Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) with amending laws of: 7 May 2020 [shall come into force from 9 May 2020]; If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the date of the amending law appears in square brackets at the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph or clause.

The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

On the Operation of State Authorities During the Emergency Situation Related to the Spread of COVID-19

Section 1. (1) The purpose of the Law is to ensure, in the interests of public safety, continuous and efficient operation of State authorities during the emergency situation declared in the State in relation to the spread of COVID-19.

(2) The Law prescribes fundamental principles of the operation of State authorities and individual rights and obligations of State authorities and private individuals with regard to the prevention and suppression of threat to the State related to the spread of COVID-19 and the consequences thereof.

Section 2. (1) The regulation provided for in this Law shall be applicable during the emergency situation declared in the State in relation to the spread of COVID-19, unless it has been specified otherwise in this Law.

(2) State authorities shall operate according to their competence in conformity with this Law, the law On Emergency Situation and State of Exception, and also any other external laws and regulations. State authorities shall respect the following fundamental principles in their operation:

1) the work is so organised as to ensure the performance of the functions and tasks specified in laws and regulations as much as possible;

2) coordination of their operation is reinforced and mutual cooperation takes place, avoiding legal formality and competition among departments;

3) organisation of the work is adjusted to the circumstances of the emergency situation (for example, restriction of direct mutual contacts, remote working mode, expanded operation in the electronic environment).

Section 3. (1) A submission for the issuing of an administrative act, for the changing of the intention of an institution in respect of its actual action, for the receipt of a statement, or a submission for contesting an administrative act may only be submitted in writing. During the emergency situation an institution may, in specific cases, accept a submission for the issuing of an administrative act via telephone if the institution has other possibilities of identifying the submitter and the request made thereby. Statements on the application of the law On Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Threat to the State and Its Consequences Due to the Spread of COVID-19 and the subordinated laws and regulations shall not be issued.

(2) An institution may extend the time period for the issuing of an administrative act for a period not exceeding two months after the end of the emergency situation, notifying the submitter thereof if it is impossible, due to objective reasons, to conform to the time period for the issuing of an administrative act specified in the law and the institution has exhausted the possibilities of extending the time period provided for in the Administrative Procedure Law or another law. A decision to extend the time period may be contested and appealed. A court shall examine a complaint in the written procedure.

(3) The limitation period for the enforcement of an administrative act shall not include the period of the emergency situation. Compulsory enforcement of an administrative act commenced before declaration of the emergency situation shall be suspended for the period of the emergency situation, except for the cases specified in Section 360, Paragraphs two and three of the Administrative Procedure Law, including cases where the compulsory enforcement of the decisions taken by the Administration of the Maintenance Guarantee Fund should be conducted.

(4) The provisions of Paragraph three of this Section shall not be applied to the compulsory enforcement of administrative acts of tax administration.

(5) The State Revenue Service may suspend the commenced tax and customs control measures (also if the initiated administrative proceedings may still be contested) for the period while the emergency situation is in effect in the territory of the State. The abovementioned period of time is not included in the time periods specified for the implementation of tax control measures.

(6) A participant to the administrative proceedings may request the extension or renewal of the procedural time limit if the procedural time limit expires during the emergency situation, except where the conformity with the procedural time limit set previously is necessary for combating the spread of COVID-19 or for existence of the democratic system of the State during the emergency situation. An institution, a court, or a judge shall extend or renew the procedural time limit where it recognises the reason for the default as justified. A request for the renewal of the time limit shall be submitted once the objective circumstances which prevented the performance of the procedural action have ceased to exist.

[7 May 2020 / See the Transitional Provision]

Section 4. (1) Court hearings are held orally for such cases which are related to a significant infringement of the rights of a person and objective urgency, and also for cases during the examination of which the requirements stipulated by the Cabinet for gathering indoors and the restrictions imposed on the convoying of prisoners can be ensured. A court shall, in a timely manner, inform the persons involved in the proceedings of the postponement of oral court hearings. (2) A court shall examine civil cases in the written procedure where conformity with the procedural rights of the participants in the case can be ensured and the court has not found it necessary to try the case in a court hearing. The court shall, in a timely manner, inform the participants in the case of trying of the civil case in the written procedure, specifying a time limit for the submission of additional explanations or other procedural requests.

