Article 1. General Provisions

1. The Legal Affairs Committee of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) is established by the decision of the Executive Council of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (hereinafter referred to as the “Executive Council”) for the duration of the Executive Council’s term of office.

2. The Committee shall conduct its activities in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia, the legislative acts of Georgia, the Charter of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia, and these Regulations.

Article 2. Objectives of the Committee

The objectives of the Committee are to:
a) Ensure the involvement of state authorities in consultations with municipalities on local self-government matters in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia. This includes participation in the drafting of legal documents related to local self-government, the review of proposed legal acts, and the submission of relevant proposals and recommendations.
b) Prepare draft legislative and sub-legislative acts to safeguard the interests of self-governing entities and promote the decentralization process. This may involve drafting new legal acts as well as proposing amendments to existing legislation.

Article 3. Functions of the Committee

The functions of the Committee are:
a) To review draft legislative and sub-legislative acts prepared by state authorities on local self-government matters, provide legal opinions, proposals, and recommendations, and submit them to the relevant state authorities;
b) To examine legal issues raised by municipalities and, considering their proposals, draft legislative and sub-legislative acts to safeguard the interests of self-governing units and promote the decentralization process, submitting them to the relevant state authorities in accordance with the legislation of Georgia;
c) To develop and review draft methodological materials, standards, and guidelines in coordination with the relevant state authorities to support municipalities in the implementation of their own and delegated powers as established by law;
d) To analyze best international practices in municipal governance and develop legal recommendations for their adaptation and application;
e) To perform other functions within its competence as assigned by the Executive Council.

Article 4. Rules for the Establishment and Composition of the Committee

1. The Committee shall be composed of no more than 15 members.
2. An elected official of a local self-government body may be appointed as a member of the Committee.
3. To nominate candidates for Committee membership, the Executive Director shall send an official letter to elected municipal officials, requesting their candidacy for membership in the Committee.
4. Upon expiration of the deadline specified in the official letter, the Executive Director shall compile and systematize the received applications and submit them to the Executive Board for approval.
5. The Executive Board, upon the proposal of the Executive Director, shall approve the composition of the Committee, amend its composition as necessary, and appoint or dismiss the Chairman of the Committee.
6. The Chairman and members of the Committee shall be appointed for the duration of the Executive Board’s term of office.
7. When considering specific issues, the Committee may invite specialists, experts, and representatives of state agencies, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations by decision of the Committee.
8. Committee members shall perform their duties without interruption from their official responsibilities and on a voluntary basis, without remuneration.
9. A Committee member may be recalled and/or replaced by decision of the Executive Board, based on a submission by the Executive Director.

Article 5. Committee Chairman

1. The Committee Chairman shall:

a) Determine the agenda of Committee meetings and the issues to be discussed;
b) Convene and preside over Committee meetings;
c) Represent the Committee and conduct correspondence on its behalf;
d) Issue instructions to Committee members;
e) Sign decisions adopted by the Committee;
f) Prepare and submit reports on the Committee’s activities to the Executive Board;
g) Exercise other powers as provided by these Regulations and as assigned by the Executive Board.

2. If the Committee Chairman is unable to fulfill their duties, a Committee member shall temporarily assume the Chairman’s responsibilities upon the instruction of the Executive Director and/or the Chairman.

Article 6. Committee Member

1. A Committee member is entitled to:
a) Participate in Committee meetings and activities;
b) Express comments, proposals, and opinions on matters under consideration and hold a dissenting position;
c) Submit issues and proposals for discussion at Committee meetings;
d) Exercise other powers assigned by the Committee Chairman.

2. A Committee member shall be appointed for the duration of the Executive Council’s term of office in accordance with the procedure established by these Regulations.

3. The mandate of a committee member may be terminated before the expiration of their term:
a) Upon their written request;
b) In the event of the early termination of the mandate of an elected local self-government official, as provided by the Local Self-Government Code.

Article 7. Rules of Procedure of the Committee

1. The Committee shall review matters and adopt decisions at Committee meetings.
2. Committee meetings shall be held at least once every three months.
3. Committee meetings shall be convened at the initiative of the Committee Chairman, the Executive Director, or one-third of the Committee members.
4. The Association’s staff shall be responsible for organizing Committee meetings, preparing draft documents for discussion, notifying Committee members of the meeting’s time and agenda at least three days in advance, and distributing the draft documents to be discussed.
5. Committee meetings may be conducted either in person or via an online platform.
6. A Committee meeting shall have the authority to adopt decisions if more than half of the Committee members are in attendance.
7. Committee decisions shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting.
8. Committee decisions shall be signed by the Committee Chairman.
9. The Association’s Office shall be responsible for recording and maintaining minutes of Committee meetings, including electronic meetings.

Article 8. Organization of the Committee’s Activities

1. The Committee shall participate in consultations with state authorities on local self-government matters in accordance with the procedure established by Georgian legislation through a representative or representatives appointed by the Committee. A representative may be a Committee member, an employee of the Association’s staff, or an invited expert designated to participate in consultations.

2. A representative appointed by the Committee to engage in consultations with state authorities shall take part in meetings held for the preparation of draft legal acts. The representative shall periodically update the Committee on the progress of drafting and discussing legal acts, advocate for the Committee’s positions, and communicate the Committee’s proposals and opinions to the relevant state authority.

3. The Association’s staff shall provide informational, analytical, technical, and organizational support for the Committee’s activities. This includes preparing legal opinions on draft legal acts submitted to the Association for consultation by state authorities, systematizing challenges related to the implementation of local self-government, formulating proposals for their potential legal regulation, and supplying relevant materials, opinions, and recommendations to Committee members.

Article 9. Final Provisions

1. These Regulations shall enter into force upon approval by the Executive Council.
2. Amendments to these Regulations shall be made by decision of the Executive Council.