Documents and Laws in Parliament

The amendment amends the Sports Promotion Act and affects the operation of the National Sports Agency. It repeals certain provisions of the Act, including sections 3d and 3e, and removes the ability of the Supervisory Committee to make a decision by resolution on a particular matter. The aim is to simplify the institutional structure of the Agency and reduce its politicisation. The control of the management of public funds is to continue to be ensured mainly through the Supreme Audit Office and normal financial control mechanisms.

The amendment modifies the Act on the Promotion of Sport and expands the possibilities of providing subsidies to sports organisations. It now explicitly allows the financing of the education of top athletes and the support of their dignified life after their sporting career (the so-called dual career). At the same time, it specifies that subsidies can also cover athletes’ insurance, royalties, health care for athletes, the operation of sports organisations and the organisation of major sporting events. The aim is to strengthen the social and economic stability of athletes and systemic support of the sports environment in the Czech Republic.

The amendment modifies the Sports Promotion Act in the context of related legislation to the new Civil Servants Act. In particular, there is a terminological change: the current “Register” of sports entities is renamed the “National Register of Sport”. At the same time, its definition is expanded to serve as a comprehensive nationwide information system on sports organisations, athletes, coaches and sports venues, not only for the administration of subsidies. A transitional provision ensures that the existing register is automatically considered as a new register.

The amendment modifies the Act on the Promotion of Sport and extends its focus to the broader concept of physical activities and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. It clarifies the definition of sport, introduces a legal definition of a coach and extends the priorities of state support to children, youth, coaches and sports infrastructure in particular. The existing National Court of Arbitration for Sport is renamed the National Sports Arbitration Commission, while retaining its functions. At the same time, the possibility to provide state support for school and university sports and other activities promoting physical activity is extended.

The amendment amends the rules on the required education of civil servants in the case of exceptional vacancies. It abolishes the existing limitation to grade 12 only and the time limits for such filling; now the head of the office may decide on an exception whenever it is necessary for the proper functioning of the office. The minimum requirement of a matriculation qualification remains and it is now possible to fill a senior post exceptionally with a person without the full required qualifications, provided that he or she has at least a bachelor’s degree. The aim is to increase the flexibility of the civil service and to allow the entry of practitioners.

The amendment tightens the rules for issuing and changes to the organisational structure of administrative authorities. These changes must now be made not only in accordance with the systematisation but also with the principles of efficiency, economy and effectiveness. It introduces the obligation to obtain the prior opinion of an advisory committee, and the request must include a justification of these principles. The aim is to reduce the abuse of organisational changes to make staff redundant and to increase transparency in decision-making in the civil service.

The amendment removes the requirement that a decision not to open a competition for a senior civil servant in a government ministry or government office requires the consent of the relevant member of the government or head of the government office. The consent of the immediate superior and the fulfilment of the condition of an excellent service record should now be sufficient. The aim is to separate political and civil service management and to limit political influence on personnel decisions in the civil service. The amendment strengthens the responsibility of state secretaries and senior officials for the personnel management of the authorities.

The amendment simplifies the rules for the so-called systematisation of jobs in the public administration. Compared to the previous amendment, the detailed breakdown of posts by grade is abolished and the systemisation is now focused only on the number of posts and the total amount of salary appropriations; moreover, the proposal links its approval to the state budget process and strengthens the role of the Ministry of Finance in the changes. The approval of the Cabinet Office is now required for organisational changes that may lead to the dismissal or removal of senior staff, except for certain independent offices. At the same time, a transitional provision is introduced whereby the systematisation for 2027 will still be prepared under the existing law.

The amendment modifies the organisation of information tools and strengthens the coordinating role of the Government Office in the field of personnel management of civil servants. It abolishes the existing concept of one central civil service information system and replaces it with a flexible system of separate registers (e.g. registers of jobs, examinations or organisational structures) which the Government Office can set up as required. The mandatory use of a specific portal for civil service examinations and publication of information is changed to a general requirement for publication by remote access and the central job register will only be used if established. At the same time, a transitional period is provided for the transfer of data from the existing civil service system, which will be abolished on 1 April 2027.

