2023-11-152023/24:SoU2 · p.1SoUHealth & social services
Government's legislative proposal
Transferring responsibility for guide dog services to a state agency
What's at stake: It affects what kind of organization people with visual impairments deal with when applying for or being assigned a guide dog, and whether the service is consolidated under an agency with broader expertise or remains with the organization that has long experience in the field.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The decision concerns whether responsibility for guide dog services should move from the member organization currently running it to a state administrative agency, or remain with the organization.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee supports the government's proposal to transfer responsibility for guide dog services to a state administrative agency, since a single agency gains a comprehensive perspective and the expertise needed to handle applications, allocation, information, equipment, training and veterinary care, and therefore rejects the motions calling to keep the current arrangement.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, C)
The reservation (V, C) argues that responsibility should remain with the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired, which has long, well-documented experience and the backing of most disability interest organizations; the association's comprehensive perspective and capacity for consultation with guide dog users have no equivalent within a government agency, and opposes stripping the association of its current responsibility.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | No 0/20/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 94/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 13/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament adopts the government's proposal for 1. a law on the right to use a guide dog, 2. a law amending the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). Thereby parliament approves proposition 2022/23:122 points 1 and 2 and rejects the motions 2022/23:2399 by Maj Karlsson et al. (V) demand 1 and 2022/23:2400 by Christofer Bergenblock et al. (C) demand 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1. lag om dispositionsrätt till ledarhund, 2. lag om ändring i offentlighets- och sekretesslagen (2009:400). Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2022/23:122 punkterna 1 och 2 samt avslår motionerna 2022/23:2399 av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V) yrkande 1 och 2022/23:2400 av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: It becomes the state's responsibility to provide guide dogs to people with visual impairment. Responsibility for guide dog activities is transferred from Synskadades Riksförbund (the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired) to the government agency determined by the government. The new rules aim to transfer the exercise of authority regarding the right to use a guide dog from Synskadades Riksförbund to a government agency. It is also an advantage that the same agency that processes applications and assigns guide dogs is responsible for information, procurement of guide dog equipment, training, and veterinary care. A person who has been granted a guide dog shall be assigned a guide dog within a reasonable time, shall undergo continuous training together with the dog, and shall be responsible for ensuring that the dog receives the care it needs during the time the dog is at their disposal. Parliament approved the government's proposal. The new rules enter into force on 1 April 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the proposal and maintain Synskadades Riksförbund's responsibility for guide dog operations. (V, C) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan's closest commitment is that welfare is society's responsibility and should be governed democratically, and that those living with disabilities should be able to trust that support is there without their right being constantly questioned.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's closest commitment is that welfare is society's responsibility and should be governed democratically, and that those living with disabilities should be able to trust that support is there without their right being constantly questioned. The plan also explicitly identifies a problem with society relying on voluntary organisations. Allowing responsibility for guide dog activities to remain with an interest organisation therefore contradicts the plan, even though the plan also values the independence of popular movements.
Original (Swedish)
Planens närmast liggande åtagande är att välfärden är samhällets ansvar och ska styras demokratiskt, och att den som lever med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna lita på att stödet finns utan att rätten ständigt ifrågasätts. Planen ser dessutom uttryckligen ett problem i att samhället förlitat sig på ideella krafters insatser. Att låta ansvaret för ledarhundsverksamheten stanna kvar hos en intresseorganisation går därför emot planen, även om planen också värnar folkrörelsers självständighet.
- welfare as society's responsibilitydecisive»Välfärden är samhällets ansvar och borde styras demokratiskt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Welfare is society's responsibility and should be governed democratically.”
- do not rely on voluntary organisations»Samtidigt ser vi ett problem i att samhället alltför länge förlitat sig på« (party programme ↗)“At the same time we see a problem with society relying for too long on”
- guaranteed support with disabilities»På samma sätt ska du som lever med funktionsnedsättning kunna lita på att du får det stöd du behöver, och på att din rätt att delta i samhället på det sätt du vill inte ständigt ifrågasätts och försvåras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In the same way, if you live with disabilities you should be able to trust that you receive the support you need, and that your right to participate in society in the way you want is not constantly questioned and made more difficult.”
