The Taipei City government yesterday approved an amendment to provisions on group student insurance, allowing more municipal students to be covered and higher insurance adjustments to be issued when accidents occur during school-related activities.
The provision will be sent to the Taipei City Council for further consideration and possibly passage.
Accompanied by David Lee (李錫津), director of the city government's Bureau of Education, city spokesperson King Pu-tsung (金浦聰) made the announcement after yesterday's city affairs meeting.
According to Lee, the approval of the amendment pushed the legal status of the provision to a higher level.
"It used to be only a rule, which didn't require examination by the city council. Now it's been changed to a provision, which needs the city council's examination and approval," he said.
The Taipei City Student Group Insurance Autonomy Provision also increases the insurance adjustment amount from NT$500,000 for death from natural causes to NT$1 million, and adds an additional coverage of NT$1 million for accidental death.
The coverage period has changed to Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 for the sake of those students who have an early graduation. Originally it stretched from July 1 to Aug. 31.
The provision also covers a wider range of school students. Kindergarten and nursery school children are now included.
Meanwhile, a continuing crackdown on pornographic leaflets -- which are often seen stuck onto car windshields -- has shown some success, said Wang Jinn-wang (王進旺), director of the municipal police headquarters.
According to Wang, since the launch of the crackdown in September 1999, police said they have cracked 218 cases, issued around NT$1.6 million worth of fines, and cut electricity and water supplies to 22 locations believed to be involved in sex-related operations.
According to the Child and Youth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act (兒童及少年 性交易防治制條例), those found distributing such obscene flyers could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to NT$1 million.
Those found operating sex-related businesses could face the same punishment, in addition to the disconnection of the electricity and water supply. Wang said they will also stage a month-long intensive crackdown starting May 15, and encourage the public to provide information.
Informants will be rewarded NT$3,000 if the information leads to a successful arrest.
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