MPs adopted the law on people with disabilities at first reading

MPs unanimously adopted the Disability Act at first reading on 26^th of October. Discussions of the personal assistance law are currently under way.

The bill was passed with 174 votes in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions. During the debate, most controversies were on the text that envisages the National Council on Integration of People with Disabilities to be headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, currently Valeri Simeonov. So far, the Head of this council was the the Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

On 25^th of October, there were sharp reactions in Parliament against the legal text, which provides for Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov to lead the National Council for Integration of People with Disabilities. The text was passed the day before at first reading by Parliament’s Social Policy Committee.

The controversial text of the Disability Act was agreed long before the scandal with Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov. After the scandal, some MPs believe that this text should be changed in the part that envisages Simeonov to lead the National Council for the Integration of People with Disabilities.