1. Duties of the State Chancellery (ORVSTA)

1. The State Chancellery (STA) serves as the staff and liaison office of the Grand Council and the Council of Government.

2. The State Chancellery is responsible for the following tasks in particular

a it is responsible for comprehensive political planning;

b it conducts elections and referendums;

b1 **\*** it oversees the preliminary proceedings for a total revision of the constitution;

c **\*** it coordinates cooperation between the cantonal administration and the deputation, the Bernese Jura Council (BJR), and the Council for French-speaking Affairs of the Biel/Bienne administrative district (RFB);

d **\*** it handles matters related to the canton’s foreign relations and European integration, unless other directories are responsible;

e **\*** it is responsible for canton-wide information and communication activities with the public and the personnel of the cantonal administration;

e1 **\*** it is responsible for media promotion as well as the promotion of media competence and political education;

f it plans and coordinates cross-directorate affairs, unless other directories are responsible;[[2]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836849_2_2_c)

g **\*** it accompanies cantonal legislation and handles the publication of decrees;

h it handles questions of the canton’s bilingualism and coordinates translation and terminology in the cantonal administration;[[3]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836851_2_3_c)

i it manages archiving;[[4]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836852_2_4_c)

k it addresses issues of gender equality;[[5]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836853_2_5_c)

l **\*** it is responsible for centralized procurement of office supplies, printed materials, technical literature, and press products as well as postal and courier services;

m **\*** it, together with the parliamentary services, takes the necessary organizational measures to ensure that the Grand Council and its bodies can fulfill their tasks (Art. 95 para. 1 of the Law of June 4, 2013, on the Grand Council [LGC][[6]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836855_2_6_c)), and fulfills the tasks according to Article 95 paragraphs 2 and 3 LGC and Article 95 paragraph 4 LGC in conjunction with Article 133 of the Rules of Procedure of the Grand Council of June 4, 2013 (RP)[[7]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836855_2_7_c);

n **\*** it performs tasks related to heraldry and is responsible for the enforcement of federal heraldic protection legislation;

o **\*** it appoints the canton’s representative in the association "Polit-Forum Bern";

p **\*** it is available to the Council of Government for legal consultations, provided other organizational units are not responsible;

q **\*** it promotes the digital transformation of the administration in collaboration with the directories and municipalities.

1. This amendment shall enter into force as follows

On March 1, 2014

a) Section I, Article 1 Paragraph 2 Letters c and g, Article 2, Article 7, Article 10, Article 10a, Article 11, Article 12 Paragraph 1 Letters l to p and Paragraph 2, Article 13, Article 18 Paragraph 1 Letters e and f;

b) Section II, Sections 3, 4, and 5.

1. The State Chancellery is divided according to Appendix 1 into the following offices

a **\*** Office for Government Support and Political Rights (OGS),

b **\*** Office for Bilingualism, Legislation and Resources (OBLR),

c **\*** Office for Communication (OCOM),

d State Archive (StA),

e Office for Gender Equality between Women and Men (OGE),

f **\*** ...

2. The Digital Administration Office and the Personnel Service are directly subordinate to the State Secretary.

3. The offices are subdivided into further organizational units as needed.

In the scope of responsibilities of the State Chancellery, the Foundation Archive of the Former Prince-Bishopric of Basel is active.

The State Chancellery represents the canton in all matters concerning this foundation. It ensures that the government council is promptly informed about significant issues and submits the necessary proposals.

1. The State Chancellery is assigned the following permanent commissions

a) the Editorial Commission,

b) the Specialist Commission for Gender Equality Issues,

c) the Gender Equality Network "Réseau égalité Berne francophone".

1. The executive council appoints the 15 to 21 members of the Expert Commission on Equality Issues (Expert Commission).

2. This commission includes representatives from various organizations and institutions, as well as individuals who are involved in equality issues. A politically and socially diverse spectrum should be ensured.

3. One seat is reserved for the representative of the equality network "Réseau égalité Berne francophone."

4. The BJR and the RFB are consulted in advance regarding candidates from the Bernese Jura and the Biel/Bienne administrative district.

1. The Expert Commission supports the Specialist Office and advises it as well as the Executive Council.

2. It establishes a network for information and contact between the Specialist Office and the various organizations and institutions that deal with equality issues.

1. The expert commission constitutes itself.

2. The specialist office participates in the meetings of the expert commission with an advisory vote and can submit proposals. It acts as the commission's secretariat.

3-4

...

1. The Executive Council appoints the seven to thirteen members of the Equality Network "Réseau égalité Berne francophone" (Equality Network) upon the proposal of the State Chancellery. The BJR and the RFB are heard in advance.

2. The Equality Network is composed of

a) Representatives of organizations and institutions, as well as individuals involved in equality issues, and

b) Representatives of companies and social partners active in the Bernese Jura and the Biel/Bienne administrative district.

3. The specialized office is ex officio represented in the Equality Network and manages its secretariat. It may delegate the implementation of certain tasks to the Equality Network.