- strengthened disability support measures»LSS-insatser och personlig assiststans istället stärkas och utvecklas« (party programme ↗)“LSS benefits and personal assistance support services instead strengthen and develop”
flags: planen_pekar_i_bada_riktningarna
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan lacks a position on the main management of guide dog activities, but its guiding principle is that publicly funded activities must be under democratic control and nationally established regulations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan lacks a position on the main management of guide dog activities, but its guiding principle is that publicly funded activities must be under democratic control and nationally established regulations. Leaving responsibility to an interest organization goes against that principle, while the plan wants to ensure that people with disabilities can live their lives like others through clear public responsibility. The party programme's appreciation of civil society points partly in the other direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen saknar ställningstagande om ledarhundsverksamhetens huvudmannaskap, men dess bärande princip är att offentligt finansierad verksamhet ska stå under demokratisk kontroll och nationellt fastställda regelverk. Att låta ansvaret stanna hos en intresseorganisation går emot den principen, samtidigt som planen vill säkra att personer med funktionsnedsättning kan leva sitt liv som andra genom ett tydligt offentligt ansvar. Partiprogrammets uppskattning av civilsamhället talar delvis åt andra hållet.
- democratic control over welfaredecisive»Det är dags att ta tillbaka den demokratiska kontrollen över välfärden och att stoppa sönderprivatiseringen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is time to take back democratic control over welfare and stop the dismantling through privatization.”
- national regulations for public-commissioned work»För all verksamhet som drivs på uppdrag av det offentliga och finansieras med skattemedel« (party programme ↗)“For all activities conducted on behalf of the public and financed with taxpayers' money”
- rights for people with disabilities»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“People with disabilities shall be able to live their lives like others.”
- the value of civil society»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
The plan wants to promote user-led activities (ideburna verksamheter) over other forms of management, that public bodies actively take part in civil society's proposals and that user involvement carries significant weight regardless of form of management.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to promote user-led activities (ideburna verksamheter) over other forms of management, that public bodies actively take part in civil society's proposals and that user involvement carries significant weight regardless of form of management. Allowing an established interest organisation with close consultation with guide dog handlers to retain responsibility thereby lies closer to the plan than a transfer to a public agency. The conclusion is derived from these commitments, since guide dog activities are not mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill främja idéburna verksamheter framför andra driftsformer, att offentliga organ aktivt tar del av frivilligsektorns förslag och att brukarinflytandet väger tungt oavsett driftsform. Att låta en etablerad intresseorganisation med nära samråd med ledarhundsförarna behålla ansvaret ligger därför närmare planen än en överflyttning till en myndighet. Slutsatsen härleds ur dessa åtaganden, eftersom ledarhundsverksamheten inte nämns.
- promote user-led activitiesdecisive»vill därför få bort de kommersiellt inriktade aktörerna och i stället främja idéburna verksamheter« (party programme ↗)“therefore wants to remove commercially oriented actors and instead promote user-led activities”
- civil society's knowledge shall be used»Offentliga organ ska aktivt ta del av frivilligsektorns förslag« (party programme ↗)“Public bodies shall actively take part in civil society's proposals”
- user involvement»tar även ställning för brukarinflytande och insyn« (party programme ↗)“also takes a stand for user involvement and transparency”
- decisions close to those affected»Beslut bör tas så nära medborgarna som möjligt.« (party programme ↗)“Decisions should be taken as close to citizens as possible.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's decisive principle here is that civil society shall have an independent role and that politics' task is to clear obstacles and make way for its power, not to take over tasks that the voluntary sector already performs.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive principle here is that civil society shall have an independent role and that politics' task is to clear obstacles and make way for its power, not to take over tasks that the voluntary sector already performs. The plan explicitly warns against an overly ambitious public commitment working against the voluntary initiatives that otherwise arise. Letting responsibility for guide dog activities remain with an established interest organization follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande princip här är att civilsamhället ska ha en självständig roll och att politikens uppgift är att röja väg för dess kraft, inte att ta över uppgifter som föreningslivet redan utför. Planen varnar uttryckligen för att ett alltför ambitiöst offentligt åtagande motverkar de frivilliga initiativ som annars uppstår. Att låta ansvaret för ledarhundsverksamheten stanna hos en etablerad intresseorganisation följer av detta.
