Legislation

The Act on Wellbeing Services Counties is the general act that governs the operations, administration, finances and inspection of counties.  (611/2021)

The purpose of the act is to establish the conditions in which self-government in counties can take place and opportunities for the residents to participate and influence county activities can occur.  

The act also aims to advance and facilitate the systematic nature and financial sustainability of county activities and create conditions for counties to support the wellbeing of their residents.

The act also lays down provisions on the relationship of counties to central government and municipalities, on democracy and exerting influence, and on management, elected officials and personnel.

Provisions on wellbeing services counties and the division into counties when establishing wellbeing services counties are laid down in the Act on the Implementation of the Reform of Health, Social and Rescue Services and on the Entry into Force of Related Legislation (616/2021).

Provisions on changing the boundaries of counties are laid down in the Act on the Division into Wellbeing Services Counties (614/2021).

Act on the Funding of Wellbeing Services Counties (617/2021) 

A wellbeing services county is responsible for the performance of the functions provided for it by law, the realisation of its residents’ statutory rights and the coordination of service packages. A county is also responsible for the following in respect of the services and other actions being organised: 

1) equitable availability;
2) definition of need, quantity and quality;
3) selection of the method of provision;
4) control and monitoring of provision;
5) exercise of the powers of public authority. 

A county may perform the functions itself or agree on the transfer of the responsibility for organising services to another county. In addition, the arrangement of county functions may be pooled to one or more counties if that is necessary for improving the quality and availability of services, ensuring sufficient human and other resources or special expertise required for the function or another similar justified reason.

Provisions on the functions of counties are laid down in special legislation on healthcare and social welfare services and rescue services lay down.  

Other key acts governing counties  
•    Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services 612/2021 (in Finnish and Swedish)(612/2021) 
•    Act on Organising Rescue Services (613/2021) 
•    Act on Organising Healthcare, Social Welfare and Rescue Services in the Region of Uusimaa (615/2021) and the joint implementing act of the above acts (616/2021)