The amendment removes the obligation to obtain the consent of a member of the Government or the Head of the Government Office when deciding not to open a competition for the next term of office of a senior civil servant. This power is now to remain solely with the head of the administrative office and the staff member immediately above him. The aim is to simplify staffing processes and reduce political influence on decisions on senior civil servants. The change is intended to strengthen the professionalism and autonomy of the civil service.

The amendment modifies a change proposed by the Constitutional Law Committee to the Civil Servants Act. It proposes to delete the requirement that the type of work in the organisational structure must also be defined as the ‘predominant’ activity. The job should now be defined only by the field of specialisation and the most demanding activity performed. The aim is to avoid practical problems in determining the predominant activity of a job.

The amendment changes the effective date of the Civil Servants Act. The aim is to give administrations more time to adjust their personnel processes, information systems and organisational preparations for the new legislation. The postponement is also intended to reduce the risk that the law will not come into force until 1 January 2027 due to the legislative process.

The amendment preserves the possibility for one administrative authority to administer labour relations for another administrative authority. This follows the current practice under the Civil Service Act and is intended in particular for smaller or specialised offices with limited capacity. The aim is to enable the sharing of the personnel and payroll agenda and to increase the efficiency and economy of public administration. The responsibility of the head of the administrative authority as employer is not affected.

The amendment extends the obligation of a public employee to notify his or her employer in connection with a criminal prosecution. The employee must now not only notify the initiation of the criminal prosecution and its subject matter, but also notify the termination of the prosecution and the decision in the case. The aim is to ensure that the employer has the information without delay and can react quickly to any impediments to the performance of his duties. The change is intended to streamline personnel management in the civil service.

The amendment modifies the time limit for conducting performance appraisals of civil servants. The minimum period required for an evaluation is extended from 20 to 30 days of service in several provisions of the law. The aim is to give employees more time to demonstrate improved performance, especially after a negative evaluation. The proposed period is intended to be a compromise between the existing 20 days in the Bill and the 60 days used in the current Civil Service Act.

The amendment adds rules to the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies to strengthen fiscal discipline during the discussion of the state budget. The government will now have to attach to the draft budget information on the compliance of total expenditure with the budget rules and expenditure frameworks and justify any deviations. At the same time, it is stipulated that the recommendations of the House of Assembly for the revision of the budget must be in line with these legal spending limits. The aim is to prevent circumvention of the rules of budgetary responsibility during parliamentary deliberations.

The amendment modifies the Forestry Act and related regulations in order to reduce the administrative burden and clarify certain procedures of the state forest administration. It introduces the obligation to obtain the consent of the state forest administration authority for small constructions up to 30 m from the forest edge and newly stipulates that certain exemptions (e.g. the size of clear-cutting or reforestation periods) will be granted in an administrative procedure with the possibility of appeal. It removes the prohibition on damaging groomed ski trails in the forest, as well as a planned rule that would have required the Department to set a minimum amount of dead timber in forests. It also regulates the competences of authorities, offences, qualification requirements for officials and certain subsidy and registration mechanisms in forestry.

The amendment extends the range of agricultural entrepreneurs who can use seasonal labour agreements for up to 1 280 hours per year for harvesting fruit and vegetables. Organic farmers who receive subsidies for organic farming, as well as those who are registered in the organic farming system but do not receive subsidies, will now also benefit from this option. The aim is to remove the inequality whereby these farmers were excluded simply for not meeting the minimum area or not drawing production subsidies. The change has no impact on the state budget and makes use of existing registrations.

The Budget Committee of the Chamber of Deputies discussed the government’s bill on fuel price regulation in a state of legislative emergency. The Committee proposed that the House conduct a general and detailed debate on all parts of the Bill and that the proceedings be concluded by 10:00 p.m. on 14 April 2026. It also recommended that the Chamber of Deputies agree to the Government Bill. The Committee Rapporteur was instructed to present the opinion and make legislative technical amendments.

The Government has expressed its disagreement with MP Vít Rakušan’s proposal to amend the Nomination Act governing the selection of persons to the bodies of state-owned companies. The reason for this is that the government has previously supported another proposal that would abolish the entire nomination law. According to the government, it therefore makes no sense to amend the law if its complete abolition is being discussed at the same time. For this reason, the Government recommends not to accept the proposed amendment.