(2¹) If, in a civil case, the procedural time limit expires during the emergency situation, a court may, in addition to that laid down in the Civil Procedure Law and upon a reasoned application of a participant in the case, extend or renew the procedural time limit where it recognises the reasons for the default or extension of the procedural time limit as justifying on the basis of the restrictions specified during the emergency situation as they significantly hinder or impede, or make it impossible for the participant in the case to exercise the procedural rights thereof within the time limit specified in the Law or by the court.

(3) Under appeal procedures, a criminal case may be tried in the written procedure also in other cases not referred to in the Criminal Procedure Law, unless a public prosecutor or a person whose interests and rights are infringed by a complaint or protest objects to it.

(4) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may, upon consultation with Chief Judges of regional courts and district (city) courts, specify the procedures for organising court proceedings during the emergency situation.

(5) After the end of the emergency situation, a court shall ensure that the cases the trying of which was postponed or adjourned due to the emergency situation are examined on a priority basis.

[7 May 2020]

Section 5. (1) If an administrative offence case is not examined immediately upon establishing the offence, an administrative offence report may be drawn up without the presence of the person who is held administratively liable, and an authority (official) shall examine the administrative offence case and take a decision in the case in the written procedure on the basis of the documents in the case. Upon examining a case in the written procedure, the authority (official) shall, in a manner corresponding to the nature of the written procedure, ensure the participants in the case the same scope of rights as in the oral procedure.

(2) A court shall examine administrative offence cases in the written procedure.

(3) An authority (official) examining an administrative offence case may extend the time period for taking a decision, but not longer than by two months after the end of the emergency situation. In such case it shall be deemed that the limitation period for administrative offence proceedings is also extended accordingly.

(4) Becoming acquainted with the materials of an administrative offence case is ensured remotely after sending of a relevant application signed by the person to the institution, sending scanned copies of the case files to the e-mail address indicated by the person within three working days after receipt of the application.

(5) A case regarding the imposition of a compulsory measure of a correctional nature on a child is examined in the written procedure on the basis of the documents in the case. Upon examining a case in the written procedure, the administrative commission shall, in a manner corresponding to the nature of the written procedure, ensure the participants in the proceedings the same scope of rights as in the oral procedure. The administrative commission may extend the time period for taking a decision, but not longer than by two months after the end of the emergency situation. In such case it shall be deemed that the limitation period for taking a decision is also extended accordingly.

[7 May 2020]

Section 6. (1) The person directing the proceedings may suspend criminal proceedings for the period of the emergency situation declared in the State in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 378 of the Criminal Procedure Law, provided that all the procedural actions which are possible without a suspect or accused have been performed and provided that the circumstances preventing the suspect or the accused from participating in the criminal proceedings due to the emergency situation declared in the State have been ascertained.

(2) Section 140, Paragraphs 2.¹, five, and seven of the Criminal Procedure Law need not be applied during the emergency situation declared in the State where the person directing the proceedings can verify the identity of a person who is in another room or building using technical means.

Section 7. The Latvian Council of Sworn Bailiffs and the Latvian Council of Sworn Notaries may determine restrictions for the reception of visitors on-site or decide on the discontinuation thereof at the locations of the practice of sworn bailiffs and sworn notaries. The Latvian Council of Sworn Bailiffs and the Latvian Council of Sworn Notaries may determine conditions according to which a sworn bailiff and a sworn notary may decide on suspending the official activities if the fulfilment thereof is not related to a significant infringement of rights or objective urgency and the fulfilment thereof may be related to an increased risk for the persons involved to become infected with COVID-19.

Section 7.¹ During the emergency situation, a leave of up to 12 months may be granted to a sworn notary. In the submission for leave a sworn notary shall indicate that it is based on the emergency situation in relation to the spread of COVID-19 and justify the inability to maintain the practice. In such case the actions referred to in Section 176, Paragraph two of the Notariate Law are taken immediately.

