Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 30.08.2004

Federal law No. 122-FZ of August 22, 2004 On Amending the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and Invalidation of Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation In Connection With the Adoption of Federal Laws On Making Changes and Amendments in the Federal Law On General Principles of Organization of Legislative (Representative) and Executive Bodies of State Authority of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and On General Principles of Organization of Local Self Government in the Russian Federation

It amends 155 and invalidates 41 legislative acts of the Russian Federation. The amendments are aimed at revising the federal legislation in part concerning delimitation of powers between the bodies of authority at different levels and financial security of same.
In particular, as regards citizens whose social back-up (social protection) is assigned to the powers of federal state authorities, the law provides for replacement of the basic portion of in-kind privileges (except for privileges in payment for housing and utility services) with monthly monetary compensations.
In the sphere of social policy, issues of local importance shall include: the provision of housing to low-income citizens who need improvement of their housing conditions, trusteeship and guardianship.
All the remaining powers associated with social policy and social back-up of citizens may be exercised by the bodies of local self-government either by using subventions, provided they are vested with relevant state powers or on their initiative, with the availability of their own resources and also in cases directly specified under federal laws, laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
Besides, it prescribes that the bodies of state authority of the subjects of the Russian Federation shall be authorized to provide subventions to local budgets in order to pay to citizens "specific address" subsidies towards housing and utilities payment as is envisaged by the standards set under the laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
It cancels privileges of free travel to members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and to their assistants on all types of city and commuter passenger transport.
The Federal law shall, with some exceptions, take effect as from January 1, 2005.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1114 of August 25, 2004 On Suspension of Some Decrees of the President of the Russian Federation In Connection With Adoption of the Federal law On the 2004 Federal Budget

It suspends till January 1, 2005 individual norms of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation in part concerning payment as from January 1, 2001 to post-graduates of a compensation for expenses in connection with the increased cost of meals in the amount of two Rubles per person a day and also in part concerning allocation of monies from the federal budget to finance research and development work of civil purpose in the amount of not less than 3 (three) per cent of its spending portion with an annual increase in the amount of those funds as the economy acquires stability.
The Decree shall take effect as from its signature date.

Decision of the Governing Board of the Pension Fund of Russia No. 97p of July 19, 2004 On Approval of the Procedure for Registration With Territorial Bodies of the Pension Fund of Russia of Insurers Effecting Payments to Individuals

It determines rules of registration with territorial bodies of the Pension Fund of Russia of insurers effecting payments to individuals.
The registration of organizations shall be made regardless of the presence at the time of registration of obligations to pay insurance premiums towards obligatory pension insurance.
The registration of generic, family communities of indigenous small peoples of the North, of individuals, including individual entrepreneurs (including heads of peasant's (farmer's) enterprises), of notaries, private detectives and lawyers engaged in private practice shall be carried out in the event they made labor contracts or contracts of civil in-law character whose subject-matter includes execution of work or offering services and also copyright contracts with natural persons.
It approves forms of documents required for registration with a territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.
Registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in August 24, 2004. Registration No. 5993.