4. The Equality Network supports and advises the specialized office.

5. It forms the link between the specialized office and the various organizations and institutions involved in equality issues in the Bernese Jura and the Biel/Bienne administrative district by establishing an information and contact network and coordinating their activities.

6. The Equality Network organizes itself.

1. The State Secretary shall manage the State Chancellery and make all decisions within the domain of the State Chancellery, insofar as decision-making authority is not delegated to an office or another organizational unit by legislation or procedural rules.

2. They shall issue a procedural regulation and specifically organize the State Chancellery, including

a) the structuring of the offices,

b) the assignment of individual tasks to the organizational units,

c) the representation powers and authorization to sign,

d) the deputization,

e) the collaboration between the offices,

f) internal and external communication,

g) ...

3. They shall generally manage the organizational units directly under their authority with performance agreements in accordance with Article 22 of the Organization Act (OrG).

4. They shall issue job descriptions for all employees directly under their authority and approve the regulations of the organizational units directly under their authority.

1. The State Secretary

a. acts as the Chief of Staff for the Council of State (Government Council);

b. assists the President of the Council of State and the Council of State in performing their duties;

c. advises the Council of State on overall planning at the government level;

d. prepares the report on the guidelines of government policy and reports to the Council of State on their implementation;

e. coordinates the matters to be submitted to the Council of State;

f. * supports the presidencies of the Grand Council and the Council of State in the mutual coordination of tasks;

g. * ...

h. ensures the connection between the Council of State and administration to the Grand Council;

i-k. * ...

l. * leads the Conference of General Secretaries;

m. leads the Editorial Commission;

n. * represents, unless otherwise decided by the Council of State, the affairs of the State Chancellery in the Grand Council.

1. The two Deputy State Secretaries represent the State Secretary.

2. They advise and support the State Secretary in the fulfillment of his or her duties.

3. Each one heads a department.

1. The heads of office ensure the fulfillment of the tasks of their organizational unit. In doing so, they cooperate, as necessary, with the other organizational units of the State Chancellery and the administration, as well as with external administrative bodies.

2. They define in writing the tasks, competences, and responsibilities of the employees and describe the organization and processes of their organizational unit in a regulation, insofar as there is a need to supplement the rules of procedure.

3. These provisions apply accordingly to the heads of other organizational units.

1. The Office for Government Support and Political Rights

a ***) assists the Secretary of State in the legal assessment of government council affairs;

b) supports the Secretary of State in the area of ​​comprehensive political planning;

c) coordinates the business traffic between the cantonal administration, government council, Grand Council, and the council organs;

d) participates in the planning and documentation of the sessions of the Grand Council and supports the Grand Council, its organs, and the parliamentary services in other important matters;

e) manages the preparation and follow-up of the government council meetings;

f) conducts elections and referendums;

f1 ***) collaborates with the departments to promote political education;

g) addresses legal issues and provides legal advice within the areas of responsibility of the state chancellery;

h) prepares the legislation of the state chancellery, insofar as it does not fall within the tasks of another office;

i) instructs appeal procedures for the government council and the Secretary of State;

k) ensures, with the involvement of other offices, that responses to parliamentary motions are prepared in a timely manner and monitors the implementation of motions and postulates that have been passed;

l) manages the co-reporting and consultation process with the involvement of other offices;

m) manages the IT of the state chancellery, including data protection issues in this area;

n) handles reception and certifies official and notarial signatures;

o) manages the sale of selected cantonal printed matter;

p ***) coordinates inter-office matters and committees at the behest of the Secretary of State;

q ***) organizes regular exchanges among the heads of legal offices and the legal services of the departments.

1. The Office for Bilingualism, Legislation, and Resources

a) is responsible for matters concerning the bilingualism of the canton;

b) manages the cooperation between the cantonal administration and the bodies established by the Act of September 13, 2004, on the special status of Bernese Jura and the French-speaking minority of the administrative district of Biel/Bienne (Special Statute Act, SStG)[[10]](#enumeration_itemtext_content_fn_2836952_2_10_c) and manages the General Secretariats of the BJR and the RFB;

c) oversees the service of the Jura Delegation of the Government Council;

d) administers the French-speaking secretariat of the State Chancellery;

e) coordinates simultaneous interpretation for the sessions of the Great Council;

f) supports the Secretariat of the Deputation;

g) reviews texts issued by the Great Council and the Government Council, as well as, on a sample basis or upon request, all other texts translated within the departments, for consistency between the versions in the two official languages and their linguistic accuracy;

h) translates for the needs of the State Chancellery;

i) supports and advises the translation services of the departments;

k) leads the terminology work and manages the terminological database and library of the cantonal administration;

l) oversees the service for accompanying legislation, Jura affairs, and bilingualism, including legislative publications;

m) administers the Secretariat of the Editorial Commission;

n) participates in the administrative preparation and execution of the sessions of the Great Council;

o) conducts financial controlling;

p) centrally manages the finance and accounting of the State Chancellery;

q) ensures integrated task and resource planning within the State Chancellery;

r) runs the Central Procurement Office for office supplies and print (ZBS BP);

s) is responsible at the cantonal level for the central procurement of office supplies, printed materials, specialized literature, and press products, as well as postal and courier services;

t) oversees the management of the town hall and ensures the provision of usher services;

u) ensures the publication of the official journal and supervises the official journal.