[7 May 2020]

Section 8. (1) If the term of validity has expired for a personal identification document issued in the Republic of Latvia, this personal identification document may still be used in the Republic of Latvia for the identification of a person during the emergency situation and two months after revocation of the emergency situation. The holder of the personal identification document shall submit documents for the issuing of a new personal identification document within two months after revocation of the emergency situation.

(2) A person who needs an identity card for electronic verification of identity, and also for the creation of a secure electronic signature may obtain a temporary identity card by applying for it remotely with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The temporary identity card shall include the biometric data contained in the personal identification document issued previously and the information necessary for electronic verification of identity of the holder of the identity card, and also for the creation of a secure electronic signature. The temporary identity card may be used during the emergency situation and two months after revocation of the emergency situation. The holder of the temporary identity card shall hand over the temporary identity card to the issuing institution within two months after revocation of the emergency situation.

[7 May 2020]

Section 9. (1) Foreigners to whom the term for legal stay has expired during the emergency situation declared in the State may continue their stay in the Republic of Latvia without obtaining a new residence permit or visa retaining the right to employment, if such has been specified, and they shall, within 30 days after revocation of the emergency situation, leave the Republic of Latvia or submit documents for obtaining a residence permit or visa in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Immigration Law.

(2) During the emergency situation declared in the State, foreigners shall electronically submit documents in order to request or register long-stay visas related to employment or studies, and also residence permits in the Republic of Latvia, approving the application and the documents appended thereto with a secure electronic signature or sending them by post.

Section 9.¹ Citizens of European Union Member States, states of the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation and persons permanently residing in these countries for whom the term of validity of a personal identification document or the document certifying the right of permanent residence has expired during the emergency situation declared in the Republic of Latvia may enter into the Republic of Latvia and depart therefrom, using the expired document to return to his or her home country for the duration of the emergency situation declared in the Republic of Latvia and within 30 days after revocation of the emergency situation.

[7 May 2020]

Section 10. Commencement of serving of the sentence of temporary deprivation of liberty and of a criminal punishment - arrest - in prisons is postponed.

Section 11. Enforcement of the administrative penalty - administrative arrest - is postponed irrespective of the statute of limitation for serving the sentence. Administrative arrest which will not be enforced for this reason and for which the statute of limitation has set in shall not be subject to enforcement after the end of the emergency situation.

Section 12. Transfer of prisoners from and to foreign countries may be postponed.

Section 13. The rights of prisoners specified in the law, including an amended early release procedure of convicted persons in institutions executing criminal punishments and time periods for execution thereof, may be restricted by an order of the head of the Prisons Administration.

Section 14. (1) The head of the State Probation Service has the right to extend the time period specified in laws and regulations for the preparation of an evaluation report to be submitted upon request of a court, public prosecutor, or prison if it is impossible to prepare the evaluation report within the time period specified in laws and regulations. The head of the State Probation Service shall inform the court, public prosecutor, or head of the prison of the extension of the time period.

(2) The rights of probation clients specified in the law, including the right to leave the country, may be restricted by an order of the head of the State Probation Service.

(3) Performance of individual functions of the State Probation Service may be suspended or restricted by an order of the head of the State Probation Service.

Section 15. The restrictions on donations and decision-taking specified in Section 14 of the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials shall not be applicable to the cases where authorities of public persons take a decision on a donor who has made a donation to the containment of the spread and elimination of consequences of COVID-19 during the emergency situation, and an authorisation of a higher authority (official) shall also not be necessary for the acceptance of the donation.

Section 16. If the liquids containing alcohol with the alcohol content above 70 per cent have been handed over to the Provision State Agency for destruction with regard to which, according to a ruling that has entered into effect, the definitive action in criminal proceedings or an administrative offence case has been decided which does not provide for the return of the specific liquids containing alcohol or the reimbursement of the value thereof, the Minister for the Interior has the right to decide on the use of the liquids containing alcohol for disinfection of premises and surfaces without applying the requirements for activities involving biocidal products specified in laws and regulations with regard to the receipt of an inventory number, or on the transfer thereof to a merchant for the production of disinfectants in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 during the emergency situation declared in the State.

