3- Present opinions concerning the projects of texts of laws and regulations relating to the authority activities, 4- Set the organization chart of the authority in accordance with the provisions of article 22 of the organic law herein, 5- Approve the authority budget, 6- Approve the internal regulations of the authority, 7- Approve the annual report of the authority. Chapter 4 Of the course of the authority Art.18 - The authority meets following a convocation by its chairman or one third (1/3) of its members at least, and this, once a month and whenever needed. The meetings of the authority are chaired by its chairman or his vice chairman. The chairman may invite any person whose presence at the meetings of the authority is deemed useful having regard to his competence that relates to the issues presented on the agenda, and this, without taking part in the vote. The chairman of the authority fixes the agenda of the meetings. The deliberations of the authority proceed in closed session in the presence of half of its members at least. In the absence of the quorum during the first meeting, the chairman convenes for a second meeting within a limit of one week, and in this case, its proceeding is valid whatever the number of the present members. The authority makes its decisions by consensus, and failing this, by vote of the majority of the present members and in case of tied votes, that of the president is the casting. Art. 19 - The chairman of the authority as well as its members cannot take part in its deliberations in a question which concerns a person having with one of them an interest or a family ties or alliance until the fourth degree. The chairman of the authority as well as its members are required to state, at any time, any conflict of interests or any case where they do not meet a condition or more conditions required to be member in the authority as provided for in the organic law herein. Any natural person or legal entity having interest may present a challenge against the chairman of the authority or its members, and this, in a justified writing which shall be addressed to the authority. Art. 20 - The assembly in charge of the legislative authority fills the vacancies due to death, resignation, revocation or absolute prevention following the request of the chairman of the authority or half of its members at least, in accordance with the procedures provided for in the organic law herein. The authority notes the case of vacancy which should not exceed three months and consigns it in special minutes which shall be transmitted to the president of the assembly in charge of the legislative authorities. Page 710 Chapter 5 Various Provisions Art. 21 - The allowances and privileges of the chairman of the authority as well as those of its members who exercise their functions in full-time are fixed by decree which shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia. The chairman and the secretary general of the authority are obligatorily required to exercise their functions full-time. Art. 22 - The particular status of the agents of the authority is fixed by decree. This status may derogate from some provisions of the law n° 83-112 dated 12 December 1983 relating to the general status of the personnel of the State, local authorities and public establishments of administrative nature which are not appropriate for the functions nature of the agents of the authority. The organization chart of the authority is approved by decree. Art. 23 - Any member of the authority is required to safeguard the professional secrecy in all that is brought to his attention of the documents or data or information concerning the affairs of the authority. Likewise, it is required not to exploit this information at ends other than those required by the attributions which are entrusted to him, even after the expiry of his functions. Art. 24 - Is repealed the subparagraph 4 new added to article 5 of the penal procedure code as provided for in article 3 of decree-law n° 2011-106 dated 22 October 2011 and replaced by the following provisions: The public action referring to crimes of torture is imprescriptible. Art. 25 - Under the terms of the organic law herein, the National Constituent Assembly ratifies the decree-law n° 2011-5 dated 19 February 2011, approving the accession of the Republic of Tunisia to the optional protocol referring to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading. TITLE 4 Transitional provisions Art. 26 - Contrary to the provisions of article 10 of the organic law herein, half of the authority is renewed during the first mandate and at the end of the third year of this mandate, and this, by drawing lots in accordance with the method and the conditions provided for in the organic law herein. The chairman of the authority is not concerned with the renewal by half. Art. 27 - The commission of the rights, freedoms and the foreign relations within the Constituent National Assembly is regarded as being the Committee within the meaning of the provisions of article 7 of this organic law. The present organic law shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia and carried out as a law of the State. Tunis, 23 October 2013. The President of the Republic Mohamed Moncef Marzougui Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia — 25 December 2013 N° 85