Title: Act on Arrangement of Relevant Acts to Take New Health and Welfare Measures for Persons with Disabilities toward the Realization of Coexistence in Local Communities
Promulgation Date: June 27, 2012	Effective Date: Refer to below
Act No.: 51	Responsible Division: Policy Planning Division of Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities of Social Welfare and War Victims' Relief Bureau
<Purpose> Based on discussions held at the Headquarters to Promote Reform of the System for Persons with Disabilities, etc., new health and welfare measures for persons with disabilities shall be taken in comprehensive support of the daily and social lives of persons with disabilities, including enhancement of welfare services for persons with disabilities, etc., and toward the realization of coexistence in local communities.
<Outline> 1. Title The title “Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act” shall be the “Act on Comprehensive Support for Daily and Social Lives of Persons with Disabilities (Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act)”.
2. Basic principle Implementing daily and social life support according to the law in a comprehensive and systematic manner in thereby contributing to ensuring opportunities for social participation, coexistence in local communities, and elimination of social barriers and in realizing a harmonious society shall be newly provided for as a basic principle of the law.
3. Scope of persons with disabilities (scope of children with disabilities shall be treated in a similar manner) In order to fill any “gaps in the system” intractable diseases, etc. shall be included within the scope of persons with disabilities.
4. Creation of support categories for persons with disabilities “Disability categories for persons with disabilities” shall be changed to “support categories for persons with disabilities” that will provide the necessary standard support levels in a comprehensive manner and according to the subject’s various disability characteristics and other physical/mental conditions. * Appropriate consideration, etc. shall be given when establishing the categories to ensuring that the support categories for persons with disabilities are provided according to the characteristics of persons with mental retardation/disorders.
5. Support for persons with disabilities [1] Expansion of the subjects to care visits for persons with severe disabilities (persons with severe physical disabilities, etc. that are stipulated as persons with disabilities and who require regular long-term care in Ordinances of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) [2] Unification of group homes that provide care (care homes) into groups home with aid (group homes) [3] Expansion of the subjects of community transfer support (those requiring focused support in transfer to community lives that are stipulated in Ordinances of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare shall be included) [4] Inclusion of community life support services (services that provide training and enlightenment activities for deepening understanding of persons with disabilities, services to train persons engaging in mutual understanding support, etc.)
6. Systematic development of service infrastructures [1] Formulation of welfare plans for persons with disabilities with regard to matters concerning goals regarding securing systems that provide welfare services for persons with disabilities, etc. and matters concerning implementation of community life support services. [2] Legal establishment of regular verification and review of basic policies/welfare plans for persons with disabilities [3] Obligation for the needs of persons with disabilities, etc. to be identified by municipalities when formulating welfare plans for persons with disabilities [4] Allowing the title of the Independence Support Council to be more flexibly determined according to the actual situation of local communities and clarifying participation of the persons concerned and their families
<Effective Date> April 1, 2013 (However, 4. and 5.[1]-[3] shall come into effect on April 1, 2014)