Section 17. (1) During the emergency situation the issuing of certificates, licences, attestations, certifications, passes, permits, registration documents, and other similar documents issued by public authorities or State capital companies may be suspended by a separate decision.

(2) If, in accordance with external laws and regulations, the issuing of the abovementioned documents falls within the competence of the Cabinet, the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be taken by the Cabinet. If, in accordance with external laws and regulations, the issuing of the abovementioned documents falls within the competence of a Minister, institutions subordinate to a Minister, or State capital companies, the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be taken by the relevant Minister. If, in accordance with external laws and regulations, the issuing of the abovementioned documents falls within the competence of the head of a State security institution, the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be taken by the head of the relevant State security institution. If, in accordance with external laws and regulations, the issuing of the abovementioned documents falls within the competence of a local government or independent lawful autonomous authority, the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be taken by the the local government or independent lawful autonomous authority respectively.

(3) Concurrently with the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, a decision is taken determining the term of validity of the certificate, licence, attestation, certification, pass, permit, registration document, and another similar document which has already been issued but it may not exceed three months after the end of the emergency situation.

Section 18. (1) The term of accreditation of general education institutions, vocational education institutions, and examination centres (except for colleges), and also general education programmes and vocational education programmes (except for vocational higher education programmes) which ends before 31 August 2020 is extended until 31 December 2020.

(2) A licensed general education programme or licensed vocational education programme (except for a vocational higher education programme) which is to be accredited by 31 August 2020 is treated as an accredited education programme for a period until 31 December 2020 if the State Service of Education Quality has, by the day of coming into force of this Law, received a submission from an educational institution regarding accreditation and the educational institution is implementing another accredited general education programme or vocational education programme (except for a vocational higher education programme). An educational institution implementing such educational programme is entitled to issue State-recognised education documents regarding the acquisition of education corresponding to the educational programme until 31 December 2020.

(3) Assessment of professional activity of the heads of educational institutions which is to be performed by 31 August 2020 shall be extended until 31 December 2020.

(4) The term of validity of a certificate of sports technicians and shooting instructors which ends before 31 August 2020 shall be extended until 31 December 2020.

Section 18.¹ (1) Section 46, Clause 2 of the General Education Law shall not apply to the duration of the academic year 2019/2020 for grade 12. The academic year 2019/2020 for grade 12 shall last until 7 July 2020.

(2) In the academic year 2019/2020, State examinations for the acquisition of the general basic education do not take place, except for the centralised examination in the Latvian language for educatees in minority educational programmes who wish to take this examination.

(3) In the academic year 2019/2020, a certificate of general basic education and a report card is issued to educatees for the acquisition of the general basic education. Also the certificate of basic education is issued to the educatees who take the examination referred to Paragraph two of this Section for the acquisition of general basic education.

[7 May 2020]

Section 19. During the emergency situation, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall, by an order and according to the restrictions specified due to the spread of COVID-19 in the State or host countries, determine restrictions on the provision of the consular assistance and consular services provided for in the Law on Consular Assistance and Consular Services, discontinuing the provision thereof in person, where necessary.

Section 20. The time period for the provision of reply to a submission of a person specified in the Law on Submissions may be extended for the period of the emergency situation by a decision of the head of a public authority, provided that the submission is not related to a specific infringement of rights or ensuring of interests of a person or circumstances of the emergency situation.

Section 21. The Cabinet has the right to specify measures necessary during the emergency situation and competence of State authorities in addition to that specified in Section 8 of the law On Emergency Situation and State of Exception, if it is necessary for the prevention of threat to the State or the elimination of the consequences thereof, conforms to the permissible scope of restrictions on rights provided for in the law On Emergency Situation and State of Exception, and does not cause a restriction on the competence of the authorities referred to in the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia.

Section 22. Upon assessing the effect of the period of idle time on the provision of services, the Ministry of Welfare has the right to make payment for the period of idle time to out-of-family care support centres which fulfil the tasks delegated by the State administration and are not able to fully provide services in person due to the emergency situation. The payment may exceed the amount of financial resources to be directed towards an out-of-family care support centre for the administration of service that has been specified in the Cabinet regulations but may not exceed the average costs calculated in January and February 2020. Out-of-family care support centres ensuring a training programme for potential foster families, specialised foster families, and adopters may provide acquisition of the theoretical part of the training programme remotely.

