Draft law amending the Act on Social Support for People with Disabilities and amending other acts related thereto (561 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-01-29 17:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 30m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The fifth agenda item concerns the first reading of draft law 561, amending the law on social support for people with disabilities, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and amending other laws in connection therewith. The primary objective of the draft law is to increase the age limit for children with disabilities to 18 and to align the age limits with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; within this framework, the Museum Act, the Compulsory Health Insurance Act, the Social Welfare Act, and several other laws will be amended to ensure consistent and child-appropriate support and services until the age of 18. The transition is planned for February 1, 2027, which means that from that date, the new system will be gradually implemented, and new principles will apply to young people turning 16, and older decisions may be updated in accordance with the specified limits. Other important points concern the provision of free visits to state museums for children up to 18 years old and their accompanying persons, public transport, preferential drug pricing, and the gradual expansion of rehabilitation services up to the age limit of 18. The draft law also addresses data exchange and assessment mechanisms (the use of STAR data in assessments) and criminal record checks for members of rehabilitation teams, to enhance the reliability of services and the capacity of local governments. The background emphasizes that the changes are made to fulfill the rights of the child as derived from the Child Welfare Act, the European Union, and the UN recommendations, and the associated costs and budgetary obligations are planned to be covered at the national level. Declining and changing cost and revenue components and appendices are linked to increasing the age limit for children with disabilities, as well as the expansion of funding for public transport, rehabilitation, and social care services. The second chapter addresses various discussions in the Riigikogu, focusing on the accessibility of services in rural areas, IT developments, and harmonization, to ensure service continuity and minimal regional differences.
Decisions Made 4
To schedule the draft agenda for the plenary session today, January 29th of this year.
The speaker to represent the steering committee shall be Helmen Kütt (by consensus).
First reading complete.
Deadline for submitting amendments: ten business days after the conclusion of the first reading, February 12th at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Helmen Kütt, a member of the social affairs committee; his participation and extensive overview suggested that he directed the committee's attention to the focus of the discussions and represented a significant parliamentary focus on social sector issues. He can be assessed as being in the “other” position (not clearly a member of either the left- or right-wing coalition) and his role demonstrated a leading and consensus-oriented participation in the review of committee materials.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
During the fifth item on the agenda, the first reading of Draft Bill 561 will be discussed, which would amend the Act on Social Benefits for People with Disabilities and related laws, and the presenter is the Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Proposal to raise the age limit for a child with a disability to 18 years and to align the age limits and related services with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring that disabled children receive all necessary support and rehabilitation services up to age 18 and that the transition is smooth.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller thanked and invited questions, and then gave the floor to Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman expressed in the information session concern that raising the age threshold for a child with a disability could in the future leave the target group without the necessary services, and although funding is increasing, it will not reach people living in rural areas due to county borders, therefore a way must be found to help these people.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the law coming into force on February 1, 2027 will guarantee for 16–17-year-olds who have previously been determined to have reduced working capacity a larger amount of support until they reach adulthood, and that no one will be left without assistance, and in order to improve access to rehabilitation services it is planned to consolidate these services into a single system with the resources of the healthcare sector, the Estonian Social Insurance Board, and the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and, if necessary, through education, so that the services are as evenly available across Estonia as possible.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Jüri Jaanson to perform.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson praises the change in the age limit and the savings that come with it, and asks whether children over 16 who have already been assigned reduced working capacity will still receive social rehabilitation from February 2027 until they turn 18.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
According to Riisalo, the social rehabilitation service will be opened immediately for people under favorable conditions, and they will have an extended duration of higher government support.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller thanks and announces that there are no further questions, and next comes Helmen Kütt, a member of the Social Committee, who will report on the discussion that took place in the Steering Committee.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt said that the Riigikogu's Social Committee discussed the government-initiated draft bill No. 561 – amendments to the Act on Social Benefits for People with Disabilities and amendments to related laws – and addressed IT development costs, municipalities' disability assessments, and audit issues, and decided to bring the bill to the plenary on January 29 to complete the first reading, appointing themselves as the representative in the lead committee.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanked the presenter, said there were no questions, opened negotiations with the factions, and on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction invited Irja Lutsar to speak.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar confirmed that Eesti 200 will bring a law by which the adulthood of a disabled child occurs at age 18 and services are extended until the age of 18, which is in line with international definitions and eases the burden on families, and that IT costs are only 12,000 euros, which is a positive example for future laws.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that the first reading of Bill 561 has been completed, and the deadline for submitting amendment proposals is February 12 this year at 17:15.