The Ministry of Labour has developed the draft federal law, On the Foundations of Social Services in the Russian Federation, in accordance with Subparagraph “a”, Clause 1 of the List of Instructions Pr-3464GS of the President of the Russian Federation, of November 27, 2010, following a discussion at the meeting of the State Council Presidium on October 25, 2010.
The draft law:
‑ defines a number of basic terms used in current laws and introduces new ones (“social service provider,” “social service recipient,” and “individual need for social services”);
‑ defines the main principles of social services (“social service support,” “maximum extension of a social service recipient’s stay in the customary, comfortable social environment,” “measures to prevent a difficult life situation.”)
‑ establishes the powers of federal and regional government bodies in the field of social services for the public;
‑ contains a list of criteria for determining if a citizen is in a difficult life situation;
- determines the rights and responsibilities of social service recipients and providers of social services, and provides for the introduction of registries of social service providers and social service recipients in the regions.
Under the draft law, social services are expected to be provided in keeping with the mandatory procedures for social service providers in each region, including regulations on per capita funding of social services and on social service standards. The draft contains requirements for the content of social service standards.
The document lists all basic types of social services and determines conditions for the provision of free and paid services, as well as the categories of citizens who qualify for free and/or paid social services and the cost thereof.
The draft law provides for an individual approach to the provision of social services. For the first time, individual social service programmes would be created for citizens in need of assistance.
The document provides for interdepartmental cooperation in the provision of social services based on the regulations approved by the regions’ government bodies.
The draft contains regulations for monitoring compliance with social services, including public oversight.
The draft law will be reviewed at a Government meeting.