- civil society's independent roledecisive»Det civila samhället måste ha en självständig roll« (party programme ↗)“Civil society must have an independent role”
- politics clears the way for the voluntary sector»Politikens uppgift är att riva hinder och röja väg för denna utvecklingskraft.« (party programme ↗)“Politics' task is to break down barriers and clear the way for this creative force.”
- civil society is invaluable»Civilsamhällets roll för att binda samman människor och förbättra integrationen är ovärderlig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil society's role in binding people together and improving integration is invaluable.”
- users' needs drive direction»Människors rätt till valfrihet är det som ska trygga att den offentligt finansierade välfärden anpassas till individens behov.« (party programme ↗)“People's right to choice is what shall ensure that publicly financed welfare is adapted to the individual's needs.”
The plan wants idea-driven actors more often to be able to contribute to welfare and the space for voluntary initiatives in care and welfare to increase, whereas the state above all should answer for supervision based on national quality standards.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants idea-driven actors more often to be able to contribute to welfare and the space for voluntary initiatives in care and welfare to increase, whereas the state above all should answer for supervision based on national quality standards. This speaks for the guide dog operations being able to remain with an established interest organization instead of being moved to a public authority. The plan does not mention guide dogs, so the position is derived from these principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att idéburna aktörer oftare ska kunna bidra i välfärden och att utrymmet för ideella insatser i vård och omsorg ökar, medan staten framför allt ska svara för tillsyn utifrån nationella kvalitetsnormer. Det talar för att ledarhundsverksamheten kan ligga kvar hos en etablerad intresseorganisation i stället för att flyttas till en myndighet. Planen nämner inte ledarhundar, så ställningstagandet är härlett ur dessa principer.
- idea-driven actors in welfaredecisive»Regelverk och upphandlingar bör utformas så att det är oftare är möjligt för idéburna aktörer att bidra i välfärden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulations and procurements should be designed so that it is more often possible for idea-driven actors to contribute to welfare.”
- increased scope for voluntary initiatives»Utrymmet för ideella insatser i vård och omsorg, utbildning och kultur, bistånd och totalförsvar ska öka.« (party programme ↗)“The space for voluntary initiatives in care and welfare, education and culture, aid and civil defence shall increase.”
- respect for civil society's independence»Det offentliga ska i sin samverkan med civilsamhället respektera civilsamhällets oberoende.« (party programme ↗)“The public shall in its cooperation with civil society respect civil society's independence.”
- state supervision, not state delivery»Tillsynen ska ske i statlig regi utifrån nationellt fastställda kvalitetsnormer.« (party programme ↗)“Supervision shall take place in state management based on nationally established quality standards.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The subsidiarity principle means that what a smaller community can manage itself, it should also be allowed to take responsibility for, and that the burden of proof lies with the higher level that wants to take over the task.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The subsidiarity principle means that what a smaller community can manage itself, it should also be allowed to take responsibility for, and that the burden of proof lies with the higher level that wants to take over the task. The plan moreover wants nongovernmental activity to complement the public sector and that the individual themselves gets to decide who performs the service. That supports the idea that responsibility for guide dogs remains with the established organization.
