2. Major Laws Enacted in FY2013

Title: Act on Partial Revision of the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Ex-Workers of Armed Forces Stationed in Japan and the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Retired Fisherman Incidental to Conclusion of International Agreement
Promulgation Date: May 16, 2013	Effective Date: May 16, 2013
Act No.: 15	Responsible Division: Employment Development Division, Employment Security Bureau
1. PurposeIn consideration of the situation where ex-workers of armed forces stationed in Japan and retired fishermen are expected to continue to exist in the future, the effective periods of the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Ex-Workers of Armed Forces Stationed in Japan and the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Retired Fisherman Incidental to Conclusion of International Agreement shall respectively be extended five years.
2. Outline(1) Partial revision of the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Ex-Workers of Armed Forces Stationed in JapanThe effective period of the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Ex-Workers of Armed Forces Stationed in Japan (until May 16, 2013) shall be extended five years until May 16, 2018.(2) Act on Partial Revision of the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Retired Fisherman Incidental to Conclusion of International AgreementThe effective period of the Act on Temporary Measures concerning Retired Fisherman Incidental to Conclusion of International Agreement (until June 30, 2013) shall be extended five years until June 30, 2018.
Title: Act on Partial Revision of the Health Insurance Act
Promulgation Date: May 31, 2013	Effective Date: May 31, 2013(however, (3) below shall come into effect on October 1, 2013)
Act No.: 26	Responsible Division: Employees' Health Insurance Division, Health Insurance Bureau
1. Purpose of the revisionIn order to secure steady operation of the health insurance system, financial support measures, etc. shall be taken for the Japan Health Insurance Association-managed Health Insurance, which many workers of small- and medium-sized enterprises and their families subscribe to, and which plays the important role of safety net for Employees' Health Insurance.
2. Major contents of the revised Act(1) Financial support measures for the Japan Health Insurance Association-managed Health Insurance[1] In order to strengthen/stabilize the financial basis of the Japan Health Insurance Association-managed Health Insurance, the measure to raise the national subsidy rate from 13% to 16.4%, which was taken for the period from FY2010 to FY2012, shall be extended two years until FY2014.[2] The exception, on the method of sharing the cost of support coverage for the late-stage elderly for making 1/3 of support coverage for the late-stage elderly covered by insurers of Employees' Health Insurance, etc. that is to be based on total compensation of the respective insurers of Employees' Health Insurance, etc., shall be extended two years to FY2014.[3] Allowing reduction of the amount of reserves of the Japan Health Insurance Association-managed Health Insurance until FY2014.(2) Delegation of investigative authority to the Japan Health Insurance Association-managed Health InsuranceIn order to stabilize insurance payments, official work of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to conduct on-site investigations of business operators, etc. in relation to insurance payments shall be delegated to the Japan Health Insurance Association-managed Health Insurance.(3) Application of health insurance and workers' accident compensation insuranceInjuries, etc. at work, suffered by insured persons of health insurance or their dependents who are not subject to payment of workers' accident compensation insurance, shall be subject to the payment of health insurance, in principle.
Title: Act on Partial Revision of the Act on Special Benefits for Wives of the War Dead, etc. and the Act on Special Benefits for Parents and Other Relatives of the War Dead
Promulgation Date: June 12, 2013	Effective Date: June 12, 2013(some provisions shall come into effect on October 1, 2013)
Act No.: 40	Responsible Division: Relief Division of Social Welfare and War Victims' Relief Bureau
1. PurposeIn order to solace wives and parents, etc. of the war dead, etc., special benefits shall be paid to the wives and parents, etc. who have final redemption of special benefit bonds based on the Act on Special Benefits for Wives of the War Dead, etc. and the Act on Special Benefits for Parents and Other Relatives of the War Dead.
2. Outline(1) Partial Revision of the Act on Special Benefits for Wives of the War Dead, etc.[1] Government bonds with a face value of ¥2,000,000 and redemption in 10 years with no annual interest shall be paid as special benefits to wives of the war dead, etc. who have completed final redemption of special benefit bonds (portion renewed for a fourth time).[2] Government bonds with a face value of ¥200,000 and redemption in 10 years with no annual interest shall be paid as special benefits to wives of the war dead, etc. eligible to receive allowance in aid and survivors' pension, etc. as of April 1, 2013 as wives of those who died after April 1, 2003.[3] Government bonds with a face value of ¥600,000, ¥1,200,000, ¥1,800,000, or ¥2,000,000 and redemption in 10 years with no annual interest shall be paid as special benefits to those eligible to receive allowance in aid and survivors' pension, etc. as of October 1, 2013 as wives of the war dead, etc. as a result of wounded/sick retired soldiers, etc. having died in the period between April 1, 2003 and September 30, 2006.(2) Partial Revision of the Act on Special Benefits for Parents and Other Relatives of the War Dead[1] Government bonds with a face value of ¥1,000,000 and redemption in 5 years with no annual interest shall be paid as special benefits to parents, etc. of the war dead who have completed final redemption of special benefit bonds (portion renewed for an eighth time).[2] Government bonds with a face value of ¥100,000 and redemption in 5 years with no annual interest shall be paid as special benefits to parents of the war dead eligible to receive allowance in aid and survivors' pension, etc. as of April 1, 2013 as parents of those who died after April 1, 2003.