Municipal costs incurred through the reform of the Lower Saxony Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons Act
Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Soziales, Arbeit, Gesundheit und Gleichstellung
ongoing
Prof Dr Thorsten Ingo Schmidt
In December 2021, Lower Saxony Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons Act (NBGG) was reformed. As a result, the municipalities of Lower Saxony faced new tasks to ensure the achievement of equal participation of people with disabilities. Since then, a disagreement has ensued between the State of Lower Saxony and local community associations. The question is whether and to what extent these newly assigned tasks result in an increased financial burden for local municipalities, for which the state should compensate them.
Lower Saxony’s Social, Employment, Health and Equal Opportunities Ministry charged Prognos with the task of compiling an expert report that would provide a fact-based decision-making basis for both parties.
The expert report should identify the central cost effects for municipalities of the last changes to the NBGG. On this basis, the actual costs involved in the implementation of the new elements of the law are estimated in a qualified way.
Firstly, Prognos analysed all relevant documents. We then conducted expert interviews with various stakeholders to create a list with the potential cost-effective impacts the change in law has in the municipalities. An online survey of a sample of Lower Saxon municipalities follows, from which the results are extrapolated that then form the basis for a qualified estimate of costs.
In the context of the legal scientific evaluation, the Prognos project team is supported by Prof Dr Thorsten Ingo Schmidt from the University of Potsdam.
In addition, there are regular steering committee meetings, with representatives from the State of Lower Saxony, local community organisations, reference communes as well as people with disabilities.
Project team: Jan-Felix Czichon, Patrick Frankenbach, Rahel Reemtsma, Jan Tiessen
Latest update: 31.10.2023
Vice Director, Head of Management Consulting
Project Manager
A skilled worker shortage and increased numbers of people requiring care: domestic care is facing major challenges. Prognos is evaluates the implementation of the Buurtzorg approach, an innovative community care model, for the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion.
On behalf of the Thuringian Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Women and Family, Prog-nos is investigating the implementation and effectiveness of the Thuringian Equal Opportunities and Inclusion Act.
For the Association of Private Health Insurance, Prognos supports and evaluates the develop-ment of the “Early happiness: Discovering nutrition together” programme.
Together with the infas Institute for Applied Social Science and Prof. Dr. Gudrun Wansing, Prognos evaluated the available advice for persons with disabilities and their families over a five-year period.
Digital solutions can make life easier for older people. The EU's Active and Assisted Living Programme (AAL2) has actively contributed to the development of novel solutions.
Testing for Covid interrupted chains of infection, relieved the burden on the health system, and supported the economy. We quantified these effects for Roche Diagnostics Switzerland.
Study compares “boomers” and Generation Z: high need for security for young and old alike.
Prognos evaluates the GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit funding programme for municipal structural development and target group-specific interventions.
Is the Baden-Württemberg State Action Plan on Equality of People with Disabilities achieving its objectives? Prognos investigated this on behalf of the state government.
Corona tests are designed to help reduce the incidence of infection. Prognos has now quantified the benefits of testing on the economy and health care.
Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.