self-government units for funding and/or co-funding the preparation of technical documentation for infrastructure buildings, projects of technical and non-governmental organisations, in the field of architecture and civil engineering; take part in conducting the expert control of technical documentation for the buildings for which it has issued the construction permit, in conformity with the law; monitor the development of the utility infrastructure and activities in the territory of AP Vojvodina; take part in the work of committees and working bodies established by the minister responsible for construction.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, in the field of building construction and housing, shall, in conformity with the law, carry out the tasks of the provincial administration, conferred by the law to the AP Vojvodina authorities.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, in conformity with the law and Statute, shall carry out the tasks of the provincial administration in the field road, river and railway transportation, logistics intermodal transport development, public roads of the second order in the territory of AP Vojvodina and transport security on roads, pertaining to preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which: regulate the issues relevant to the province in the field of road, river and railway transportation, logistics intermodal transport development, road transport security; regulate and ensure the method of management, protection and maintenance of public roads of the second order  in the territory of AP Vojvodina, in conformity with the law; regulate and ensure the inland navigation in public waterways, in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, in the field of public roads, road, river and railway transportation and in conformity with the law, shall carry out the tasks of the provincial administration, conferred by the law to the AP Vojvodina authorities.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport shall perform other tasks when they are conferred to it pursuant to the law, Provincial Assembly decision or another regulation.”

Article 10

Title above Article 43 of the Decision and Article 43 itself, shall be amended and they shall read, as follows:

„Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism

Article 43

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of economic and regional development, tourism, catering industry, spas and health resorts, industry and crafts, electronic communications, fairs and other business manifestations, related to the preparation of acts for the Provincial Assembly or the Provincial Government, which shall: regulate and enable a balanced regional development in the field of economy; determine the issues in the field of tourism of significance to the Province; determine the planning and the development of tourism; determine and enact the tourism development strategy; propose and declare the tourist area in the territory of AP Vojvodina; propose the member of the Commission for the categorisation of tourist areas; propose the establishment of organisations for the improvement and development of tourism and exercise founder's rights thereof; regulate the exploitation of mineral and thermal waters, health and climatic resources; regulate the issues of significance to the Province, regarding the field of industry; define the balanced economic development plan and agenda; define the old crafts specific to the area of AP Vojvodina, as well as the measures for their improvement and development; regulate matters of provincial interest, in the field of electronic communications and regulate planning and development of electronic communications and information society in the territory of AP Vojvodina; regulate fairs and other related events of significance to the province; regulate the establishment, categorisation and manner of work of the fair centres; establish the network of fair and other related events, in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism shall, in the field of tourism and the protection of intellectual property rights and other related rights, in the production and trade of goods and electronic communications and in accordance with the law, perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, which are conferred to the AP Vojvodina authorities, pursuant to the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and conduct the supervision over the implementation of regulations within the scope of its competences; the Secretariat shall monitor the work of institutions and public services founded by AP Vojvodina.
The Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism, in accordance with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, in the field of labour and employment, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government, establishment of funds and other legal entities within this field and exercise of founder's rights thereof; design of the proposal for the active employment policy plan in the province; preparation of provincial employment action plans; implementation of active employment policy measures in the province, in accordance with the law, the Employment strategy and action plan in AP Vojvodina; the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism shall monitor the implementation of regulations and strategic documents, in the field of employment, labour, occupational safety and health; prepare the decisions on the establishment of organisations of interest to AP Vojvodina, in the aforementioned fields; give legal opinions and directions for the implementation of regulations and other legal and other acts to the organisations, institutions and citizens; monitor the state and implementation of regulations in the field of occupational safety and health in the provincial administration authorities; propose the activities and measures for solving problems, in the field of occupational safety and health; monitor the situation and implementation of regulations in regard to the employment status of persons with disabilities; propose the activities and measures for the improvement of the employment status of persons with disabilities; promote the employment of persons with disabilities and other categories of citizens with difficulties in acquiring employment; monitor the implementation of antidiscrimination policies, in the field of labour and employment; monitor subsidising of business entities in the province and transferring towards the lower governance authorities, in the field of employment; prepare presentations on the potentials of the province, in the field of labour and employment; monitor the state and trends on the labour market in AP Vojvodina; monitor the implementation of ratified conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation and make reports of their implementation; cooperate with the international, regional and state bodies, organisations and associations, in the field of employment, labour, occupational health and safety; coordinate and support the work of the Provincial Socio-Economic Council, the Provincial Employment Council, the Provincial Council for Occupational Health and Safety and other working bodies, in the field of labour and employment; propose the Director of the Provincial Employment Service; encourage the development of the tripartite social dialogue in the province, monitor the institutional social dialogue and the valid legal framework; monitor the activity of social partnership in the event of a crisis (failed privatisation, strikes, most endangered economic branches); with the Provincial Employment Council and other interested entities, it shall start initiatives for the amendments to labour legislation and social policies; initiate the activities for the harmonisation of the labour and social legislation with the normative-institutional framework and the practise of social dialogue; undertake activities pertaining to raising the capacities of social partners (trade unions and employers) for the equal participation in the social dialogue; monitor the impact of macroeconomic elements (trends in economy, labour market, employment policy) on the functioning of the social dialogue in the province; promote the advantages of a more developed social dialogue through continuous updates to the public, regarding the actors, contents and the instruments of social dialogue; cooperate with trade union organisations, employers' organisations and associations; take part in resolving the issues of significance for the exercise of economic freedoms and rights of employees, material and social position of employers and the employees; promote the development of the culture of negotiation and encourage peaceful solutions for collective labour disputes; follow a social dialogue at the local level and the work of the network of employment councils in the Province; monitor the networking of the participants in the social dialogue in the province; monitor the conclusion of collective agreements in the province; monitor the attitude of the public and media towards the social dialogue.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism shall perform other tasks when they are conferred to it pursuant to the law, Provincial Assembly decision or another regulation.”

