Public hearings of persons with disabilities in law-making: An analysis of the approach stipulated by the Act on Criteria of Bill Drafting Process and Evaluation of Laws B.E. 2562

Abstract

In the present climate, the peoples share and express their views on daily news, social and economic problems very widely, especially through electronic channel which becoming vastly popular as it is fast, convenient, low-cost, and easily reached. Therefore, the electronic public hearings have high potential for receiving feedbacks from the peoples and taking them into consideration before an operation or activity of the government sector. Such features are also applied to public hearings for a bill drafting process where the prudence and vigilance of the process are enhanced by the inclusive public participation.

The Act on Criteria of Bill Drafting Process and Evaluation of Laws B. E. 2562 has indicated that electronic channel would be the basic method of public hearings for the bill
drafting process, while state agencies should also use other methods of public hearings as appropriate. However, some groups of the peoples still face myriad barriers to participate in public hearings through many channels, mainly due to inequalities in socio- ecomonic and
political issues, or physical characteristics. Particularly, persons with disabilities are the primary
group facing barriers both in participating through electronic channel and other methods of public hearings.

In this article, the author will analyze the rights of persons with disabilities regarding public participation both at the domestic and international levels. Details of public hearings
of persons with disabilities according to The Act on Criteria of Bill Drafting Process and Evaluation of Laws B. E. 2562 and relevant practical problems will also be discussed.
Subsequently, the author proposes several legal and practical reconceptualizations for more effective participation of persons with disabilities.