2. The service for accompanying legislation, Jura affairs, and bilingualism fulfills its tasks independently and autonomously with respect to the area of accompanying legislation.

1. The Office of Communication

a) ensures the dissemination of information to the public regarding decisions and intentions of the Government Council and the activities of the cantonal administration;

a1) facilitates interactive exchange with the population;

b) coordinates the information and communication activities of the cantonal administration;

c) coordinates information and communication during extraordinary events;

d) serves as the point of contact for relations between the cantonal administration and the media;

e) handles media policy matters for the Government Council;

e1) manages media promotion and the promotion of media competence;

f) advises the Government Council and the cantonal administration on public relations matters;

g) is available for training in communication matters to the Grand Council, the Government Council, and the cantonal administration;

h) advises the organs of the Grand Council on issues of public information and public relations and may be employed for the dissemination of information;

i) ensures, in collaboration with the involved administrative offices, the cross-administrative information of cantonal administration personnel about decisions of the Government Council and activities of the cantonal administration;

k) manages the internet presence of the Grand Council;

l) is responsible for the cantonal internet and intranet portals and their content;

m) manages the internet and intranet presence of the State Chancellery;

n) advises and supports the directorates and the State Chancellery regarding design, informational architecture, and content preparation of web offerings in accordance with the cantonal corporate design and issues the necessary professional guidelines for the cantonal administration;

o) advises and supports the directorates regarding the implementation of guidelines for a unified appearance of the Canton of Bern (Corporate Design) and issues the necessary directives;

p) establishes binding specifications for a unified appearance within the State Chancellery and monitors their implementation;

q) addresses questions related to the Canton’s external relations and coordinates interest representation with the federal government, other cantons and inter-cantonal bodies, neighboring countries, the European Union, and international Bern.

1. The Duties of the State Archive are Governed by the Provisions of Legislation on Archiving.

1. The Specialist Unit is committed to ensuring equal opportunities between women and men, achieving their equality in all areas of life, and eliminating both direct and indirect discrimination.

2. The Specialist Unit has the following duties, specifically

a) it develops measures and projects to promote the actual equality of women and men in the Canton of Bern;

b) it promotes the inclusion of the equality perspective in all administrative policy areas and supports the relevant bodies in the preparation and implementation of equality-related measures, projects, and decrees;

c) it may review cantonal decrees and measures for their compatibility with Article 8 paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Federal Constitution and Article 10 paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Cantonal Constitution;

d) it may review the cantonal subsidy and procurement practice regarding the realization of actual equality between women and men by private individuals;

e) ...

f) it may prepare expert opinions on equality issues or obtain them from third parties;

g) it collaborates with organizations and institutions that deal with equality issues;

h) it advises authorities, organizations, companies, and private individuals on issues of equality between women and men and presents them with recommendations or mediation proposals;

i) ...

k) it offers further education and engages in public relations work.

3. It is professionally independent.

4. It manages the secretariat of the Expert Commission on Equality Issues and the office of the Equality Network "Réseau égalité Berne francophone."

1. The Specialized Office

a. may, within the scope of its mandate, request the assistance of all departments of the cantonal administration;

b. is informed from the outset by the directorates about planned governmental matters that concern questions of equality, and can apply for its further involvement in the preparation process;

c. independently participates in the internal administrative reporting procedure for matters that concern the equality of women and men;

d. may, on behalf of the government council, inspect relevant internal administrative documents on fundamental questions concerning the status of women and men within the cantonal administration;

e. may request to have a seat on internal administrative, extra-parliamentary, and university commissions or working groups that deal with issues within its area of responsibility.

2. If the Specialized Office is contacted by third parties in its function as a mediation office (Art. 15 Para. 2 Lit. h), it can, with the consent of the parties involved

a. obtain information and documents;

b. interview employees and affected persons;

c. conduct on-site inspections.

1. The State Chancellery comprises the following senior positions

a. two Deputy State Secretaries,

b. ...

c. three Heads of Office,

d. ...

d1. one Head of the Digital Administration Office,

e. one Commissioner for External Relations,

f. one Head of the Service for Accompanying Legislation, Jurassian Affairs, and Bilingualism.

2. The following requirements apply to the election of the State Secretary and the appointment of the Deputy State Secretaries

a. one of the aforementioned individuals must have completed legal training;

b. one of the aforementioned individuals must be a native French speaker.

3. The bylaws designate the other senior positions.

1. The following enactments are amended

1. Act of 2 November 1993 on the Information of the Population (Information Act; IA) (13)

2. Ordinance of 26 October 1994 on the Information of the Population (Information Ordinance; IO) (14)

3. Ordinance of 24 June 1992 on the State Archive of the Canton of Bern (15)

The Regulation of April 25, 1990, on the Cantonal Office for Gender Equality and the Cantonal Women's Commission is hereby repealed.

1. This regulation shall enter into force on January 1, 1996.