Section 23. Placement of new clients in social service institutions providing social services with accommodation shall be discontinued, except for social rehabilitation services to victims of violence in crisis centres and placement of a child left without parental care in a long-term social care and social rehabilitation institution or crisis centre, and short-term residence of persons without a place of residence in a shelter and a night shelter. Social services at a place of residence shall be provided remotely, except for a case where it is impossible to provide a service remotely. Social services may be provided to a client in person if the need to ensure the service immediately, the possibility to guarantee safety, and also the resources necessary for the provision of the service have been assessed individually.

Section 24. Social service providers who have been registered with the Register of Social Service Providers in 2012 and who are to be re-registered over the period of time from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 shall retain registration and perform re-registration over the period of time from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. Social service providers who have been registered with the Register of Social Service Providers in 2013 and who are to be re-registered over the period of time from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 shall retain registration and perform re-registration over the period of time from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.

Section 25. If a police decision on separation or a court decision on temporary protection against violence which prohibits to stay in a dwelling has been taken with regard to a person who must implement special epidemiological safety measures during the emergency situation declared in the State and the person himself or herself is not able to ensure self-isolation, a local government shall, to the extent possible, provide this person with a place for self-isolation. The person (except for a person with disability and a person who has been recognised as a low-income or needy person) shall cover the expenses related to the provision of the place for self-isolation.

Section 26. The State Employment Agency may shorten the time period for a notification of collective redundancy specified in Section 107, Paragraph one of The Labour Law by determining it shorter than 30 days. The State Employment Agency shall immediately notify in writing an employer and representatives of employees of the shortening of the time period.

Section 27. A local government shall, upon a request of a parent, immediately ensure care for a child in a child care institution or on other premises adjusted to short-term care for children if his or her parent has become ill with COVID-19, and it is impossible to ensure that the child is in a safe environment with the other parent, relatives, or other persons close to the child.

Section 28. In order to prevent impact of the consequences of the emergency situation on the activity of medical practitioners and medical treatment support persons, the term of validity of the valid registration or valid certificate of all medical practitioners and medical treatment support persons shall be extended by six months.

Section 29. (1) The chairperson of a local government council may determine by an order that meetings of the local government council and committees may take place remotely, conforming to the following conditions:

1) video conferencing is used in the course of a council or committee meeting (a real-time image and sound transmission);

2) draft decisions of the council and committees, opinions thereon, and informative materials are sent to all members of the council and committee to their electronic mail address or using other means of electronic communication not later than three working days before a regular meeting and not later than three hours before an extraordinary meeting;

3) it is ensured that individual vote of each member is recorded and reflected in the minutes of a council or committee meeting.

(2) After taking of a decision of a local government council or committee and drawing up the minutes of the meeting in writing, they shall be sent to each member who has participated in the relevant meeting. A member shall confirm his or her vote electronically on the received document.

(3) If the voting referred to in Section 40, Paragraph four of the law On Local Governments is held at a local government council meeting, a ballot paper shall be sent electronically to each member. A member shall send the filled-in paper to the indicated electronic site for counting of the votes and notification of a decision.

Section 30. (1) Enterprises to which a permit for the polluting activity has been issued may commence production of means of disinfection and other products necessary for the emergency situation upon receipt of an agreement from the State Environmental Service. The State Environmental Service shall issue the agreement within five working days, requesting an opinion of the Health Inspectorate and a local government, where necessary.

(2) Enterprises which are permitted to produce means of disinfection according to a permit for the polluting activity but for which it is necessary to increase the production volumes indicated in the permit may increase them upon receipt of an agreement from the State Environmental Service. The State Environmental Service shall issue the agreement within two working days.

(3) Upon issuing the agreements referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section on changes in the carrying out of the polluting activity, the State Environmental Service may determine conditions for the conformity with the environmental protection requirements.

