Making Bills and Laws Accessible (IL0042)

What is the current situation or problem that the commitment addresses?

The full and up-to-date version of the laws of the State of Israel is not currently displayed to the public by any official state body, but by commercial entities only. The National Legislation Database, established by the Knesset and launched in December 2014, displays information on all the laws enacted in the country and all the amendments enacted to these laws. For each law, an up-to-date and complete version is presented as a link to the Open Law Book – a project of a civil society entity and the Public Knowledge Workshop. However, there is great importance to a state entity preparing and presenting to the public free of charge the updated and full version of the laws, including all amendments amended to them by primary or secondary legislation.

What is the commitment?

The Knesset is working to develop a presentation of the current and complete version of the country’s laws in the National Legislation Database. The presentation will enable location of the full drafts of laws and to conduct a search of the text. With this commitment, we will formulate and develop the presentation of a timeline for each law, on which the versions of the law will be presented for each point-in-time – before amendment and after amendment (point in time legislation). The Knesset is working to prepare a full and up-to-date version of the laws of the state, which will include all information about the amendments amended to them over the years and the provisions established in relation to these amendments.

How will the commitment address the problem?

The Knesset will act to present the versions of the laws in the legislative database, and to build an interface for locating the laws and conducting a search within the texts of the laws.

Why is the commitment relevant to OGP?

The commitment is relevant to the OGP because it increases transparency and the public’s access to the versions of laws that determine norms for citizens.

How does the commitment contribute to inclusion and equality?

Some of the laws deal with inclusion and equality and thus increasing transparency and information is of use in this area as well.

Additional information

The project is being promoted in cooperation with the Justice Ministry’s data and technology department and its legal advice and legislative affairs department, and the Knesset Computerization and Technology Department

Milestone with deliverable | Start date - End date

Formulation of a requirements document for presentation of full version | May 2023 - 2025

Preparation of full version of the laws in the internal system | May 2023 - July 2025

Formulation of requirements for upgrading of the system for preparation of full version | May 2023 - July 2023

Developing additional requirements in the system for preparing full version | September 2023 - December 2023

Developing the presentation of a full text of laws on the site and conducting checks | January 2024 - June 2024

Commencement of presentation of laws in their full version in the National Legislation Database | End of December 2024 - 2025