Original (Swedish)
Subsidiaritetsprincipen innebär att det en mindre gemenskap klarar själv ska den också få ansvara för, och att bevisbördan ligger på den högre nivån som vill ta över uppgiften. Planen vill dessutom att ideell verksamhet ska komplettera det offentliga och att den enskilde själv får bestämma vem som utför tjänsten. Det talar för att ledarhundsansvaret stannar hos den etablerade organisationen.
- subsidiarity and burden of proofdecisive»Varje nivå är således i första hand kompletterande till de lägre« (party programme ↗)“Each level is thus in the first instance complementary to the lower”
- nongovernmental activity complements»Offentlig, ideell och privat verksamhet ska komplettera varandra.« (party programme ↗)“Public, nongovernmental and private activity shall complement each other.”
- user's self-determination»ska utföra tjänsten ska den enskilde själv få bestämma.« (party programme ↗)“shall perform the service, the individual themselves shall get to decide.”
- strengthened civil society»STÄRKT CIVILSAMHÄLLE« (2022 manifesto ↗)“STRENGTHENED CIVIL SOCIETY”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's guiding principle is that what can be done as well or better by someone other than the public sector should not be done by the public sector, and that strong independent civil society institutions should be protected.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's guiding principle is that what can be done as well or better by someone other than the public sector should not be done by the public sector, and that strong independent civil society institutions should be protected. Moving guide dog activities from an established interest organization to a public authority goes directly against this. The counter-proposal's demand that responsibility remains with the organization thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande princip är att det som kan utföras lika bra eller bättre av någon annan än det offentliga inte ska utföras av det offentliga, och att starka självständiga institutioner i civilsamhället ska värnas. Att flytta ledarhundsverksamheten från en etablerad intresseorganisation till en myndighet går tvärtemot detta. Motförslagets krav att ansvaret stannar hos organisationen ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- prefer other provider to the statedecisive»Om något kan göras lika bra eller bättre av« (party programme ↗)“If something can be done as well or better by”
- strong civil society institutions»Starka självständiga samhällsinstitutioner bidrar till att balansera makten i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Strong independent civil society institutions help balance power in society.”
- diversity of providers»En mångfald av aktörer är också en förutsättning« (party programme ↗)“A diversity of actors is also a prerequisite”
- limited state expansion»En stor stat leder till ett svagare samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“A large state leads to a weaker society.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan stipulates that the state's task is to promote and support the non-profit sector without restricting its freedom of action, and explicitly criticizes that the wildlife management task was taken from the hunter organizations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stipulates that the state's task is to promote and support the non-profit sector without restricting its freedom of action, and explicitly criticizes that the wildlife management task was taken from the hunter organizations. The nearest principle therefore speaks for letting an established interest organization keep responsibility for guide dog activities instead of moving it to an authority. However, the plan does not address the guide dog question and is explicitly pragmatic in questions of principal.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att statens uppgift är att lyfta fram och stödja den ideella sektorn utan att inskränka dess handlingsfrihet, och kritiserar uttryckligen att viltvårdsuppdraget togs ifrån jägarorganisationerna. Den närmast liggande principen talar därför för att låta en etablerad intresseorganisation behålla ansvaret för ledarhundsverksamheten i stället för att flytta det till en myndighet. Planen tar dock inte upp ledarhundsfrågan och är i huvudmannaskapsfrågor uttalat pragmatisk.
- task with organizationsdecisive»Det var ett misstag att ta ifrån jägarorganisationerna delar av viltvårdsuppdraget.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It was a mistake to take wildlife management tasks away from hunter organizations.”
- support for the non-profit sector»stödja den ideella sektorn utan att i alltför hög grad begränsa dess handlingsfrihet.« (party programme ↗)“support the non-profit sector without unduly restricting its freedom of action.”
- pragmatic principal»pragmatiskt och resultatinriktat förhållningssätt« (party programme ↗)“pragmatic and results-oriented approach”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU2)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU2)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:2399 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:122 Ledarhundar av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:2400 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:122 Ledarhundar av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2401 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:122 Ledarhundar av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2022/23:122 — Ledarhundar
Source: The Swedish Parliament