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Ocean pollution, ticket scalping and international affairs unit bills pass
Amendments on ocean pollution have passed a third reading at the Legislative Yuan.
Lawmakers approved changes to articles of the Marine Pollution Control Act, which increase fines and lay out clear definitions of activities that may cause marine pollution.
The amendments stipulate that unauthorized oil transportation, marine construction, or ocean dumping may result in fines of up to NT$100 million.
And fines collected shall be used exclusively for the prevention of marine pollution, as well as responses to marine emergencies, and the expansion of resources to handle incidents of marine pollution.
The changes also include a whistleblower clause that allows authorities to offer a reward, to encourage employees or related persons to report such illegal activity.
A draft proposal to crack down on ticket scalpers has also passed a third reading in the Legislative Yuan.
The changes to the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act stipulate that those who resell arts and culture performance tickets at inflated prices, as well as those who obtain tickets through improper means, will face fines of 10 to 50 times the value of the ticket. And the law defines both as "scalpers".
Offenders may also face imprisonment of up to 3 years, and additional fines of up to NT$3 million.
The amendments also include new provisions to encourage private investment in cultural and creative industries through tax incentives.
The changes come after a surge in scalping cases in recent months, with tickets for concerts featuring domestic and international artists in short supply.
In addition, an amendment bill to establish an international affairs department under the legislature to promote parliamentary diplomacy has passed.
According to the amendment bill of the Organic Act of the Legislative Yuan, the new department will be tasked with handling international exchanges and cooperation between the Legislature and its foreign counterparts.
The division will also assist individual lawmakers or lawmaker groups in engaging in international activities, the bill states.
Under the bill, the department will also be responsible for receiving foreign guests visiting the Legislature and hosting relevant activities.
Tasks related to international affairs within the Legislature are currently handled by the secretariat.