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 11

On the day of entry into force of this Decision, the following secretariats shall continue their work, in accordance with their scope of competences, stipulated by the Decision:

1.    Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry;

2.    Provincial Secretariat of Finance;

3.    Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth.

Article 12

By entry into force of this Decision, the Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall commence its work, in accordance with its scope of work, stipulated by this Decision.

Article 13

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities.

Article 14

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Health Care.

Article 15

The Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government.

Article 16

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection.

Article 17

The Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Article 18

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport.

Article 19

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality shall continue its work on the day of entry into force of this Decision, in accordance with its scope of competences, stipulated by this Decision, as the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism.

Article 20

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities shall assume from the Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities-National Communities, all the employees, as well as rights, files, equipment, means for work and archives, which are required for performing tasks within the conferred part of scope of competences of the Provincial Secretariat.

Article 21

The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality shall assume from the Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography, all the employees, as well as rights, files, equipment, means for work and archives, which are required for performing tasks within the conferred part of scope of competences of the Provincial Secretariat.

Article 22

The Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall assume from the Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality, all the employees, as well as rights, files, equipment, means for work and archives, which are required for performing tasks within the conferred part of scope of competences of the Provincial Secretariat.

Article 23

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport shall assume from the Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection, as well as from the Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality all the employees, as well as rights, files, equipment, means for work and archives, which are required for performing tasks within the conferred part of scope of competences of the Provincial Secretariat.

Article 24

The Provincial Government shall enact the acts for implementation of this Decision within 60 days from the day of entry into force of this Decision.

The Provincial Secretariat from Article 1 of this Decision shall adopt rulebooks on internal organisation and job systematisation, in conformity with provisions of this Decision, within 90 days from the day of entry into force of this Decision.

Article 25

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of publishing in the “Official Journal of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina”.

ASSEMBLY OF THE AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF VOJVODINA

Novi Sad, 20th June 2016

PRESIDENT OF THE
ASSEMBLY OF THE AP VOJVODINA

Pásztor István, signed
(Pásztor István, s.k.)