Senate Approves Changes to Dominican Public Ministry Law

The Dominican Senate approved in second reading a bill amending Law 133-11, the Organic Law of the Public Ministry, bringing the legislation into line with constitutional changes adopted in October 2024. The measure now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for consideration.

Presented by Senator Ramón Rogelio Genao, the bill revises provisions governing the appointment of the prosecutor general and the deputy prosecutors, as well as the prosecutor general’s role in the National Council of the Magistracy (CNM).

CNM Would Appoint Half of Deputy Prosecutors

Under the proposed changes, the prosecutor general would have a maximum of 14 deputy prosecutors. Half would be appointed by the CNM from candidates proposed by the president of the Republic. Those candidates would have to meet the same constitutional requirements established for the position of prosecutor general.

The remaining seven deputy prosecutors would be selected by the prosecutor general from among prosecutors serving in Courts of Appeal who meet the requirements for the position. The arrangement would adapt the ordinary law to the constitutional framework established in 2024.

Law Updated After 2024 Constitutional Reform

The constitutional reform proclaimed on October 27, 2024, changed the mechanism for choosing the prosecutor general. The president no longer makes the appointment unilaterally. Instead, the president proposes a qualified candidate to the CNM, which has the authority to approve or reject the nomination.

The constitutional changes also removed the prosecutor general from the CNM and gave the seat to the president of the Constitutional Court. Law 1-25, enacted in January 2025, subsequently updated the CNM’s organic legislation to reflect the new constitutional framework and confirmed that the council would appoint the prosecutor general and half of the deputy prosecutors.

The first application of the new system came in February 2025, when the CNM unanimously approved President Luis Abinader’s proposal of Yeni Berenice Reynoso as prosecutor general and considered the seven deputy prosecutors proposed by the president.

Other Measures Approved by the Senate

During the same legislative session, senators also advanced or approved several other initiatives. Among them was a bill establishing December 2 as Women’s Municipalist Day and legislation that would elevate the Verón-Punta Cana tourist district in La Altagracia province to municipality status.

The Senate also approved resolutions concerning telecommunications services in communities in El Seibo, municipal services and student transportation in Sabana de la Mar, agricultural land titling in Hato Mayor, a hemodialysis center in Hermanas Mirabal and the completion of the Colector 10 project in eastern Santiago.

Other resolutions called for recognition of merengue típico figure Facundo Peña and singer Toño Rosario, as well as improvements to sports facilities in Laguna Salada and San Pedro de Macorís.

In a separate action, the chamber approved in a single reading the Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, concerning enhanced cooperation and the disclosure of electronic evidence. The protocol was signed in 2022 and was submitted by the executive branch.