(4) Upon carrying out the activities referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section during the emergency situation and for not longer than two months after the end of the emergency situation, amendments to the permit for the polluting activity of Category A or B shall not be necessary for a performer of the polluting activity (operator).

Section 31. For the purpose of preventing and suppressing threat to the State and its consequences in relation to the spread of COVID-19, the Minister for Defence may:

1) conscript reserve soldiers into active service for a period necessary for the performance of tasks related to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19;

2) where necessary, reduce the requirements for the acceptance into professional service and admission to the National Guard of the Republic of Latvia.

Section 31.¹ The Ministry of Defence has the right to alienate the purchased personal protective equipment and disinfectants from the allied forces for the purchase price for the containment of the spread and the elimination of the consequences of COVID-19, without the application of the procedure of alienation of the property of a public person - sale at an auction.

[7 May 2020]

Section 31.² The State Centre for Defence Military Sites and Procurement has the right to perform the procurement of personal protective equipment and disinfectants in order to provide support to the foreign countries most affected by COVID-19 for the containment of the spread and the elimination of the consequences of COVID-19, and to ensure storage of the purchased goods and their transfer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall organise the delivery of these goods to foreign countries and shall ensure their transfer to the relevant foreign institutions through diplomatic and consular missions without the application of the procedure of alienation of the property of a public person and on the basis of a deed of acceptance and delivery of goods.

[7 May 2020]

Section 32. Periodic mandatory health examinations and planned repeat health examinations for officials with special service ranks of the institutions of the system of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prisons Administration are discontinued. If service circumstances of an official change significantly and under such conditions higher requirements for health condition and psychological characteristics are determined for persons in service, an institution shall not send this person to the health examination.

Section 32.¹ Officials with special service ranks of the institutions of the system of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prisons Administration who have the right to receive medical rehabilitation course paid by the Health and Sports Centre of the Ministry of the Interior within a year after an accident at work, sustained injury or surgical operation and to whom the time limit for the receipt of the medical rehabilitation course expires during the emergency situation or within a month after revocation of the restrictions on receipt of medical rehabilitation have the right to receive a medical rehabilitation course paid by the Health and Sports Centre of the Ministry of the Interior within three months after revocation of the abovementioned restrictions.

[7 May 2020]

Section 33. The State Police shall, upon request of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, request and an electronic communications merchant shall provide them with data (telephone number and location) regarding a person who has been identified by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control as a point of contact of a person infected with COVID-19 or a person form whom the COVID-19 diagnosis has been confirmed in a laboratory. The State Police shall hand over the data received from the electronic communications merchant to the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the performance of an epidemiological investigation.

Section 34. The State Emergency Medical Service has, for the period while the emergency situation is in effect in the territory of the State, the right to employ persons who receive a service pension in accordance with the Law on Service Pensions of Employees of the State Emergency Medical Service Involved in Ensuring of Emergency Medical Assistance, concurrently retaining also the service pension granted to the abovementioned persons.

Section 35. During the emergency situation a local government may grant social services and social assistance for satisfying the basic needs also to a target group which does not correspond to the conditions of Section 3 of the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance if it is impossible to satisfy the basic needs of a person otherwise.

Section 36. (1) The binding regulations of a local government issued in order to determine the measures to be implemented during the emergency situation shall come into force on the day following signing thereof, unless another time of coming into force has been specified therein. The binding regulations of a republic city council and municipality council and an explanatory memorandum thereof shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis and on the website of the local government.

(2) The local government shall send the binding regulations thereof to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development for information within three working days in writing or electronically.

Section 37. The Procurement Monitoring Bureau has the right to organise examination of submissions for contesting without hearing participants in the case in person. Participants in the case have the right to submit an additional opinion in writing, sending it to the Procurement Monitoring Bureau electronically not later than within one working day prior to the notified date of the meeting for examination of the submission.

Section 38. The decisions referred to in this Law, if they concern an individually undetermined circle of addressees, shall be notified publicly in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 11 of the Law on Notification.

Section 39. (1) During the emergency situation a local government shall organise public consultation on the sustainable development strategy and development programme remotely.

