Key Actions and Decisions
The Committee of Rules and Parliamentary Practices of the Mexican Senate unanimously approved, without changes, a decree to reform the Ley Orgánica del Congreso General de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos regarding transparency, access to information, and protection of personal data. The approval took only ten minutes during a remote extraordinary meeting.
Who is Mayuli Martínez Simón?
Mayuli Martínez Simón, a member of the PAN party and president of the ordinary working committee, explained the amendment. This reform complements the harmonization of the Congress Organic Law with other laws, including the General Law on Transparency and Public Access to Public Information, the General Law on Personal Data held by Subjects, and the Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data held by Private Individuals. These laws were published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) on March 20.
What does the reform entail?
The approved amendment grants attributes to the Internal Control of the Chamber of Deputies to exercise functions and competencies established by laws in this area. A new Directorate General of Situations and Evolution of Patrimonial Status will be created as part of the Internal Control of the Chamber of Deputies.
- New Directorate’s Responsibilities: The new directorate will be responsible for advising, receiving, safeguarding, and registering declarations of patrimonial and interest situations that public servants must present. It will monitor, investigate, and verify the patrimonial evolution; issue certificates of no anomalies according to relevant laws; and certify documents related to its functions.
- Internal Control of the Chamber of Deputies’ Responsibilities: The Internal Control will oversee transparency obligations, protect access to information and personal data rights, and resolve appeals from requesters.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of this reform? The reform aims to align the Congress Organic Law with other transparency-related laws, ensuring consistency and comprehensive coverage of information access and personal data protection.
- What new entity will be created? A Directorate General of Situations and Evolution of Patrimonial Status will be established as part of the Internal Control of the Chamber of Deputies.
- What are the responsibilities of the new directorate? The new directorate will handle patrimonial and interest declarations, monitor patrimonial evolution, issue certificates of no anomalies, and certify relevant documents.
- What will the Internal Control of the Chamber of Deputies do? The Internal Control will oversee transparency obligations, protect information access rights, and resolve appeals from requesters.
