Legal opinion the Government bill on indemnity benefit payable for a service‑related accident of illness (Sejm Paper No. 1499)

The submitted bill sets out the conditions for liability of the Treasury for the loss caused to functionaries and their “eligible family members” and the procedure for granting them indemnity benefits. The bill causes substantive doubts, as it deprives the aggrieved party of compensation for harm to property, in particular, for personal items lost, destroyed or damaged when on duty. Article 9 paragraph 1 of the bill appears to violate the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, as it excludes from those covered by insurance – without adequate justification – spouses in the separation. The bill also requires clarification by indicating whether or not granting (on the basis of the bill) a one‑time indemnity benefit affects the scope of compensation awarded under the general rules following the same event. In addition, Article 34 paragraph 3 of the bill is inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, since it denies the recourse to the law in some cases for compensation