(2) Public consultation on the local plan and detailed plan of a local government shall be:

1) continued remotely if public consultation on these documents has been commenced before declaration of the emergency situation and has taken place in person for at least two weeks, and, furthermore, the public consultation meeting has been organised;

2) organised remotely and for at least two weeks after revocation of the emergency situation also in person by organising also the public consultation meeting.

(3) Upon continuing or organising public consultation on the local plan and detailed plan of a local government remotely, a local government shall ensure access to the relevant documents on the sites indicated in the regulatory enactment governing the procedures for the development of spatial planning documents.

(4) Public consultation in the cases specified in Paragraph two of this Section shall be organised so that the total duration of public consultation would correspond to the laws and regulations regarding the development of spatial planning documents and these conditions could be also applied to consultation on the wording of the local plan and detailed plan.

(5) A local government, by conforming to all epidemiological safety measures that should be implemented during the emergency situation, has an obligation to provide an opportunity for the interested parties to become acquainted with the spatial planning documents in person in a separate room at the local government and to submit their proposals in writing.

(6) If public consultation is commenced during the emergency situation, a notice thereon shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis, the spatial development planning information system, and on the website of the local government.

(7) In addition to the publication specified in Paragraph six of this Section, the notice on public consultation on the detailed plan shall be sent to the owners (lawful possessors) of immovable properties in the territory of the detailed plan who are not the initiators of the detailed plan and to the owners (lawful possessors) of those immovable properties bordering the territory of the detailed plan.

(8) A local government shall publish on its website a video presentation on the solution of the spatial planning document and shall ensure a possibility for the interested parties to ask questions and receive answers on the spatial planning document through the use of an online video conferencing tool or another online communication tool. Questions and answers shall be registered and saved in a form accessible by the local government.

(9) A report on the proposals received during public consultation, their evaluation and information on their consideration or rejection shall be published by a local government in the spatial development planning information system and on its website not later than within five working days before it takes the decision to approve the spatial planning document.

[7 May 2020]

Section 40. (1) The Legal Aid Administration shall organise consultations on addressing the legal issues that have occurred due to the emergency situation (in accordance with the categories of matters specified in the State Ensured Legal Aid Law) by telephone or in writing, using the informative line 116006 "Hotline for victims of crime" and online consultation tool.

(2) The Legal Aid Administration shall assign such legal aid providers for the provision of the aid referred to in Paragraph one of this Section with whom a legal aid contract has been concluded. Compensation to a legal aid provider per hour worked shall be determined in accordance with the amount of the compensation for the provision of legal consultation specified in Cabinet Regulation No. 1493 of 22 December 2009, Regulations Regarding the Amount of State-ensured Legal Aid, the Amount of Payment, Reimbursable Expenses and the Procedures for Payment Thereof. Payment shall be made from the State budget funds allocated to the Legal Aid Administration under the budget sub-programme 03.03.00 of the Ministry of Justice "Provision of Legal Aid" in accordance with the law On the State Budget for 2020, allocating not more than EUR 5000 for this purpose.

(3) The service shall be ensured during the emergency situation or until the moment when the allocated funding has been utilised.

[7 May 2020]

Section 41. Upon deciding on the extension of the time limit, restoration of rights, or continuation of proceedings, if the relevant time limits cannot be conformed to due to the emergency situation declared in the State in relation to the spread of COVID-19, the Patent Office has, in the cases specified in the Patent Law, the Law on Trade Marks, and the Law on Designs, the right not to apply the fee specified in the abovementioned laws for the extension of the time limit, restoration of rights, or continuation of proceedings.

[7 May 2020]

Transitional Provision

[7 May 2020]

A participant in the administrative proceedings has the right to the extension or renewal of the procedural time limit in accordance with the procedures that were in force until the day when the amendment regarding the new wording of Section 3, Paragraph six of this Law comes into force if the procedural time limit has expired during the emergency situation before this amendment comes into force.

[7 May 2020]

This Law shall come into force on the day following its proclamation.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 3 April 2020.

President E. Levits

Rīga, 4 April 2020

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¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2020 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)