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What it is

Bill would allow children to visit jailed parents without glass barriers

Amendments step 3 of 7 · Unfinished

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 20 December 2018. Introduced by: Senado.

Official title: Private Member's Organic Bill amending Articles 38 and 51 of Organic Law 1/1979, of 26 September, General Penitentiary, which regulate communications between persons detained in a penitentiary center and their families.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 124/000014· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The bill would repeal the third section of Article 38 of the General Penitentiary Law, which provided for a special visiting scheme for children under ten that was never developed.
  2. It would add a new sixth section to Article 51 so that visits between children under fourteen and their imprisoned parents are always face to face, with no physical barriers and no limits on frequency or privacy, at least once a week for two hours, plus a monthly six-hour extended visit.
  3. Visits would have to be scheduled so they are always compatible with the children's school hours, except in cases of intervention or suspension provided for by law.
  4. The Government would have six months from the law's entry into force to reform the Penitentiary Regulations and adapt them to this organic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes., which would take effect the day after its publication in the official gazette.

Who it affects

  • Children under fourteen with an imprisoned parent: They could always see them face to face, without glass, at least once a week for two hours, plus a monthly six-hour extended visit.
  • Imprisoned mothers and fathers: Their visiting arrangements with their children would be set by law, with less room for each prison's discretion.
  • Siblings of children under eleven: The bill aims to prevent unequal treatment between older and younger siblings during visits.

Words worth knowing

Ley Orgánica (organic law)
A Spanish law that requires special majorities in Congress and is reserved for major matters.
Locutorio
A room in a prison where inmates talk to visitors, usually through a glass barrier and an intercom.
Vis a vis
A type of visit where the inmate and visitors are together in a room, with direct physical contact.
Reglamento Penitenciario (Penitentiary Regulations)
The rules that set out in detail how life and visits in prisons work.
Proposición de ley (bill)
A text that proposes a law but is not yet passed or in force.
organic law
A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 3 of 7 steps. It reached Amendments, and today it is unfinished.

  1. Introduced20 December 2018Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted9 January 2019The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments11 January 2019Groups propose changes.
  4. Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 5 official steps on a timeline
Dec 2018Jan 2019Feb 201911. 20 December 2018: Presentación22. 9 January 2019: Comisión de Interior Publicación desde 09/01/2019 hasta 11/01/201933. 9 January 2019: Calificación44. 11 January 2019: Comisión de Interior Enmiendas desde 11/01/2019 hasta 05/03/201955. 5 March 2019: Concluido - (Caducado) desde 05/03/2019 hasta 27/03/2019

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.

It was presented again:

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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